[
267]
Death of a mother of soldiers.
The death of
Mrs. Henrietta H. Morgan, of
Lexington, which occurred in that city on Monday, September 7, 1891, removes from life a woman who, while not having an eventful career, as the world goes, nevertheless exercised a great influence in
Kentucky history.
Had she lived until December she would have been eighty-six years of age. She was always a healthy woman, but for the last few years had not been in good health.
The immediate cause of her death was a stroke of paralysis, which, had it not been for a more than usually enfeebled condition, would probably have affected her but little.
Mrs. Morgan was the daughter of
Mr. John W. Hunt, of
Lexington, who was one of Kentncky's most prosperous merchants, and the first man in the
State to accumulate a fortune of one million dollars. At his death he left a large estate to be divided among a large family.
Mr. A. D. Hunt, formerly a banker in
Louisville, but later of New Orleans;
Colonel Thomas H. Hunt, once a leading merchant here;
Dr. Robert Hunt, formerly of
Louisville, but later of New Orleans, and
Frank K. Hunt, of
Lexington, were her brothers.
Mrs. Hanna, of
Frankfort;
Mrs. Strother, of
St. Louis;
Mrs. Reynolds, of
Frankfort, were her sisters.
The latter was the mother of
J. W. Hunt Reynolds, the once noted turfman and horse owner.
Her children numbered six sons and two daughters.
One of the daughters was the wife of
General A. P. Hill, of
Virginia, and the other married
General Basil W. Duke, of this city.
Her sons were
General John H. Morgan, Calvin C., Richard C.,
Charlton H.,
Thomas H. and
Frank H. Morgan.
All of them, and her two sons-in-law, entered the Confederate army, and of the number her most famous son,
General John H. Morgan,
Tom Morgan and
General Hill were killed in battle, or rather the great cavalry leader was shot down at
Greenville, Tenn., after surrender.
All the others were wounded at various times, and all were prisoners during the course of the war. Tom was but seventeen years old when he enlisted in the Second Kentucky Infantry at Camp Boone.
He was transferred from that regiment to the command of his brother, the general, and was but nineteen years old when he was killed.
Frank,
[
268]
the youngest, was but fifteen when he enlisted.
Calvin,
Dick and
Charlton were all officers, and there was not one among them who did not do his duty.
Mrs. Morgan was devoted to the
Confederate cause, and the death of her sons and son-in-law had a deep effect upon her and affected her health.
During the latter part of her life her chief pleasure was found in contemplating the portraits of her sons and
General Hill and war relics in her possession, of which she had a large number.
Mrs. Morgan's husband,
Calvin C. Morgan, was a brother of
Samuel D. Morgan, of
Nashville, one of the first merchants of that city.
When driven further South by the
Federal occupancy of
Nashville, Samuel devoted a great deal of time and money to the aid of
Tennessee and
Kentucky soldiers in the hospitals.
Calvin was a highly cultivated and educated man and well known throughout
Kentucky.
Mrs. Morgan herself was universally beloved.
She was widely known and esteemed, and thoroughly unselfish, with a disposition that endeared her to all with whom she came in contact.
Her death causes widespread regret.
Mrs. Duke has gone to
Lexington, and
General Duke will follow to-day.
The funeral will take place from the family residence in
Lexington to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock, the interment being in the cemetery where
General Morgan's remains rest.
