Edwin Barber Morgan
| Edwin Barber Morgan | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th district | |
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In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Y. Howe, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Martin Butterfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 2, 1806 Aurora, New York |
| Died | October 13, 1881 Ledyard, New York |
| Political party |
Whig (1852) Opposition Party (1854) Republican (1856) |
Edwin Barber Morgan (May 2, 1806 – October 13, 1881) was an entrepreneur and politician from the Finger Lakes region of western New York. He was the first president of Wells Fargo & Company, founder of the United States Express Company, and director of American Express Company. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from New York and served for three terms.
Edwin Barber Morgan was born in Aurora, New York, the eldest son of Christopher and Nancy (Barber) Morgan. He was a first cousin of Edwin Denison Morgan, governor of New York in 1859–62. The family was descended from James Morgan, a Welshman who came to Massachusetts about 1636 and settled in New London, Connecticut about 1650.
Morgan is distantly related to Owain Gwynedd, once Prince of Wales.
Educated in the local schools, Morgan took over his father's mercantile business in 1827.
Christopher Morgan was Edwin's brother, and Noyes Barber his uncle.
On September 27, 1829, Morgan married Charlotte Fidelia Wood of Aurora. The couple were the parents of a son, Alonzo and two daughters, Louis F., and Katharine.
Morgan soon established a large enterprise in buying and shipping agricultural products, and also in boat-building, in which he was joined by his brothers. With his brothers, he also had extensive gypsum beds at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a starch-making business at Oswego, New York.
In addition to his business career, Morgan was active in the New York Militia as inspector of the 2nd Division, which included units from Cayuga, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Tompkins, and Seneca Counties. According to New York's militia law, which was first passed in 1827, each division was authorized an inspector at the rank of colonel, and each brigade an inspector at the rank of major; from this militia service, Morgan derived the title "Colonel" Morgan, by which he was known even after he was no longer active in the militia.
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