James Morgan

Morgan was a merchant, land speculator, soldier and early settler in Texas. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787 and grew up in North Carolina. He visited Texas in 1830 and decided to move there and open a store. He partnered with James Reed of New Orleans, who supplied goods, and Morgan moved his family to Anahuac. He was named the Texas agent for the New Washington Association and acquired large amounts of land in and around Liberty and Harrisburg, including the site now known as Morgan’s Point where he laid out the town of New Washington. Morgan was involved in the independence movement, and during the Revolution, Morgan made the ships of the New Washington Association available to the Texas government. He was made a colonel in the Texas Army and served as commandant of Galveston Island for a year. After the war he returned to New Washington and continued his work for the Association. He also raised cattle and grew sugarcane. He died at his home in 1866.