Morgan-Knighton Kith 'n Kin

John W. Morgan was born in Nixburg, Alabama, on December 9, 1859. His parents, Milton and Elizabeth Sarah (Carter) Morgan, were prosperous farmers in Alabama prior to the Civil War; however, the War and its resulting destruction and confusion changed the family’s fortunes. Shortly after the War, Milton died after a long siege of fever. Sarah left the Chaos in Alabama and moved to Comanche... ... County, Texas, accompanied by John and his three brothers.
In his early years, John W. Morgan drove an ox-wagon freighting to Comanche, Menard, Ballinger, San Saba, Sonora, and other parts of West Texas. He had many encounters with the Indians and could tell chilling stories of his narrow escapes.

He married Cordelia Beuna Vista Grissom prior to coming to Martin County in 1928. Cordelia was born in Arkansas, the daughter of Sam and Margaret Grissom. John and Cordelia had ten children, five boys and five girls.
By the time the family moved to Martin County, three of the daughters were married. The Morgan’s and their seven remaining children settled in the Tarzan community and farmed for W.F. Stewart. John was a hard working man; but with such a large family, everyone had to work to make ends meet. He was a man who was always looking for “greener pastures”, as Cordelia always said, so the family moved often.

Even though the family had some very lean years in the depression of the 1930’s they had each other and were happy. John was hit by a car while walking home from town one day. After that he could not work very much. He raised vegetables in his garden and sold them in Stanton in his later years.

Cordelia was very religious and became a member of the Stanton Church of Christ. John, Cordelia and their children took every opportunity to go to the revival “tent” meetings on that day. Some of their children still attend the same church to which their mother belonged.

John was healthy (although unable to work) well into his 80’s. He regularly walked to town, even though his family worried about him crossing the railroad tracks. He thought that since had walked across the railroad track so many times, they should have known he was “a coming”. He died on his 87th birthday, December 9, 1946. Cordelia died three months later. Their descendants included the ten and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A summary of their children and their families follows: Verda, the oldest, married Clyde Geurin. Their children are Perry, Marjorie, Lurlene, and Frances. Lone married Elbert Moon. They had one daughter, Madaline. After their divorce she married Earl Grizzell. They had a daughter, Billie June. Noble was married a short time. He died in 1972. Alvin married Roberta Stark and they had one daughter, Janet. After their divorce he married Ellen Pinkerton Warner. Tilman married Alverine Henson and they had one daughter, Barbara. After their divorce he married Dell Dawkins Pitts. After her death he married Maxine Harris. He is now divorced. Johnny married Helen Petree. Their children are Robert, Kenneth, Patsy, and Don. Mable married Carl Guerin. Their children are Peggy and Darryl. She is now married to Bob Needham. Laverne married Leman Henson and their children are Shirley and Jerry. After their divorce she married Bernard Cheatham. After his death she married Howard Stallings. She is now divorced. Imogene married Alton Turner. They have two daughters, Sheila and Deborah. Joy married Helen Wolf and they had one son, Jimmy. After their divorce he married Janie Hildreth. They have one son, Rodney and one daughter, Rhonda.



Al and I first met in 1963, when I went with some friends to a night club in Big Spring. Later we started dating. His wit and easy way of making friends drew us together. We were married in 1966.

Our wedding took place in the home of Al’s brother and sister-in-law, Joy and Janie Morgan. Doyle Corder, Church of Christ Minister performed the ceremony.

Al was one of ten children born to John and Cordelia Morgan. He was born in San Angelo in 1907. His family first moved to Martin County in 1928. He later married and moved to California. They had one daughter, Jan in 1938. He was in the home construction business. When his marriage ended in divorce he returned to Stanton in 1963, where he has worked as a Custodian for the Public Schools, Martin County Hospital, as Supervisor of the Laundry at Big Spring State Hospital and as a house painter. He is now semi-retired.

Clyde Geurin married Verda Morgan and they had a son and three daughters. Perry, now deceased; Margie Mauldin and Lurlene Larson of Big Spring; and Frances Herron of Oklahoma.

Mable married Clyde’s brother Carl. They had a son Darrell and a daughter, Peggy. Carl lives in Grants Pass, Oregon.



Alton Turner, the son of Oscar Cater and Cora Turner was born in Stanton, Texas, on April 23, 1916. Imogene Morgan the daughter of John and Cordelia Morgan was born April 20, 1920, on the Price’s Ranch near Snyder, Texas. She moved to Stanton about 1930.

They met at a young people’s gathering in Alton’s Aunt Alta’s peach orchard. After months of courting, they were married in Midland, Texas on December 29, 1934.

One of Alton’s first jobs was a grocery clerk for Jack Jones. Years later he became a partner with Jack and later bought him out, along with Dwain Henson, until 1960 when a brother, O.C. Turner, became a partner. They sold their grocery business in 1968 to Buddies of Fort Worth. This began a period of over thirty years in which Alton owned and operated a grocery business in Stanton. His extension of credit during the long drought of the 1959’s was instrumental in helping many people survive this lean period.

Alton was very active in the community affairs of Stanton. He was on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, served as Post Commander of the American Legion; was a charter member of the Lion’s Club; and was a member of the Rotary Club. He served as President of the Old Settler’s Reunion the year of the Diamond Jubilee in 1958. He enjoyed outings of hunting and fishing with his many friends.

Imogene worked some during her early years of marriage. However, after the children were born, she was very busy and satisfied being a homemaker. (Because she is from a large family, she’s always looked after little ones.) Their oldest daughter, Sheila was born in Stanton in 1946. Deborah was adopted in 1955. Imogene kept very busy with the girls in their school activities.

Alton and Imogene were both baptized at the Stanton Church of Christ many years ago and still attend this same church.
Alton sold his grocery business in 1968 and the family moved to Pinetop, Arizona where they owned and operated a motel in that resort area. After a few years, they moved to Midland, Texas where Alton owned and operated an Army Surplus store. Alton was forced to retire early because of ill health. He and Imogene live north of Stanton and enjoy the outdoors and gardening in the summer.

Sheila, their oldest daughter, married Wesley W. Williams, III in 1963. Sheila and her husband live in Midland, Texas. Sheila, like her mother, is very busy being a homemaker. Her husband is a Certified Public Accountant and is partner with the accounting firm of Main Lafrentz & Co.

Deborah, the youngest, finished high school in Midland, Texas and attended Richland College in Richardson, Texas. She married Robert Michael Williams from Richardson in 1975. They now live in Lubbock, Texas where Mike attends Texas Tech University. Debbie is a secretary for the Tech Medical School.