WILLIAM RILEY MORGAN, P.O. Prairie Creek, was born in Vigo county, 
Ind., September 18, 1841, and is a son of William and Sophia 
(Shattuck) Morgan, also natives of this county.  Our subject's 
paternal grandparents were natives of Kentucky, of Scotch-Irish 
descent, and emigrated from that State to this county in an early day.
The parents of William R. were married in this county, and the 
father died about 1843, thet mother in 1850. They had two sons and 
one daughter, Licurgus C. and William R. being the only ones now 
living.  After the death of his parents, William R. lived with his 
uncle, Valentine Morgan, for a year, and then with Joel Myers, about
four years, since which time he has made his own living working as a
hand until the beginning of the war.  On September 18, 1861, he 
enlisted in company D, Forty-third Ind. V. I., participating in 
several fierce engagements, among which were those of Memphis (Tenn.),
Helena (Ark.), Fort Pillow and Mark's Mill.  At the latter place he 
was captured and taken prisoner to Tyler, Tex., where he was confined 
for ten months, and then exchanged.  While on picket duty just across
the Mississippi river from Helena, Ark., he was wounded in the face 
and forehead by a bullet which necessitated his being taken to the 
hospital, where he remained one week, preferring to be with his 
company although he was not able for duty for several months.
He remained in the United States' service until June, 1865, when he 
was discharged at Indianapolis, immediately returning to this county. 
In 1867 Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Nancy Piety, who was born in 
Vigo county, in October, 1845, and by this union there is one child, 
born in 1871, named Walter P., now a promising young man.  Soon after 
his marriage our subject moved to Champaign county, Ill., and there 
farmed until 1870, when he returned to this county, where he has 
since resided.  He has 137 acres of land, of which ninety-five are in 
cultivation, located thirteen miles south of the county seat. His 
schooling was very limited, he receiving only a few days' tuition 
after he was eight years of age. Mr. Morgan cast his first 
presidential vote for Lincoln.  He and his wife and son are members 
of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the F.M.B.A.

History of Vigo County with biographical selections
by H. C. Bradsby
Chicago, S. B. Nelson, 1891
pp 870-871.