Eliza Ann Morgan
May 30, 1825-April 17, 1876
Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 29 1876, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
DIED
In this city, Monday, April 17, 1876, Mrs. ELIZA A. MORGAN, relict of Henry Morgan, in her 51st year.
She was born at Liberty, Union county, Indiana, May 30, 1825. Her parents, (Mr. and Mrs. David Deniston) with their family moved to the territory of Michigan in 1836, and settled on Terre Coupee prairie, near where Dayton Village is now situated. In 1851, they moved to Niles--father, mother, two sons and two daughters. Miss Eliza A. Deniston becoming the wife of Henry Morgan, March 19, 1851, and with the exception of about one year's residence in Dowagiac, Cass county, has since lived in Niles. She was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hamilton, Ind., when 15 years of age, and from that time to the day of her death (over thirty-five years) born evidence consistently of her strong faith in God, enjoying an abiding assurance of His acceptance, especially during her severe afflictions, the death of her husband, and her subsequent and last illness of fourteen months, never murmuring or complaining, but striving to be contented with her lot, evidencing a complete resignation, and by manner and words, saying: "Thy will be done." Although kept at home by her enfeebled condition, she, nor any of her relatives, even those of the home circle, had the least thought that her time of departure was so near at hand. On the day of her death she felt better than on the previous day. She was able to be up part of the day as usual. Expecting after a little rest, to join the others of the household, and so expressed her intentions. And those words ("I will come down in a few minutes"), spoken to her devoted sister, were the unexpected farewell words. She laid down on her bed to rest--Went to sleep, Oh! that rest! "those few moments," and that sleep found in a few moments, to be her last, Blessed sleep, the sweeter because of her character and life. Of her it must truly be said, "Best loved, by whom best known." Thus by this sad, sudden death, is the family circle again riven, the neighborhood in which she lived, and the church of which she was a quiet unassuming member, the faithful and consistent, robbed of one of their truest and best members. The mother survives the elder daughter, though perhaps, but for a short time. The brother loses a kind, devoted sister, and the surviving sister parts with her confident, her counselor, her bosom companion during their lives, together sharing griefs and joys. But the blow falls heaviest upon the son and daughter, (Leander and Mary.) Bereft of their best early friend--deprived of the mother's council, loving words and faithful ministrations, their lives seem darkened and the shadows of death sorrows fall about them, and renders life's cup so bitter and unwelcome, but the rememberance[sic] of "mother," her words, acts, and sacrifices for the good and happiness of her children attests her faithfulness to them, whom, if as true to principle and pure as she, shall, in God's own time meet again.