Thomas Jefferson Morgan was an American Brevet Brigadier General during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. He commanded the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment throughout the middle and end of the war. Later on, he became a prominent member of the Rochester Theological Seminary and would go on to be a prominent teaching figure across the United States. His works were renowned across the education world and managed to become vice president of the

National Education Association The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college stud ...

from 1887 to 1889 and the

Commissioner of Indian Affairs The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), also known as Indian Affairs (IA), is a United States federal agency within the Department of the Interior. It is responsible for implementing federal laws and policies related to American Indians and ...

from 1889 to 1893.

American Civil War

Thomas was born on August 17, 1839, at

Franklin, Indiana Franklin is a city in Johnson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 23,712 at the 2010 census. Located about south of Indianapolis, the city is the county seat of Johnson County. The site of Franklin College, the city attracts n ...

. After graduating from the college, Morgan immediately enlisted in the 7th Indiana Infantry Regiment for around three months before his tenure expired and temporarily became a teacher at

Atlanta, Illinois Atlanta (formerly Xenia) is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,692 at the 2010 census. History The community was incorporated on March 26, 1853. Geography According to the 2010 census, Atlanta has a total area ...

. Morgan re-enlisted in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

on August 1, 1862, as a First Lieutenant of the

70th Indiana Infantry Regiment The 70th Regiment Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 70th Indiana Infantry was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana July 22 through August 8, 1862, and mustered in for ...

but then organized to be the Lieutenant Colonel of the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment on November 1, 1863. After being promoted to Colonel on New Years of 1864, he organized 2 other regiments took command of the First Colored Brigade of the

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...

. He went on to participate at the Atlanta campaign as well as the Battle of Nashville while being in the general staff of

Oliver Otis Howard Oliver Otis Howard (November 8, 1830 – October 26, 1909) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the Civil War. As a brigade commander in the Army of the Potomac, Howard lost his right arm while leading his men agains ...

. Morgan was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, before resigning on April 1, 1865.

Post-War Career

After the war, Morgan attended the Rochester Theological Seminary. In 1869, he was made Baptist minister and served as the Corresponding Secretary for the New York Union for Ministerial Union and became a pastor at

Brownville, Nebraska Brownville is a village in Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 142 at the 2020 census. History Established in 1854 and incorporated in 1856, Brownville was the largest town in the Nebraska Territory, with a population o ...

in the following year. In 1872, he became the principal of the Nebraska State Normal School before later on, took similar positions at the Potsdam Normal School and the Rhode Island State Normal School. After the election of

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

, Morgan was a member of the Anti-Catholic League for the Protection of American Institutions and for the remaining years of his life, advocated for the

American Protective Association The American Protective Association (APA) was an American Anti-Catholicism, anti-Catholic secret society established in 1887 by Protestants. The organization was the largest anti-Catholic movement in the United States during the later part of the ...

. Around the time of Harrison's presidency, Morgan was made the

in 1889 in order to promote education within Native Americans as Morgan had previous experience within the

as he frequently attended their meetings and became vice president from 1887 to 1889. Morgan viewed education on Native Americans as an easy way for them to fit into society and that the system itself can be improved with one generation. Morgan was also an advocate for Chinese immigration in the United States, actively protesting the legislation for discriminating against Chinese immigrants. He resigned in 1893 to become the secretary of the Home Mission society as well as founding the Delta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity in Franklin College. After his death on July 13, 1902, he was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Thomas Jefferson 1839 births 1902 deaths People from Franklin, Indiana Union Army colonels Union Army generals People of Indiana in the American Civil War 19th-century American educators Anti-Catholic activists National Education Association people 19th-century Baptist ministers from the United States Franklin College (Indiana) alumni Burials at Mount Hope Cemetery (Rochester)

American Civil War

Post-War Career

See also

References