Thomas P. Morgan (December 1, 1864 - 1928) was an American writer, editor, poet, and

columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (newspaper), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the fo ...

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Biography

Morgan was born in

East Lyme East Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,693 at the 2020 census. The villages of Niantic and Flanders are located in the town. Geography East Lyme is located in southern New London County, west ...

, Connecticut to Joseph P. Morgan. He moved to Rogers, Arkansas in 1890. He began his career as an actor and circus clown before moving west and operating a book and stationery business in Rogers, Arkansas. He wrote for various periodicals including ''

Harper's Magazine ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. (''Scientific American'' is older, b ...

'', '' Ladies Home Journal'' and '' Puck'' as well as a playwright. He became nationally known for his comedic tales of country folk life employing quirky characters and vernacular dialogue. He was friendly with

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

and his wife Betty. He sometimes used the pen name Tennyson J. Daft. Morgan also wrote plays but is better known for his humorous short stories. He wrote a daily humor column for the ''

Kansas City Star ''The Kansas City Star'' is a newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Star'' is most notable for its influence on the career of President Harry S. Truman and as ...

'' for many years. He spent his later years in Arkansas.

Bibliography

*''Short stories and wit of Tom P. Morgan: Late of Rogers, Arkansas'', Compiled by J. Dickson Black

References

*New York Times obituary, July 8, 1928, page 21, column 3. *“Mystery of Tom P. Morgan is Resolved” by Billie Jines, Northwest Arkansas Morning News, May 3, 1987, p. 1B. *“Memories of Tom P. Morgan” by Vera Key, Benton County Pioneer 1 (August 1956): 8–10. *Obituary of Tom P. Morgan. Rogers Democrat. July 12, 1928, p. 1. *Tom P. Morgan Research File. Research Library. Rogers Historical Museum, Rogers, Arkansas. *Who's Who, XII to XVI by Fred W. Allsopp, Poets and Poetry of Arkansas, Little Rock, 1922, page 109 *"Westerners Who Write" by ; Arthur Grissom, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 28, 1888 * ''Journalist'', Volume VIII, November 10, 1888, 2, XI, August 9, 1890 *''Editor and Publisher'', Volume LXI, July 14, 1928 1864 births 1928 deaths American humorists 19th-century American poets American clowns People from East Lyme, Connecticut 20th-century American short story writers Poets from Arkansas Poets from Connecticut American male short story writers American male dramatists and playwrights People from Rogers, Arkansas 19th-century American dramatists and playwrights 20th-century American male writers 19th-century American male writers American magazine editors The Kansas City Star people 19th-century American male actors American male stage actors 20th-century American poets American male poets 19th-century American short story writers American columnists {{US-writer-stub

Biography

Bibliography

References

Further reading