West Virginia and Regional History Center
1549 University Ave.P.O. Box 6069
Morgantown, WV 26506-6069
Business Number: 304-293-3536
wvrhcref@westvirginia.libanswers.com
URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu
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Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Ephraim F. Morgan (1869-1950), Governor, Papers, A&M 1660, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
Ephraim Franklin Morgan (January 16, 1869-January 15, 1950) served as West Virginia's 16th governor, 1921-1925.
Governor Morgan was born on a farm near Forksburg, Marion County, and was a descendant of Morgan Morgan, the first white settler of western Virginia. He studied at Fairmont State Normal School and earned his law degree from West Virginia University in 1897. After establishing a law practice in Fairmont, he later served with the First West Virginia Regiment during the Spanish-American War. He held a number of public positions in Fairmont including city solicitor and judge in the Intermediate Court. He married Alma Bennett in 1902.
In 1915, he became a member of the state Service Commission, but resigned in 1919 to run as a Republican candidate for governor. He narrowly defeated Arthur B. Koontz in the 1920 fractious election.
The bitterly divisive Mine Wars in southern West Virginia consumed much of Morgan's administration. During this time, he favored the state's coal operators and sought to squelch the miners uprising and the formation of strong labor unions by sending the WV State Police to the coal fields. As the violence escalated President Harding eventually intervened by sending federal troops to Mingo and Logan counties.
Under Governor Morgan's administration the legislature created a sinking fund to provide financial assistance to new programs, namely a new road system. He also oversaw the building of a state capitol and a Governor's Mansion. The new Capitol was completed during the last month of his administration, and he and his family moved into the Mansion just days before his governorship ended.
Morgan continued public service after leaving the Governor's Office. He worked as a solicitor for the U.S. Department of Commerce spending much of his time in Washington. In 1940 he ran for U.S Senate, not making it beyond the primary. He died at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings concerning the administration of the 16th Governor of West Virginia, the launching of the U.S.S. West Virginia, and the building of present Executive Mansion
Related Material
203, 1660
Separated Material
4 photos separated to A&M 4168, Panoramic Photos Collection:
Dedication Class, Scottish Rite Reunion, 1916/10/10-1916/10/13; 1916/10
Senators of WV, Regular Session; 1921
House of Delegates, Regular Session; 1921
Meeting of Mine Inspectors Institute of America, Charleston, WV, 1927/05/03-1927/05/05 (photographed on Hawks Nest Rock); 1927/05
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Charleston.
- Maps.
- Morgan, Ephraim Franklin, 1869-1950
- Politicians -- United States
- Politics and government.
- United States -- Politics and government
- United States Navy - USS WEST VIRGINIA.
- West Virginia - Governors.
- West Virginia -- Politics and government
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Charleston.
- United States -- Politics and government
- West Virginia -- Politics and government