Hill and Morgan families papers

The Hill/Morgan Family collection provides rare insight into many different aspects of Ohio history. Early 19th century correspondence to the Hill family reveals contemporary attitudes about relationships, travel (infrequency of visits), and activities. The Reverend Harlow Hill and his family also received many letters from friends serving in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War which gives personal accounts of battles and camp life during campaigns. All of the letters, except three in box 1, folder 2, from Allen S. Underwood of the 153rd New York have been transcribed. The three mentioned above were omitted due to lightness and illegibility issues.

Better represented are the lives of the daughters of Guy and Hester (Hill) Morgan. Correspondence between each other and friends furnish an intimate and affectionate description of their lives from their youth near the end of the century, to old age. School compositions, report cards, and commencement programs give further personal reference to their lives. Two of the girls trained and practiced as teachers near Wayne, Ohio, as is evidenced by some of the teaching certificates and other teacher's documents included. The tragedy of young lives ended prematurely through sickness is portrayed in the letters and obituaries of two of the sisters' deaths.

The life of the youngest daughter, Adella (Morgan) Overmyer, is represented more completely than any other. Her attendance at Lima College, and subsequent career as a teacher are illustrated in her letters, especially to her college friends. She was also very active in various women's organizations on a local, state, and national level. Minutes of meetings, pamphlet material, conference programs, and awards all combine to describe her opinions and actions regarding women's issues during the early to mid-20th century.

Religion played a significant role in the succeeding generations of this family, from the Reverend Harlow Hill to Mrs. Ruth Graf (donor of the collection) who married a Lutheran Pastor. The collection therefore includes many tracts and publications of a sectarian nature from the mid-nineteenth century to 1980.

The genealogist will find much information about the Hill and Morgan families, as well as their many relations. Because of the nature of this collection there is much information about many families who grew up and were associated with this Wood County family for over 100 years.

CORRESPONDENCE - HILL FAMILY; 1831-1931; arranged chronologically - Box 1, Folders 1-7. Letters to various members of the Hill family from their friends and relatives on family and religious topics. Included is some correspondence from soldiers serving in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.

CORRESPONDENCE - HENRY W. HILL; 1860-1911; arranged chronologically - Box 1, Folders 8-12. Letters to Henry W. Hill from various friends on many topics. Of particular interest are the letters from many of his friends during the Civil War including his brother-in-law Charles M. Gano, and future brother-in-law Guy Morgan.

CORRESPONDENCE - MORGAN FAMILY; 1862-1916; arranged chronologically - Box 1, Folders 13-20. Letters on various topics received by members of the Morgan family. Included is much correspondence to Carrie L. Morgan who died at age twenty-six, and Jessie M. Morgan, who died at age seventeen. Most correspondence is between the surviving sisters (predominately Adella) into their married lives.

CORRESPONDENCE - H. ADELLA MORGAN; 1907-1942; arranged chronologically - Box 1, Folders 21-24. Most of this material consists of Adella's correspondence with her college friends including Ralph A. Lutes, who seems to have had a romantic interest in her.

CORRESPONDENCE - OVERMYER FAMILY; 1913-1971; arranged chronologically - Box 1, Folders 25-26. Some postcards to William Overmyer before his marriage in 1919, and other correspondence to he and Adella on various topics from friends and relatives.

Stories, poetry, essays, songs, and recipes written by members of the Hill, Morgan, Overmyer, and Graf families. Includes obituaries and short biographies of some of these and related individuals, copies of bible records for Hill, Morgan, and Ostrander families.

REUNIONS; 1881-1909; arranged by organization - Box 2, Files 32-33. Various printed announcements for the 21st Regiment of the O.V.V.I. (144th Reg.) with reunion ribbons. Also some correspondence to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Morgan relating to family reunion, with printed program and reunion ribbons. Included are newsclippings relative to these subjects. (Reunion ribbons have been transferred to MS 562.)

RELIGION; 1858-1983, undated; Box 2, Files 34-37. Early manuscripts relating to Wood County churches. Printed materials-tracts, booklets, periodicals, and decorative scripture cards.

EDUCATION; 1862-1942; Box 2, Files 38-44. Various examples of student and teacher materials, both manuscript and printed. Notebooks, report cards, manuals, commencement programs, certificates, and handbooks dealing with Wood County school districts.

Miscellaneous documents relating to the Hill, Morgan, Ostrander, and Wensel families including marriage certificates, indentures, deeds, Civil War pension materials, and court records.

Leases, receipts, inventories, etc. mostly relating to financial concerns of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Morgan including his ledger book.

Miscellaneous newsclippings: births, marriages, and deaths of Hill, Morgan, Overmyer and related families. Also many of the same collected for residents of the Prairie Depot (Wayne), Ohio area.

PROMOTIONAL AND DECORATIVE; undated; arranged categorically - Box 3, Files 55-56. These materials include commercially printed art cards, and postcards of Ohio sites. Also some printed calling and gift enclosure cards.

BOOKS, BOOKLETS, AND MISCELLANEOUS; undated; arranged categorically - Box 4, Files 57-59. Juvenile reading materials and miscellaneous printed materials belonging to the Hill and Morgan families.

VICTORY LIBERTY LOAN; 1919; Box 4, File 60. Applications for Victory Liberty Loan notes and certificate of recognition.

WOMENS ORGANIZATIONS; 1917-1919; Box 4, Files 61-62. Printed materials relating to the Women's Relief Corps, Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, and other female organizations.

Includes black and white prints and negatives illustrating individual family members, agricultural scenes, home interviews and social activities.