Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

David Morgan (1721–1813) / Patriot, Defender

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 23, 2009

1. David Morgan (1721–1813) / Patriot, Defender Marker

Inscription.
David Morgan (1721–1813). Son of Col. Morgan Morgan. Surveyed with Washington for Fairfax Stone; explored with Boone & Gist. Settled here in 1771. Surveyed Pleasantville (Rivesville) 1776. Upriver on his nearby 361-acre River See, he established Pettyjohn with ferry, mail drop, trading post, and home (exant) with salt works.

Patriot, Defender. David Morgan, soldier French & Indian War, serving at Fort Necessity and in Braddock and Forbes Expeditions. Soldier in Revolutionary War. Provided drill grounds at Pettyjohn. Surveyed Pricketts Fort and southwest Virginia. Justice of the peace. Noted for saving two of his children in a fight with two Indians.

Erected 2008 by City of Fairmont & Marion County Commission, and West Virginia Archives & History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • War, French and Indian • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. 39° 28.783′ N, 80° 8.75′ W. Marker is in Fairmont, West Virginia, in Marion County. Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Street (West Virginia Route

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310) and Virginia Avenue, on the left when traveling south on 3rd Street. Marker is just past the west end of the Monongahela River bridge next to the Marion County Rescue Squad. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fairmont WV 26554, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Father’s Day Service (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named First Father's Day Service (about 800 feet away); The Colonel George S. “Spanky” Roberts, USAF Memorial Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Confederate Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle Of Fairmont (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named The Colonel George S. "Spanky" Roberts, USAF Memorial Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Francis H. Pierpont (approx. 0.3 miles away); Julia Robertson Pierpont (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairmont.

Also see . . . The Earliest Printed Version of David Morgan and the Two Indians. West Virginia History website entry:
1962 article by Jack B. Moore. “. . . The white man is upwards of sixty years of age, his name is David Morgan, a kinsman to col. Morgan, of the rifle battalion. This man had through fear of the Indians, fled to a fort about twenty miles above the province line, and near the east side of the Monongahela river. From thence he sent some of his younger children to his plantation, which was about a mile distant, there to do some business in the field.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 23, 2009

2. David Morgan (1721–1813) / Patriot, Defender Marker

He afterwards thought fit to follow, and see how they fared. Getting to his field and seating himself upon the fence, within view of his children, where they were at work, he espied two Indians making towards them: on which he called to his children to make their escape, for there were Indians. The Indians immediately bent their course towards him. He made the best haste to escape away, that his age and consequent infirmity would permit: but soon found he would be overtaken, which made him think of defense. Being armed with a good rifle, he faced about and found himself under the necessity of running four or five perches towards the Indians, in order to obtain shelter behind a tree of sufficient size. . . ” (Submitted on August 1, 2009.)

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 23, 2009

3. David Morgan (1721–1813) / Patriot, Defender Marker

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 23, 2009

4. David Morgan (1721–1813) / Patriot, Defender Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,115 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on January 16, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 1, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.