Morgan Harbin LOONEY was a famous educator, author, and Chautauqua lecturer in the 19th Century. Before public schools became popular, he started schools in Georgia, Texas and Arkansas.
Morgan LOONEY was born 27 October 1827 in Fairplay, Oconee County, South Carolina. He was the son of Noah LOONEY (1799-1876) and Sarah Frances CLEVELAND MCNEIL (1802-1889), daughter of John McNEIL and Frances CLEVELAND. Noah was the son of Robert LOONEY (bef. 1749-1824), son of Adam LOONEY (1725-bef 1770), son of Robert LOONEY (bef 1692-1770) who probably emigrated from the Isle of Man about 1731 to Pennsylvania, then later settled in Augusta County, Virginia. He was named Morgan for Nancy MORGAN HART, a famous Revolutionary War heroine.
By the 1830 Census Noah LOONEY had moved to Carnesville in Franklin County, Georgia, where Morgan started school. “His education in Carnesville, GA was first under his cousin, Dr. Claud BARTON, then for about 5 years under Prof. Cecil HAMMOND, a Yale graduate. He learned elocution, mathematics, Latin, Greek, rhetoric, and composition.” He began teaching Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Math in Hartwell, Georgia when he was age fourteen.
On 26 December 1849 he married Sarah E PARKER, daughter of John D and Nancy (MERRITT) PARKER. Morgan’s brother George later wrote a letter to the editor of The Sun (30 Oct 1933, College Park, GA) about the wedding:
"...my brother, Morgan H. Looney had boarded at John D. Parker's to teach a school at Parker's Store--my sister Sarah Ann Looney was a pupil. B.B. Parker and Sarah Ann Parker were also students. At the close of the session, Miss Sarah Ann Looney became Mrs. Sarah Ann Parker, and Miss Sarah Ann Parker had changed her name to Sarah Ann Looney. The marriages had been consummated on successive nights as weddings and infaires as was the custom in those days. Mr. Parker went to Elbert Co. to teach. Mr. Looney to Palmetto where his wife had many relatives among the Redwines and Hearnes. Both became famous teachers."
By the 1850 Census Morgan and Sarah LOONEY had moved to Coweta County, Georgia. Sarah Parker LOONEY died there 28 Mar 1851. Her tombstone tombstone is in New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery, 5 miles north of Palmetto (Coweta County), GA.
Sacred
To the Memory of
Mrs. Sarah E. Looney
Who died in Coweta Co. on the 28t
of March 1851
She was the kind and obedient daughter,
The gentle and loving wife, the patient
and pious Christain.
At the hour of death she was perfectly
resigned and happy.
An Early flower ere the glory of its
summer, has faded away from earth
But it blooms again in heaven, to fade
and wither no more.
Lo soft remembrance drops the pious tear,
And Holy Love stands yet a mourner here.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © Teresa McVeigh 2009
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment