Eliza Jane Morgan was born on April 8, 1861 in Paragonah, Iron County, Utah, the sixth child of David Davis Morgan and Jane Lewis. She married John Hunter Barton on October 27, 1878 in Greenville, Beaver County, Utah. Eliza's paremts were born in Merthyr, Tydil or Glamorgen, Wales, England and migrated to the United States around 1853. Eliza's brothers and sisters were: Sarah Morgan who was born in Merthyr, Glamorgan, Wales, England and died in Greenville, Beaver County, Utah; Joseph Hyrum Morgan who was born crossing the plains in Kansas and died in Circleville, Piute County, Utah; David Alexander Morgan who was born in Cedar City, Iron County, Utah and died in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah; and Moroni David Morgan who was born in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah and died in Falls City, Jerome County, Utah.

Eliza and John had seven children: Eva Jane Barton (1879 - 1960), Ray Hunter Barton (1881 - 1957), John Penn Barton (1883 - 1975), David Chesley Barton (1885 - 1967), Nina Ester Barton (1887 - 1974), Ezra Cooper Barton (1894 - 1959) born in Greenville, Beaver County, Utah and Kenneth Asa Barton (1899 - 1992) born in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah.

Eliza Jane Morgan died on September 19, 1938 in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah.

Sketch of the life of ELIZA JANE MORGAN (by her daughter, Eva Jane Barton Easton about 1953)

In the little country of Wales, David Morgan and Jane Lewis were born. They were married in 1849. To their union were born five children, Sarah, Joseph, Alexander, Moroni and Jane. David was one of the working class while Jane’s parents were wealthy, and they opposed their marriage. When David and Jane joined the LDS church, her parents were angry, they did not come to bid them goodbye when they sailed for America.

David and Jane arrived in America in 1855 and started at once for Salt Lake City, Utah. As they were crossing their second child, Joseph, was born. When he was three days old, grandmother had to get out of the wagon and help push it along. After the reached Salt Lake City, they decided to go to Cedar City, Utah where Alexander was born in the year 1857. They later moved to Beaver City, Utah where Moroni was born in 1859, in a cellar home where Ray Easton and family now live. They then moved back to Paragonah, Utah where Jane was born in the house where Aunt Lucy Barton lived.

When mother was two years old her mother died, and her sister Sarah took care of the house. Her father married Pauline Ellicker and two little girls were born to them. When mother was nine years old her father died, and when she was twelve years old her sister Sarah died, leaving her to help take care of her sister’s children.

Mother came to Beaver after this and worked for family of Mrs. Shipp for three years and three months for her board and clothes. She sent her to school for one year under Mrs. Hunter. She was also in the choir under Brother Robert Stoney. They sang at the dedication of the St. George Temple; the date was April 6, 1877 (mother had a very sweet alto voice)

Mother then went back to Greenville, Utah to stay with her brother and sister-in-law, Alex and Ellie Morgan. She then came to Beaver and worked at the home of Sister Low. Sister Low took her on two weeks trail. After the time was up, she wanted mother to stay as long as she wanted. On October 27, 1876, she and John Hunter Barton were married; his father, then the Justice of the Peace at Greenville, performed the ceremony. By this union, five boys and two girls were born.

The day after they were married, mother’s two brothers came to live with them. Soon after this, her two half-sisters, and also her two nephews lived with them until they were married, and after Nina was widowed, they took care of her two children.

In 1894, mother was chosen as President of the Relief Society in Greenville. This position was held until they moved to Beaver in 1896. Her greatest mission was to raise hers and other people’s children. She and father celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary in 1928 with a dinner and dance in the evening. It was held in the Beaver High School. There were eighty relatives and friends present.

On December 16, 1934 father passed away and mother lived the rest of her life at home with her son and daughter-in-law, Ez and Jen, except for the time she spent with her daughter in Seattle, Washington. She was gone for two months and came back by airplane. This was interesting because not many people traveled by air at that time, and it was a thrill for mother. We have a picture of her when she was getting in the plane with the stewardess. They loaded her down with flowers. They were amused at mother’s bravery.

When they were approaching Salt Lake City a wind came up and the pilot ordered them to strap themselves in, which mother did she did not wait for the stewardess to help her. They left Seattle at 11:00 and were in Salt Lake City at 6:00.

Mother died at her home on the 29th of September 1838, on Ken’s birthday, her baby boy. All seven of her children were standing at her bedside when she died. She was buried in the Beaver cemetery.

Funeral Services for Eliza Jane Barton

Very impressive funeral services were held on Wednesday in the Beaver East Ward LDS chapel for Eliza Jane Barton who passed away Monday morning at 9:00. Bishop Clyde L Messenger conducted.

“Sister Thou Art Mild and Lovely” was sung by a male quartet consisting of Milo Baker, Reed Moore, R. C. Murdock and Kent Morgan, accompanied by Ila Faux.

Invocation by J. T. Tanner

“Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” was sung by Mr. and Mrs. Milo Baker.

Principle E. R. Moody was the first speaker, who said that is was an honor to pay tribute to an Angel Mother.

Violin solo, “The End of a Perfect Day” played by Ray Barton Jr. of Salt Lake City, accompanied by Mrs. Wilford Murdock.

Congressman Abe Murdock was the next speaker and he spoke of the life-long acquaintance with the Barton family and the good they had done in our little community. He encouraged the family to emulate the example of their parents.

Vocal Solo “Going Home” by Carlie Murdock

Benediction was offered by William Morgan

Interment was in the Mountain View Cemetery; the dedication was done by Frank Harris.

(Written by Emma J. Barton)

As a daughter-in-law, I would like the privilege of adding an expression of appreciation for the life of Mrs. Barton, as it affected my life. I loved her from the time I married into the Barton family until her death. We were very close. She was one of the most unselfish persons I have ever known. She was decidedly a home person, and her joy was most complete when she was associating with her children. There was always such a perfect welcome in her home. Some of my outstanding and happy memories are when we lingered around the table after dinner visiting with Ma and Dad (when we would go to Salt Lake and visit with them for a few days). I remember how devoted she was to us when we were ill. She was a sweet petite little lady, I am grateful to have had the privilege of being a close part of her life.

**************

(Kenneth Barton, son, gave the following insight into his mother’s life)

Of my mother I can only say, were you to sit down and try to enumerate all of the good qualities that a model mother should have, your appraisal would lack some of the fine qualities that this little lady possessed. She was always up at the crack of dawn, going about her daily tasks, caring for the loved ones to which her life was dedicated. While she had the mildest disposition in the world, I can see in retrospect, she had the courage of a lion. She came from a background of abject poverty and had to make her own way in the world since she was twelve years old. How many people are there who would not have become “sour” and critical of humanity. But possibly we can take the opposite view and say that this background, as rugged as it was, was the contributing factor cause in shaping her into the well-rounded lovely lady that she became. In conclusion, I can only say that whom-so-ever brushed by my mother’s elbow, could say that their life had been enriched by the contact, and that although we have heard of “Angels of Mercy”, “Angels of the Battlefield”, “Angels on Horseback”, and so forth, …, we also know that some homes find them in Gingham Aprons.