Clara Christiana Morgan

HOMES: Cheltenham, England until 1870; immigrated to US in 1871 andmoved to Fairmont, Nebraska as first settlers of the town; Evanston,Illinois; Newton, MA; Los Angeles, California. Became a US citizen1880.

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA: She was born at Boddington Manor as grand daughterof the owner, John Blagdon. She attended Clifton Ladies College inEngland and passed the Cambridge Examination before immigrating toAmerica with her whole family. They all immediately went overland tohomestead in Fairmont, Nebraska. Before even having children, she waselected first Director of Fairmont School Board and taught at thefirst school house. She became very active in the Women's SuffrageAssociation of Nebraska and was elected an officer in 1880. She wasalso active in the Women's Christian Temperance Union and becameeditor of it's international magazine, The Union Signal. She alsowrote many articles for the publication and many others. She was aChristian Scientist and was a very spiritual and Christian woman.Although quite small in stature, she was described as mighty andstrong in mind and determination. She had a strong influence on allher children and grand children.

1920 CA Census living on Latona Avenue, LA, CA with a boarder at 67years old. 1910 Colorado census living in Denver with husbandClarence at 57 years old. 1900 Census Chicago, Illinois living withhusband Clarence and daughters Jessie and Constance.

Nebraska Bulletin Fairmont, NE-10/19/1872
Report on schools in Fillmore Co.-Dist. 17 taught by Miss CC Morgan inher father's house, room rather small, furnished with desk andbenches, 10 pupils present, 13 on the list, Miss M is teaching her 2ndterm in this country. She had experience in teaching in England andis a well qualified teacher and system good.

1902 living at 92 Grant Avenue, Newton Center, MA

From: A woman of the century: fourteen hundred-seventy biographicalSketches, Volume 3, Published 1893
CHAPIN, Mrs. Clara Christiana, woman suffragist and temperance worker,born in Gloucestershire, England, 26th December, 1852. Her maiden namewas Morgan. Her father was of Welsh extraction, and her mother came ofan old country family the Blagdons, proprietors of the manor ofBoddington since the days of William the Conqueror. She was educatedin Clifton Ladies' College and passed the Cambridge local examinationthe only form of university privilege open at that time to girls. Shecame to the Umted States with her parents and their five youngerchildren in 187o. The family settled in Fillmore county, Neb., andClara engaged in teaching. In September, and at the age of ten yearsshe was not bound down by any weight or handicapped bv wealth whichmight have prevented the development of the resources within herself.From that age she was self-supporting. The industrious spirit,perseverance, strong judgment, sympathy and kindness possessed by bothparents were transmitted to her. Her education was obtained in thepublic schools and in the State Normal, supplemented by studies atnight. She taught school twelve years and was recognized as anefficient instructor. Beginning when "boarding round " was the customand five dollars per month was the salary, she gradually advanced toschools where higher attainments insured greater compensation. Shestudied medicine in the Homeopathic College of Cleveland, Ohio. Shewas graduated in February 1874 and located at once in Pittsburgh, PA ,where she still resides. She found it a conservative city,unaccustomed to woman doctors and not realizing a demand for them. Itrequired a great struggle to become established. The pioneer effortsand all influence connected therewith were borne as a necessary ordealto one entering upon an unusual work. She labored with a firmdetermination to maintain true professional dignity and generalcourtesy to all deserving associates, cognizant of the fact that hardstudy and patient perseverance would be necessary to reach the goal.Her true womanly character in the profession has been endorsed by manyexalted positions in local, district, State and national medicalorganizations. Her faith in God and in the brotherhood of mankind hasinduced her to make extensive efforts for humanity, for the relief oftheir physical distress and for their education and reformation.State. Mr. Chapin served as a member of the State legislature, whilehis talented wife by the use of her pen and personal influence aldedin securing the enactment of the famous Slocum license Taw, at thattime supposed to be the panacea in temperance matters. They also aidedmaterially in securing the temperance educational and scientific lawfor that State. She was particularly interested in all movements forthe advancement of women and took an active part in the woman suffragecampaign of 1882. She was a prominent member of the Woman's ChristianTemperance Union and wrote much for the press on the woman andtemperance questions. Being a little body, Mrs. Chapin commonly wentby the name "La Petite" among her co-workers in Nebraska, but, thoughsmall of stature, she is of that fine mental acumen which gives greatindividualitv and force of character. Though of English birth, Mrs.Chapin's life-work has been and still is American. She now resides,with her husband, son and two daughters, in one of the pleasantsuburban towns Chicago. lll.

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 about Clara ChristianaMorgan
Name: Clara Christiana Morgan
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1853
Registration district: Monmouth
Inferred County: Monmouthshire
Volume:11a, Page:21