Elliot S.N. Morgan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 19, 1832. As a young man, he clerked in his father's store and later practiced dentistry. Active in the Republican Party, he served numerous terms in the Pennsylvania legislature during the 1870s. He was appointed secretary of Wyoming Territory by President Hayes in 1880 and reappointed by President Arthur in 1884. Upon the death of Governor Hale, Elliot S. N. Morgan became Acting Governor from January 13, 1885 until February 28, 1885. When Governor Baxter resigned from office, Morgan was again called to serve as Acting Governor from December 20, 1886 to January 24, 1887. After the expiration of his term as territorial secretary, Morgan remained in Cheyenne to practice law. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1889. Elliott S.N. Morgan died in Cheyenne on April 20, 1894.

He married Laura Spiese in Newcastle, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1860. They had five children.

The Governor Elliot S. N. Morgan Collection

Acting Governor Morgan left few records in part due to the brevity of his time in office, 80 days in total. From the first term Correspondence and from the second term Petitions for Pardons and Requisitions and Extraditions.

The records from Governor Morgan's 1st term in office include:

• Correspondence

The records from Governor Morgan's 2nd term in office include:

• Petitions for Pardons
• Requisitions and Extraditions
• Request
• Rewards

Additional Resources

• Elliott S.N. Morgan memorial, FindAGrave.com
• "Dictation from Elliott S.N. Morgan, Cheyenne 1885" by Hubert Howe Bancroft