Jones Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jones Morgan
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|---|---|
| Born | October 23, 1882 Newberry County, South Carolina |
| Died | August 29, 1993 (aged 110) Richmond, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1896–1900 |
| Unit | 9th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War |
Jones Morgan (October 23, 1882 – August 29, 1993) was an American man who lived to be 110 years old. He claimed he was the last soldier from the Spanish–American War still alive. People who live over 100 years are sometimes called "supercentenarians."
Serving His Country
Morgan, who was an African-American man, joined the 9th Cavalry Regiment in 1896. These soldiers were known as Buffalo Soldiers. He was actually too young to join the army at that time. This fact later caused some debate about his service.
Morgan's job was mainly to help with the horses and cook for his fellow soldiers. He took care of the horses for the Rough Riders, a famous group of soldiers.
Life in Later Years
As Jones Morgan grew older, he became very poor. He received free meals from church charities to help him survive. By 1986, he was renting a room and living on his Social Security checks.
Later in his life, many people wondered if Jones Morgan's claim about serving in the war was true. This was especially after another veteran, Nathan E. Cook, who was thought to be the last survivor, passed away. Morgan did not get military benefits because he lacked official papers. He said a fire in 1912 destroyed his records.
Some experts, like military archivist Mike Knapp, said they couldn't find solid proof. However, they still believed him. Army record-keeping in the 1890s was not very good. This was especially true for black soldiers, who were often treated unfairly.
In 1992, a representative from Virginia, Thomas J. Bliley, Jr., tried to help Morgan. He suggested a bill in the United States House of Representatives. This bill would give Mr. Morgan the benefits he deserved.
In his final years, Morgan became a well-known person in Virginia. He met former President George H. W. Bush and General Colin Powell. He also led the Veterans of Foreign Wars parade.
His Passing
Jones Morgan passed away on August 23, 1993. He was 110 years old. He was buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. His tombstone has a special plaque calling him a Buffalo Soldier.
About His Records
The Ancestry.com website has a 1942 World War II Draft Registration card for Jones J. Morgan. This card lists his birth year as 1888, not 1882. If this record is correct, he would have been six years younger than he claimed. This would mean he was too young to have served in the Spanish-American War.
