Morgan Pioneer History Binds Us Together Ralph Briggs Douglas Ralph Briggs Douglas was born December 28, 1824 in Downham, Lancashire, England. He was the son of George Douglas and Ellen Briggs Douglas. They joined the church during the first visit of Heber C. Kimball. In 1840 they emigrated to America and landed in Nauvoo April 7,1842. He was personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and shared the persecutions with the Saints. His father died in Nauvoo. He was present at the meeting when the mantle of the prophet was placed on Brigham Young. He left Nauvoo with the first company for the west. When the call came for volunteers in the Mormon Battalion, he enlisted and was in Company D. He made the trip through Old Mexico going through lower California. He helped to lay the first adobes in the Old Fort Hall in Salt Lake City. In the company of Brigham Young, he returned to St. Louis staying for two years helping others to prepare for another western trip. He crossed the plains several times to assist companies from the Missouri River. (Several of these families settled in Morgan.) He settled in Ogden and assisted in building the first adobe house there. He operated a butcher shop in Ogden and played in the band. He was a member of the High Priest Quorum and was highly respected in the councils of the church. He is the father of fifteen children. He died in Ogden, a faithful member of the church May 3,1900. He is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery. ©19- Alfred Owen Durrant Alfred Owen Durrant was born on February 23, 1865, in Stony Stratford, England. His parents were James Durrant and Mary Ann Morris Durrant. James and Mary Ann had seven children; two died while they were still in England. Mary Ann died not long after. James came to America and brought his remaining five children, Alfred Owen being one of these five. Alfred Owen went to live with a man by the name of Johnny Wood. He worked these boys very hard, giving them a few cents to spend, once in a while. Alfred Owen was a hard-working man. He always had a job of some kind or other, so he could be self-supporting. He met and married Janetta Anderson Hogg, a daughter of Robert Hogg and Janette McNiven Hogg. They were married on March 4, 1885, in the Logan Temple in Logan, Cache County, Utah. Their first home of two big rooms was located just west of East Canyon Creek, at the west end of Young Street in South Morgan. Their first two children were born in this home. They were Robert and Pearl Durrant. Alfred Owen and his wife and family of two children moved to South Morgan and rented a home belonging to Robert Welch. They finally decided to start a home of their own. They built two frame rooms; the rooms were quite large. This was built on the lot located at 290 West 100 North. They eventually added four rooms and a pantry to the two frame rooms. These rooms were made of brick with adobe brick lining for warmth. There were eight more children born into this family: LeRoy, Leland, Don Carlos, Jennie, Clifton, Naomi, Jessie, and Dale. This family was very musically inclined. Don, Jennie, and Naomi had exceptionally fine voices. They used to sing at marriages and public functions. Alfred Owen worked at the first creamery by East Canyon Creek, close to their first home. He was paid $15 per month and his groceries. He worked at East Canyon Dam, hauling supplies to the contractor. He also worked at the A.W. Francis store - Rich, Rawle, and Robbins, a branch of Z.C.M.I.; the Golden Rule Store, a J.C Penney Co. store; and at Parkinson's Market. He either walked more than a mile each day to get to work or he would ride a bicycle if he was in a hurry. He held responsible positions in the church and in civic affairs. He was a Morgan City councilman and was proud to be a citizen of the United States. He never failed to cast a vote at all state, county, or city elections. He was a ward teacher for the LDS Church most of his life. He served in the superinten- dency of the Morgan Ward Sunday School. He was