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From:
Subject: Re: More Looneys in TX
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 08:40:31 EDT
Her is why I started in on these Looney
Morgan Harbin Looney was written up by Varley Graves in VIGNETTES OF HISTORY
on December 15, 1977 in the Fayette GA newspaper. Mr and Mrs Hal Daniell of
East Point have asked about Morgan Harbin Looney.
Morgan Harbin Looney, the oldest child of Noah and Frances Cleveland
McNiel was born in Fair Play, SC near the east banks of the Tugaloo River and only
a few miles from Hartwell, Carnesville and Parkertown where he would spend
his childhood and receive his early education. He was named Morgan in honor of
the celebrated Nancy Hart of Revolutionary War fame. Nancy Morgan married
Captain Benjamin Hart from near "Abbs Valley. They named their oldest son Morgan to
perpetuate her maiden name and the name Morgan was quickly picked up by
natives of Hart County, also named in her honor.
About three miles southwest of Hartwell is a marker of granite with the
inscription "Ah-yeh-li A-lo'hee" which in Cherokee Language means "center of
the world" and so it seemed to the Cherokee Indians who had inhabited his area
for centuries, since from this verdant plateau numerous streams flowed and they
used it for their council meetings.
Centuries before the Cherokees came the "Mound Builders" who had left
their artifacts. Also near was a pigeon-roost where the migration of the
passenger pigeon took place in the autumn of each year. At one time about 150 years
ago this bird was the most numerous of any in all of North America. The birds
came for the nuts and acorns, but when the forest were cut, the nuts disappeared
and so the birds became extinct. The last one died in the Cincinnati Zoo
Sept. 1, 1914.
The "Mound Builders" left only traces of their existence, the Cherokee
Indians wee replaced by descendants of the hardy pioneers and members of the
Army of the Revolution the passenger pigeon is gone, but not so the influence and
dedication of those who came from near the "center of the world" to teach and
to preach in the New World.
After teaching at Parkerstown on the banks of Shoal Creek, Morgan Harbin
Looney went to Palmetto and then to Fayetteville to open the Fayette Seminary
in 1857. Here he wrote "Southern Arithmetic," became a polished orator and
writer and in 1861 went to Gilmer, Texas, where he opened "The Looney School."
For ten years it was the most popular school in northeast Texas.
From Gilmer, Texas, he went to Fayetteville and Bentonville in Arkansas,
then back to Texas until 1881 when he came back to Hartwell, Clarksville,
Franklin and Palmetto, Georgia. But in 1884 he went back to Denton, Texas to a
school with 406 pupils.
In the fall of 1895, Morgan Harbin Looney came to Royston, GA, and while
there built a modern brick school which was the envy of the entire area. He
remained there for several years.
He went to Ila, Ga and here his wife, Cora Edwards Looney, who had taught
music in the various schools, died in 1899,
Morgan then went back to Hartwell where he was living with his daughter,
Myrtice Looney Walters, when he died June 20, 1901. He was buried in the
Hartwell Cemetery.
The inscription on his brave there reads "To live in hearts we leave
behind is not to die."
1920 Census Cattle County, TX Feb 13-14, 1920
Looney, Arinaud? E. 39
Bodie May 39 Morgan C 13 Droll? H 11 Catherine E. 8 Hellen B. 5 Jessie
Z. 2 4/12
My husband's g-grandfather was Morgan Harbin Looney, so it seems they might
be in the same line (?)-Adam2, Robert3.
Teresa
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