James Dabney Morgan was born in Virginia and married Elizabeth Ann Puckett in 1844. The young couple settled in Monroe County, Mississippi, by about 1850; they likely took advantage of inexpensive or free land in the area. Seen in the 1860 census, James was employed as a slave overseer in 1860, at age 42.

During the Civil War, James served in the U S. 1st Tennessee Cavalry Regiment.

James and Elizabeth had seven children by the outbreak of Civil War, four daughters and three sons. By the autumn of 1862, he either fell ill or sustained life-threatening injuries in Tennessee.  

Jane remained in Monroe County and passed away more than 30 years after the War ended, at age 72.