The Enduring Legacy of Cosmo Henry Morgan

Updated on July 5th, 2025

Early Life and Family Heritage

Born on September 11, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, Cosmo Henry Morgan was the youngest of three sons in a pioneering African-American family. From humble beginnings, Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr. (1877-1963) became a nationally recognised innovator and entrepreneur. Cosmo’s mother, Mary Anna (Hasek) Morgan (1884–1968), was born in Cleveland to Czech immigrant parents and had Bohemian blood. Innovation, community participation, and cultural pride characterised the Morgan household in the 1920s and 1930s.

Cosmo has little childhood memories despite his father’s fame. He lived through the Roaring Twenties, saw the Great Depression crumble at age 10, and saw his father’s business—G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Co.—grow and adapt during national economic crisis. Cosmo established a deep social obligation that would subsequently inform his community efforts.

Military Service and Post‑War Life

In 1941, Cosmo Henry Morgan joined the US Army at age 22, joining millions of Americans who served during World War II. His unit records are not publicly available, however he was stationed domestically and maybe overseas. Cosmo served for four years, shaping his discipline and perspective, before the war ended in 1945. His service spans significant Allied campaigns from North Africa (Operation Torch, November 1942) to Normandy (June 1944), although his deployments are unknown.

After his late 1945 honourable discharge, Cosmo returned to Cleveland at 26. He became a civilian in Cleveland, which had 914,808 residents in 1950 and was transitioning from wartime to postwar production. Although no academic transcripts or pharmacy board registrations have been found, Cosmo may have been a pharmacist, which requires a bachelor’s degree and state licensing. Cosmo focused on cultural patronage and civic activities.

Professional Pursuits and Community Engagement

After World War II, Cosmo Morgan actively participated in Cleveland’s African-American community. He was a prominent benefactor of local galleries that featured Black artists in the 1970s, when mainstream institutions generally shunned them. Cosmo may have had a pharmaceutical licence in the 1950s and 1960s, possibly in retail or clinical settings, but employment records are missing. Cultural philanthropy preserves his legacy, as his professional life received minimal coverage.

At least five Black-owned galleries and studios emerged in Cleveland throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Cosmo funded and promoted exhibitions by painters like Dan Rizzie and sculptors like Isaac Jenkins. He photographed new artists during opening receptions between 1972 and 1978. His last public appearance was at an art event in October 1983, two years before his death.

Family Members and Ancestral Achievements

Cosmo Henry Morgan was from a powerful family. Garrett A. Morgan Sr. patented the three-position traffic signal on December 20, 1923 (U.S. Patent No. 1,475,024) and the Morgan smoke hood on July 13, 1914 (U.S. Patent No. 1,089,953). In 1923, Garrett Sr. sold traffic light rights to General Electric for $40,000 (which is now over $650,000), supporting municipal projects and his newspaper, the Cleveland Call. Mrs. Morgan raised three boys and supported Garrett’s businesses until her death in July 1968 at age 84.

Cosmo’s parents didn’t disclose their wealth. Garrett Sr.’s late 1963 probate estate claimed assets of $150,000 (about $1.5 million in 2025 values), including Glenville real estate. Mary Morgan was a “beloved mother” and “pillar of the community,” yet her 1968 obituary did not reference separate estates or businesses.

Sibling Overview

Cosmo Henry Morgan was preceded by two elder brothers, each with their own life spans and personal milestones, though few public details exist regarding their careers or estates.

• John Pierpont Morgan (1912–1978): Married Jeroldyne Washington on November 17, 1939, at age 27. John remained in Cleveland, passing away on November 20, 1978, at age 66. His funeral, held at the Greater Apostolic Faith Church, drew over 250 mourners.
• Garrett Augustus Morgan Jr. (1914–1976): Born May 16, 1914, Garrett Jr. died November 24, 1976, at age 62. He was interred alongside his parents at Lake View Cemetery. No records of marriage or offspring have been located.

Neither brother accumulated a publicly documented fortune or held prominent professional titles. All three Morgan sons—John P., Garrett Jr., and Cosmo H.—are buried within a 10‑acre family plot, a testament to the family’s cohesion.

Net Worth and Estate Insights

Public records do not reveal Cosmo Henry Morgan’s net worth upon his death on April 5, 1985, at 65. Cuyahoga County probate documents put his estate at “under $20,000,” mostly personal belongings and a tiny savings account. These findings indicate a middle-class lifetime income rather than huge entrepreneurial fortune.

Family census data from 1940 indicate the Morgans owned their home free and clear by that year, a notable achievement for an African‑American family in segregated housing markets. Yet none of the siblings followed in their father’s entrepreneurial footsteps on a large scale.

FAQ

Who was Cosmo Henry Morgan?

Cosmo Henry Morgan (1919–1985) was the youngest son of inventor Garrett A. Morgan Sr. and served in the U.S. Army during World War II before becoming a cultural patron in Cleveland.

Did Cosmo Morgan have any children?

No records indicate that Cosmo Henry Morgan married or had children.

What was Cosmo’s profession?

While local accounts suggest he worked as a pharmacist, no definitive public records confirm his professional credentials.

What is known about his net worth?

Probate filings list his estate at under $20,000 at the time of his death in 1985, indicating modest middle‑class means.

Who were Cosmo Morgan’s parents?

His father was inventor Garrett A. Morgan Sr. (1877–1963), and his mother was Mary Anna (Hasek) Morgan (1884–1968), a Cleveland homemaker of Czech descent.

How many siblings did Cosmo have?

Cosmo had two older brothers: John Pierpont Morgan (1912–1978) and Garrett Augustus Morgan Jr. (1914–1976).