Mordecai Morgan was active mostly around the chess circles of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, in Correspondence chess, throughout the USA.(1) In 1884, he beat Johannes Zukertort in a Simul.(1) Eight years later, he beat the future world champion in a Simul: Lasker vs M Morgan, 1892.Morgan was successful in the championships of the Philadelphia Juniors Chess Club: In 1887, he tied for first with Samuel Warren Bampton and W. H. Schultz.(2) He then went on to win the championships in 1888, 1891 and 1894.(2)
In October 1888, Morgan became one of the directors of the Franklin Chess Club in Philadelpha, and was reelected in 1891, 1894 (1) and 1897.(3) He also became the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Chess Association in 1897.(4)
In the 9th Franklin Chess Club championship in 1894, Morgan was the runner up behind Emil Kemeny with 20.0/24.(2) He dominated the 11th championship in 1895/1896 with 12.5/13,(2) won in 1903 (5) and also won the 20th championship in 1905.(2) Morgan had also good results in the 16th championship in 1901 and the 21st championship in 1906.(2)
Morgan was also active in telegraph matches between the Franklin Chess Club and the Manhattan Chess Club, and he participated in the 9th Anglo-American cable match in 1907.(2) He was mostly active in correspondence chess play and Walter Penn Shipley described him "as one of the leading correspondence players of this country".(1)
In addition, he wrote the four volumes work Chess Digest (Philadelphia, 1901-1905).(1)
Sources
(1) John S. Hilbert, Mordecai Morgan: Mystery Man Of Correspondence Chess, 1999, http://www.correspondencechess.com/...
(2) Rod Edwards, http://www.edochess.ca/players/p107...
(3) Gustavus C. Reichhelm, Walter P. Shipley, Chess in Philadelphia, 1898, p. 22
(4) Gustavus C. Reichhelm, Walter P. Shipley, Chess in Philadelphia, 1898, p. 21
(5) Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 January 1914