Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/485

 MORRILL

MORRILL

son of the Rev. Isaac Morrill, of Wilmington, Mass., whose sons droppeil the final " 1" in writing their name. He studiftl medicine, and practised at Epsom, N.H., 1798-1800, and at Goffstown, N.H., 1811-31. He was licensed to preach and was pastor of the Congregational church at GoflFs- town, N.H., 1803-11. He was a representative in the general court, 1808-17, and speaker in 1816; was U.S. senator for New Hampshire, 1817-23; state senator and president of the senate in 1823- 24, and governor of the state, 1824-27, inclusive. He edited the New Hampshire Observer, a relig- ious pa|>er, published in Concord, N.H., 1831-33. The honorary degrees of A.B. and M.D. were con- ferred on him by Dartmouth college in 1821, and that of LL.D. by the University of Vermont in 1825. He died in Concord, N.H., Jan. 28, 1849.

MORRILL, Anson Peaslee, governor of Maine, was born in Belgrade, Maine, June 10, 1803; son of Peasley and Nancy (Macomber) Morrill. After leaving school he assisted his father in his saw-mill. He was postmaster and held other local offices, and in 1824 engaged in business. He was married to Rowena M. Rich- ardson, and removed to Madison, and in 1844 to Readfield, where he took charge of a woollen mill which he subsequently purchased. He was a Democratic representative in the state legisla- ture in 1833; was sheriff of Somerset county in 1839, and land agent, 1850-53. He joined the Re- publican party in 1853, was nominated for gover- nor on the Prohibition and Free Soil ticket; was the Republican candidate for governor in 1854, and the result of the election being indecisive, was appointed to the office by the state legisla- ture, being the first Republican governor of Miine. He w;is a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1856: a Republican repre- sentative in the 37th congress that met July 4, 1861, at the President's call, and retired from national service March 3, 1863. He removed to Augusta in 1879, was again a representative in the state legislature in 1880, and was president of the Maine Central railroad from 1871. He died in Aupjusta, Maine, July 4, 1887.

MORRILL, Edmund N., governor of Kansas, was born at Westbrook, Maine, Feb. 12, 1834; son of Rufus and Mary (Webb) Morrill, and grandson of Stephen Morrill and of Edward Webb. He attended Westbrook academy, and was superintendent of schools at Westbrook, Maine, 1856-57; a member of the first free state legislature of Kansas, 1857, and re-elected under the Lecompton constitution, 1858. He enlisted in the 7th Kansas cavalry, Oct. 5, 1861, and was promoted sergeant Oct. 10, 1861; captain and commissary of subsistence in August, 1862; was brevetted major for meritorious services, and mustered out in October, 1865. He was clerk of VII. — 30

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the district court of Brown county, Kansas, 1866-70, and county clerk. 1866-73. He founded the first bank in Brown county in 1871, and was president of the Fii-st National bank of Leaveii- worth, Kan., for seven years. He was married Dec. 25, 1869, to Caro- line J. Nash, of Rox- bury, Mass. He was state senator, 1872-74 and 1876-80, and served as president pro tempore of the senate in 1877. He was a Republican representative from Kansas in the 48th- 51st congresses, 1883- 91, and in 1890 was elected by congress as manager of the homes for disabled volunteer soldiers. He was gov- ernor of the state of Kansas, 1896-97, and in 1896 was defeated for re-election by John W. Leedy (q.v.),. Democrat.

MORRILL, Justin Smith, senator, was born in Stratford, Vt., April 14, 1810; son of Col. Na- thaniel and Mary (Hunt) Morrill. His father, grandfather and three paternal uncles took part in the operations on Tjake Champlain in the war of 1812. He went to the common schools, worked on a farm, attended Thetford and Randolph academies, and was a clerk in a local store, 1825- 28; in Portland, Maine, 1828-31, and a merchant in Stratford, 1831-55. In 1848 he left his business to others, and devoted himself to agriculture and horticulture. He was married in 1851 to Ruth Barren, daughter of Dr. Caleb and Ruth ( Barren ) Swan, of Easton, Mass., who died May 13, 1898. He was a Whig and Republican represent- ative in the 34th-39th congresses, 1855-67, serving in the 39th congress as chairman of the committee on ways and means. He introduced the first anti-polygamy meas- ure and carried it through the house. He also introduced in the house, Dec. 14, 1857, the *' Land Grant " bill to establish colleges for agricultural, scientific and industrial pur- poses, which passed the house April 20, 1858, and the senate Feb. 2, 1859, but was vetoed by Presi-

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