Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/504

 MORSE

MORSE

chairman of the committee on alcoholic liquor traffic. He was a recognized leader of the tem- perance cause, in the public schools and social reform. He left by his will $40,000 to eight church, missionary, educational and cliaritable organizations. He lectured on political, religious, and teini)erance subjects ; was a member of the New England Historic-Genealogical society ; the New England Congregational club ; the Norfolk club, au<l tlie Sons of the American Revolution. He was married Jan. 1, 1868, to Felicia, daughter of Samuel A. Vining of Holbrook, Mass. He died in Canton, Mass., June 5, 1898.

MORSE, Henry Woolsoo, artist and com- poser, was born in Charlestown, Mass., in 1858. He was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he took up designing, and later went to Paris to study painting, pro- ducing several landscapes and animal pieces. He settled in New York city and devoted him- self to the composition of comic and light opera. His first score, "Cinderella at School," was pro- duced at Daly's theater. New York city, in 1881, with marked success, running one hundred and sixty-four nights. He associated himself with J. Clieever Goodwin, which partnership continued until his death. They were the regular purvey- ors to DeWolf Hopper, and occasionally to Francis Wilson. He wrote the score of The Merry Monarch for Francis Wilson, which was first produced in New York city in 1890 ; and Wang (1891), Panjandrum, and Dr. Syntax, for DeWolf Hopper. Other compositions were King Cole II. (1889), and Lost, Strayed or Stolen (1897). He also wrote : The Lion Tamer ; The Rainmaker of Syria ; Prince Ananias, and The DemVs Deputy. He was married in 1893, to Agnes Reilley, an actress. He died in New York city, May 3, 1897.

MORSE, Isaac Edward, representative, was born in St. Martinsville, La., May 22, 1809 ; son of Nathan and Martha C. (Nichols) Morse ; grand- son of Isaac and Amy (Conklin) Morse of Eliza- bethtown, N.J., and of Judge E. G. Nichols of Louisiana, and a descendant of Anthony Morse, who came from Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, to Newbury, Mass., in 1635. He received his early education under the care of his paternal grandfather at Elizabeth, N.J., was graduated from the Norwich (Vt.) Military academy, 1828 ; entered the senior class at Harvard and was graduated, A.B., 1829; studied law under his father in New Orleans, La., 1829-32, and studied and traveled in Euroi)e, 1832-34. He practised law in New Orleans a short time, and in St. Mar- tinsville, 1835-42. He was married, Jan. 8, 1835, to Margaretta, daughter of Philemon Charles and Helen (Smith) Wederstrandt. In 1842 he re- moved to New Orleans and entered political life. He served in the Louisiana senate four years, and

was elected a Democratic representative from Louisiana in the 28th congress, to fill out the un- expired term of Peter E. Bossier, deceased ; was re-elected to the 29th, 30th and 31st congresses, serving 1844-51 ; was attorney-general of Louisi- ana, 1851, and was appointed by President Pierce in 1856 minister to New Granada to demand in- demnity for the murder of the American citizens while crossing the Isthmus of Panama. He died in New Orleans, La., Feb. 11, 1866.

MORSE, Jedidiah, clergyman and geographer, was born in Woodstock, Conn., Aug. 23, 1761; son of Dea. Jedidiah and Sarah (Child) Morse, and a descendant in the fifth generation from Anthony Morse, the immigrant, 1635. His father

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served in the Connecticut legislature for over fif- teen years. Jedidiah, Jr., attended the Woodstock academy and entered Yale in 1779 ; but before the college term commenced was drafted as a soldier in the Connecticut line. He was, however, exempted from military duty, and was graduated from Yale, A.B., 1783, A.M., 1786. He taught a class in singing in Guilford, Conn., in 1783. He studied theology under Jonathan Edwards and Dr. Samuel Wales, and established a school for young girls in New Haven. He was licensed to preach, Sept. 27, 1785, and was pastor at Norwich, Conn., 1785-86. He was tutor at Yale college 1786-87, and was pastor of the Congregational church in Midway, Ga., in 1787. He preached as a candidate for the Collegiate Presbyterian churches of New York, March- August, 1788 ; and succeeded the Rev. Joshua Paine as pastor of the First Congregational church of Charlestown, Mass., in 1789. He was married. May 14, 1789, to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Finley) Breese of Shrewsbury, N.J. He resigned his charge in Charlestown in 1820, and returned to New Haven, wliere he resided until his death. He was trustee of Andover Theological seminary, 1795-1826. He turned his attention to the civiliza- tion and ohristianization of various Indian tribes of North America, and under commission of the secretary of war he spent two summers in visiting several tribes with a view to improving their con- dition. He was elected a member of the Society