Calvin Randall Morse (August 11, 1847 – February 18, 1911) was an American newspaper publisher and Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Pierce County during the 1899 term. His name was often abbreviated as C. R. Morse, and he was sometimes referred to by his middle name "Randall".
C. R. Morse | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Pierce County district | |
| In office January 2, 1899 – January 7, 1901 | |
| Preceded by | George E. Pratt |
| Succeeded by | Harry J. Park |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 11, 1847 Bethel, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | February 18, 1911 (aged 63) |
| Resting place | Greenwood Cemetery, River Falls, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Belle Horton
(m. 1879; died 1886) |
| Children |
|
| Occupation | Newspaper publisher |
Biography
editCalvin Morse was born in Bethel, Vermont, in August 1847. He received his early education in Vermont, but came west with his parents in 1856, settling in River Falls, Wisconsin.[1] As a young man, he partnered with his father in the newspaper business under the firm name A. Morse & Son. When his father was unable to continue working, he sold his share of the company to J. D. Moody, and the firm became known as C. R. Morse and Company. Moody then sold out to J. H. Wilkinson, and the firm became Morse & Wilkinson, their principal publication was the River Falls Journal daily newspaper.[2]
In 1882, Morse made his first run for Wisconsin State Assembly, running as the Republican Party nominee in the Pierce County district. He lost a very close election, falling just 31 votes short of John Day Putnam.[3]
Morse subsequently served several local offices, including alderman, member of the school board, and county supervisor. He also was a frequent attendee of local and regional Republican conventions and caucuses. In 1898, he made another run for Wisconsin State Assembly, receiving the Republican nomination in October of that year.[4] At the general election, Morse defeated his Democratic opponent Ferris White, taking 70% of the vote.[1] Morse declined to run for another term in 1900 after the death of his son earlier that year.[5]
Personal life and family
editCalvin Morse was the elder of two children born to Abner Morse and his second wife, Mary (née Randall). Abner Morse was editor of the Green Mountain Herald in Vermont before moving to Wisconsin and entering the newspaper industry there.[2]
Calvin Morse married Mary Belle Horton in 1879. They were married for only seven years before her death in 1886 from pregnancy complications. They had three sons, but one died in infancy and another died at age 18, in 1900. Their youngest son and only survivor, Stanley Randall Morse, served as a non-commissioned officer in the 341st U.S. Infantry Regiment in World War I. He died in 1960 leaving no survivors.[6]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Assembly (1882)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 7, 1882[3] | |||||
| Democratic | John D. Putnam | 1,373 | 50.57% | ||
| Republican | C. R. Morse | 1,342 | 49.43% | −3.21pp | |
| Plurality | 31 | 1.14% | -4.13pp | ||
| Total votes | 2,715 | 100.0% | +50.58% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
Wisconsin Assembly (1898)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Election, November 8, 1898[1] | |||||
| Republican | C. R. Morse | 1,725 | 69.61% | −0.63pp | |
| Democratic | Ferris M. White | 568 | 22.92% | −3.49pp | |
| Prohibition | Cassius D. Hawn | 93 | 3.75% | +0.40pp | |
| Populist | David H. Baker | 92 | 3.71% | ||
| Plurality | 1,157 | 46.69% | +2.86pp | ||
| Total votes | 2,478 | 100.0% | -53.12% | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Froehlich, William H., ed. (1899). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 783. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Williams, J. Fletcher (1881). History of Washington County and the St. Croix Valley. North Star Publishing Company. pp. 270, 272. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Timme, Ernst H.; Heg, J. E., eds. (1883). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 501. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "The Republicans of Pierce county". The Dunn County News. October 21, 1898. p. 4. Retrieved July 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "C. R. Morse of the River Falls Journal". The Dunn County News. March 30, 1900. p. 4. Retrieved July 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Morse Services". The Post-Crescent. March 16, 1960. p. C10. Retrieved July 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.