George H. Morse (January 3, 1839 – March 4, 1905) was businessman and local government official in Burlington, Vermont. A Republican, he served as mayor of Burlington from 1883 to 1885.
George H. Morse | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1886's History of Chittenden County, Vermont | |
| Mayor of Burlington, Vermont | |
| In office April 2, 1883 – April 6, 1885 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph D. Hatch |
| Succeeded by | Urban A. Woodbury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 3, 1839 Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | March 4, 1905 (aged 66) Manhattan, New York, US |
| Resting place | Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kate Russell (m. 1867-1890, her death) |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Lumber dealer |
Early life
editGeorge Henry Morse was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 3, 1839, a son of Aaron Morse Jr. and Eliza (Bradley) Morse.[1] He was educated in the public schools of Boston and the academy in Northfield, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1859.[1]
Business career
editAfter graduating, Morse was hired at Flint & Hall, a Boston lumber dealer.[1] He spent three years with the company, during which he received training in all facets of the lumber business.[1] In 1862, Morse moved to San Francisco, where he was employed by Pope & Talbot, then the largest lumber company on the Pacific coast.[1] He returned to Flint & Hall in 1866, and in 1867 he moved to Burlington to serve as Flint & Hall's agent in the sale of a Vermont subsidiary.[1] Morse successfully concluded the sale to Otis Shepard & Co. and decided to remain in Burlington.[1]
In 1868, Otis Shepard & Co. joined with Lawrence Barnes & Co. in a new company that included Morse as a partner.[1] Morse and William A. Crombie (who served as Burlington's mayor from 1889 to 1891) became the managing partners of the new corporation, Shepard & Morse.[1] Shepard & Morse grew to include branches in Boston and in Ottawa, Canada.[2] Morse also served on the board of directors for several other companies, including Saginaw Lumber and Salt, American Milk Sugar, Vermont Life Insurance, and Vermont Shade Roller.[1]
Political career
editA Republican, Morse served in local offices including member of Burlington's board of fire commissioners.[3] In 1879 he was elected to a one-year term representing Ward 4 on Burlington's board of aldermen.[4] In 1881 he was again elected as an alderman and he served until resigning in February 1882, shortly before the end of his one-year term.[5][6]
In March 1883, Morse was the successful Republican nominee for a one-year term as mayor, defeating Democratic nominee Charles J. Alger 873 votes (57.7%) to 640 (42.3%).[1][7] In March 1884, he was reelected without opposition, and received 1144 votes (99.6%) to four blank and write-in ballots. He served from April 1883 to April 1885.[1]
Later life
editIn 1893, Morse relocated to New York City, where he was a partner in another lumber business, W. M. Crombie & Company.[2] He died in Manhattan on March 4, 1905.[2] Morse was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[8]
Family
editIn 1867, Morse married Kate Russell (1843-1890) of New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1] They were the parents of two children, Harold Russell (1872-1965), who was sales manager of the A. C. Crombie Lumber Company of New York City, and Herbert William (1876-1948), a vice president of the New York Trust Company.[1][9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n History of Chittenden County, Vermont.
- ^ a b c "Death Notice, George H. Morse".
- ^ "Presentation: Ethan Allen Engine Company".
- ^ "The Government of Burlington".
- ^ "City of Burlington: Election Notice".
- ^ "Resignation: George H. Morse".
- ^ "City Election: Vote for Mayor".
- ^ "Died: George Henry Morse".
- ^ "Obituary, Harold R. Morse".
- ^ "Obituary, Herbert W. Morse".
Sources
editBooks
edit- Rann, William S. (1886). History of Chittenden County, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. pp. 815–816 – via Internet Archive.
Newspapers.com
edit- "The Government of Burlington". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. April 8, 1879. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "City of Burlington: Election Notice". Burlington Clipper. Burlington, VT. March 10, 1881. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Resignation: George H. Morse". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. February 7, 1882. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Presentation: Ethan Allen Engine Company". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. April 9, 1880. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "City Election: Vote for Mayor". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. February 24, 1883. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Death Notice, George H. Morse". New-York Tribune. New York, NY. March 6, 1905. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Died: George Henry Morse". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vt. March 7, 1905. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Obituary, Herbert W. Morse". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. May 2, 1949. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Obituary, Harold R. Morse". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. June 10, 1965. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.