Untitled - citizen hylbom blog

•elder Morse established his business in eight
other places, and he himself was a general partner
in each manufactory, six of these being in
Easton, one in Kingston, Mass., and one in
Milford, New Hampshire.
Mr. Morse needs no eulogy; one has only to
SOUTHEASTERX MASSACHUSETTS 939
mon school education, and conditions putting
him early in the way of caring for himself
from a lad he worked in cotton mills in Dedham
and Mansfield, Mass., as mule spinner;
and through his attentive industry, through
the force of a strong individuality and a laudahle
ambition, he rose to high financial standing
and to fortune. He went to Easton, Mass.,
-about 1828, to take charge of a cotton cloth
factory as agent and decision and resolute character. He could and
would say "no" to all plans or schemes of which
his judgment did not approve.
On May 17, 1830, Mr. Morse married Eliza
Copeland, who was born at Warren, Maine,
Aug. 25, 1805, daughter of Daniel and Cather-
manager, though then but
nineteen years of age. About the year 1833
lie began the manufacture of cotton thread as
a member of the firm E. J. W. Morse & Co.
Mr. Morse ever afterward made his home in
Easton. It is of interest to note that at the
time of his death he was connected with business
in the same building in which he commenced
his labors. This business, too, continued
in the family name up to 1900, when
it was sold, it succeeding to sons and grandsons.
Edward N. Morse, son of the founder
•of the business, succeeded the father. The
ine (Storer) Newcomb, of Mansfield, Mass., he
a direct descendant of Francis Newcomb, an
Englishman who came to New England in
April, 1635, then aged thirty years, with his
wife Rachel, aged twenty, and their two children,
and lived in Boston some three years,
when he settled in what was later Braintree,
Mass., that part now Quincy from whom his
;
descent is through Peter, Jonathan, Jonathan
(2) and Jonathan (3). Shortly after her marriage
— she going to Easton on her wedding
day — Mrs. Morse united with the Congregational
Church there, with which she was in
communion for many years, until her death,
April 9, 1883, at the advanced age of seventyseven
years. Two children blessed this mar-
N. and Caroline E. The daugh-
read between the lines of this brief sketch to
judge of the man. The building up of the
enormous business just outlined in a little more
than a score of years indicates something of his
energy, activity, capacity and ability. He was
uniformly successful in his undertakings. He
lived to be but fifty-six years of age, yet so well
had he wrought that at the close of life he was
the largest land owner in Easton.
In his religious faith he was a Congregationalist,
having united with that denomination
when seventeen years of age and continued in
fellowship to the end of his life. A Whig and
Republican in his political affiliation, he took
BO active part in politics, leaving to those who
cared for them the emoluments and honors of
4, 1854, Hannah Alice Bryant, born Jan. 18,
1833, daughter of Deacon John and Elizabeth
(Bassett) Bryant, of New Bedford, Mass., and
they had the following children : Caroline Alice,
born in Easton Oct. 24, 1856, who became the
wife of Abner J. Tower, of Boston Edward
;
John Whiting, born Oct. 5, 1858, who died
Jan. 2, 1907; Gertrude Bassett, born Oct. 5,
1858 (twin), who married Eugene
official place. He had decided musical tastes.
When but eighteen he was a member of the
Medfield brass band, was leader of the church
choir of Easton for years, bought for the church
its first organ, and was its organist, and he
retained the same position when the larger one
was introduced.
While positive in his own convictions Mr.
Morse was very considerate of the opinions of
others, did much to mold public opinion, and
had many warm and stanch friends. He was
liberal to all good objects, social and full of
humor in his associations with others, but while
very aSable and courteous was a man of prompt
riage : Edward
ter, born July 7, 1834, died Oct. 24, 1856.
Edward J. W. Morse died at Saratoga, N.
Y., Aug. 17, 1865, and is buried in South
Easton cemetery.
(IX) Edwaed Newcomb Morse, son of Edward
J. W. and Eliza Copeland (Newcomb)
Morse, was born Oct. 12, 1831. He succeeded
his father in manufacturing. He married Oct.
C. Belcher,
of Newtonville, Mass. ; Alfred Bryant, born
Dec. 29, 1861 ; Grace Newcomb, born July 2,
1867. who died Aug. 27, 1868; Justin Neuhert,
born March 9, 1869 ; and Florence Winifred,
born Jan. 27, 1876, wife of J. Cheney
Wells, of Southbridge, Massachusetts.
Mr. Morse died Dec. 23, 1889, aged fiftyeight
years; his wife died Dec. 14, 1883, aged
fifty years.
(X) Alfred Bryant Morse, son of Edward
Newcomb and Hannah Alice (Bryant) Morse,
was born in Easton, Mass., Dec. 29. 1861. He
was educated principally in the public schools
of Easton, finishing at a private Latin school
on Charles street, Boston. He succeeded to
this business of his father and grandfather in
the manufacture of cotton thread, continuing
same up to 1900, when he sold out to the thread