George H. Morse

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
From 1886's History of Chittenden County, Vermont
Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
In office
April 2, 1883 – April 6, 1885
Preceded byJoseph D. Hatch
Succeeded byUrban A. Woodbury
Personal details
Born(1839-01-03)January 3, 1839
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedMarch 4, 1905(1905-03-04) (aged 66)
Manhattan, New York
Resting placeLakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Kate Russell (m. 1867-1890, her death)
Children2
ProfessionLumber dealer

Early life

George 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

After 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

A 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

In 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

In 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
  1. History of Chittenden County, Vermont.
  2. "Death Notice, George H. Morse".
  3. "Presentation: Ethan Allen Engine Company".
  4. "The Government of Burlington".
  5. "City of Burlington: Election Notice".
  6. "Resignation: George H. Morse".
  7. "City Election: Vote for Mayor".
  8. "Died: George Henry Morse".
  9. "Obituary, Harold R. Morse".
  10. "Obituary, Herbert W. Morse".

Sources

Books
  • Rann, William S. (1886). History of Chittenden County, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. pp. 815–816 – via Internet Archive.

Newspapers.com
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