Representative George Alpheus Morse View All Years
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George Alpheus Morse
Adams County
Born at Weston, Massachusetts, on the 4th of October, 1827. He attended school at Weston in the winter months until he was seventeen years old, working upon his father's farm during the summer months. Not liking this employment, his father secured him a position in the employ of Grafton and Co., Washington street, Boston, where he remained for six years; at the expiration of which time he married Miss Caroline Merrill, of South Hampton, New Hampshire, and immediately came to Galesburg, Illinois. In a short time after reaching Galesburg he obtained employment with a Mr. Charles McClellan, of Peoria, with whom, however, he remained but six months. Returning to Galesburg, he worked at increased pay for one Silas Willard, who kept a general country store. Here he remained one year, and returned to Peoria and reengaged with Mr. McClelland, with whom he remained one year, at which time he was induced to accept a proposition from Mr. Willard, at Galesburg, to go to Wethersfield, Illinois, to superintend the building of a store or warehouse at that place, becoming a partner with Willard. This business was continued profitably for four years, when Mr. Willard died at Galesburg and the whole affair was sold out; Mr. Morse remaining at Kewanee and engaging in grain and banking business till the fall of 1864, when he closed out his business matters and moved with his family to Chicago. Mr. Morse made a copartner ship with his brother Albert, under the firm name of A. Morse and Co. Here he remained for five years, and then retired from the firm and began a prospecting tour throughout Iowa and Nebraska, looking for the best point to settle for the establishment of a store for the buying and selling of all kinds of grain and flaxseed, and for the sale of agricultural implements. The result of all this prospecting determined him to settle in Corning, Adams county, Iowa, and he commenced building a warehouse and residence. Corning at this time contained less than one hundred inhabitants. When this warehouse and dwelling were but partly built Mr. Morse returned to Chicago for his family. Mr. Morse has built up for himself a large business. In 1876 the counties of Montgomery and Adams conjointly sent one representative to the general assembly of the state. The choice of nominee for this campaign belonged to Adams county, and, unknown to him, his farmer friends had determined to place their interests in his hands, and therefore nominated and elected him to the sixteenth general assembly of Iowa. During this session the state was redistricted, and Adams and Montgomery counties were each to send a delegate to the general assembly. In 1868 Mr. Morse was again nominated for delegate, this time receiving forty-three out of fifty-three votes on the first ballot, and was elected in October, 1877, by two hundred and twenty votes. Mr. Morse is one of the most trustworthy of representatives. His large business concerns bring him continuously in contact with agricultural interests, whose wants he fully understands, and is very active in furthering their interests by wise and wholesome legislation. He was originally a Whig in politics, and deposited his maiden vote for General Taylor. Subsequently he adopted the republican creed and voted for J. C. Fremont, and has ever since been a strict adherent to the fortunes of the republican party.
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