ORLIN EATON MORSE GRAVESTONE PHOTO
Linn County Republic, Friday, July 20,
1917, Pg. 1
Vol. 34, No. 16
DIES
SUDDENLY IN HIS HOME
______
Captain
O. E. Morse While Sitting in
His
Chair at Home Suddenly
Expires.
Mound City people were shocked
last Saturday when word was passed that Capt. O. E. Morse had suddenly died at
his home just west of this city. Mr. Morse had been seriously sick about
three weeks, but was apparently fully as well Friday afternoon as he had been
for sometime. He had been sitting in his home reading the paper and had
laid it aside, when he suddenly collapsed and was dead before a physician could
reach him.
Capt. Morse had a severe attack of
heart trouble last April, but had apparently nearly regained his health when he
was taken sick again about three weeks ago. He was also confined to his
bed, but was able to be about and attend to a part of his chores just before his
death.
The captain has been one of the
foremost men in the early development of the county and one of the leaders in
progress until his death. A man of unquestioned integrity, his influence,
which was considerable was thrown on the side of morality, and material
progress. The development of the sentiment in favor of improved farming
methods and the raising of better stock loses one of its foremost champions.
His passing away is a sad blow to the country.
The following tribute to his
memory was written by one who knew him best in his public work and home life:
Orlin Eaton Morse, born near
Norwalk, Ohio, March 27, 1837, died at his home adjoining Mound City, Kansas,
Friday July 13, 1917, aged over 80 years.
With his brother Orlando S. Morse
he came to Kansas in April 1857. They came direct to Linn county and went
into business in the old town of Moneka.
Associating himself with others
came to Kansas with the same object, namely, to make Kansas a free state, he
took an active part in the “Border Troubles” before the war.
At the beginning of the Civil war
he enlisted in the Third Kansas volunteers. The company was afterward
transferred and became Co. D of the Fifth Kansas cavalry. After three
years and four months of service along the border and in Missouri, Arkansas, and
Mississippi he was mustered out with the regiment as captain of his company.
In October, 1864, he was married
to Emma Wattles, daughter of Susan and Augustus Wattles, who with their family
came to Kansas in 1855. To this union were born six children, Wilton L.,
John O., Theodore W., Stuart T., Orlin R. and Eleanor E., all now living except
the daughter.
For sixty years his home was in
and near Mound City and the most of that time was devoted to farming and raising
improved live stock, but he was at all times willing to give his time and
financial aid to any movement that promised to improve the social or moral
conditions of his community.
To those who heard Mr. Morse’s
talk New Years day in the Congregational church last winter, it was an unwritten
revelation of the early days of Mound City. With his characteristic
thoroughness and energy he helped in its building the first church in Mound
City.
Thoroughness was the keynote of all his
labors, whether it was helping to stamp out slavery in the Civil war, building,
farming and stock raising or in the legislature championing the rights of the
colored people to an education. To him, what was worth doing was worth
doing well.
Of his company in the Civil war
the survivors were always his closest friends, and the reunion of Co. D were
times of great enjoyment. Most of those comrades preceded their captain to
the life beyond, only one, Lieut. A. D. Perrin of Prescott, being near and
strong enough to attend the funeral.
This, briefly, is the outline
covering the activities of a strong upright man. Sixty years in one
community, always found working on the right side of every social and moral
question and at last laying down his burden in his home overlooking the valley
where he had lived and worked so long. The last services were held in the
little first church he helped to build so long ago, the sermon by Dr. C. M. Lowe
and the exercises at the grave conducted by the Grand Army of the Republic.
His clean, firm, upright life has
left its impress for good for all time. The world is better for his having
lived.
“Though the bivouac of age
May put ice in our veins
And no fiber of steel in our sinews
remains;
Though the comrades of yesterday’s
march are not here
Ant the sunlight seems pale and the
Branches are sere.
Though the sound of our cheering dies
Down in a moan,
We shall find our last youth when the
Bugle is blown
M. M. S.