Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
Kansas History and Heritage Project-Sumner County Biographies
Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
JAMES C. O. MORSE, Sheriff of Sumner
County, is one of the younger men who are
taking front ranks in business enterprises
and in public stations in the West, where
energy and "push" are necessary, and win their
meed of success. He was born in Cambridge,
Henry County, Ill., January 15, 1855, and attended
school quite steadily in his native State until fifteen
years old, when his parents removed to Kansas,
and he finished his studies in Wichita. After his
father's death in the spring of 1875, he managed
the farm on which he had previously assisted, and
remained in London Township, Sumner County,
until the fall of 1879, when he came to this place.
The following spring Mr. Morse went to Colorado, and after spending the summer there, went
into New Mexico where he sojourned nearly a year,
and then returning to this place he started a job
printing establishment and a few weeks later purchased a half interest in the
Wellingtonian, a weekly
newspaper. He retained his interest in the journal
and the printing establishment until October, 1884,
when he sold out and became an assistant to Sheriff Henderson. It was not long before
he was appointed Deputy Sheriff and he fulfilled the duties
of that position until January, 1888, since which
time he has served as Constable, and in the fall of
1889 was elected Sheriff of the county.
The Rev. John C. Morse, the father of our subject, was a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio, and
a son of Elias Morse, who was born in Massachusetts,
and who was a pioneer farmer in the Buckeye State.
About the year 1850 the grandfather of our subject removed to Henry County, Ill., and purchased
a farm one and one half miles from Cambridge, on
which he spent his last years. His wife, whose
maiden name was Sarah Dailey, also departed this
life on the farm there.
The Rev. John Morse was reared in his native
county, and removed to Illinois with his parents,
their journey being made by the lakes to Chicago,
and thence by team to their new home. During
the first few years of their residence in the Prairie
State there were no railroads in that section of the
country, and Rock Island was the nearest market
until the railroad was completed to Geneseo. When
a lad of ten years of age young John was converted, and united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and in his early manhood he began ministerial labors as a local preacher. He bought a
farm west of Cambridge, on which his family resided until 1870, when he came to this State, making the removal with teams. Wichita was then
but a small village and there was no railroad nearer
than Emporia, one hundred miles distant. The
Rev. Mr. Morse selected a location three miles
north of Wichita, filed a claim on Government
land and at once built a frame house, drawing the
lumber from Emporia. The country around him
was very sparsely settled, large herds of Texas cattle fed there, deer were abundant, and buffalo in
large numbers were to be found a few miles west.
As emigrants were frequently passing, there was a
good home market for produce.
The Rev. Mr. Morse resided on the claim he had
taken on first coming to the State, from November,
1870, until December, 1873, when he sold and purchased a tract of land in what is now London
Township, this county. The farm was situated on
both sides of the Ninnescah River, a number of
acres had been broken, and there were a log house
and stable on the north side of the river. Taking
possession of this farm, its new owner superintended
the work thereon and also continued bis labors in
spreading the Gospel until the time of his death,
which occurred at Cambridge, Ill., (where he had
been summoned on account of his father's sickness,) May 31, 1875. His widow is now a resident
of this city. She was born in Coshocton County,
Ohio, and bore the maiden name of Rebecca Jane
Westlake. To her and her husband four children
were born.
At the home of the bride, in London Township,
in 1876, Mr. James Morse was united in marriage
with Miss Rachel E. Chenoweth, who was born in
Fayette County, Ohio. Her parents, Lewis F. and
Martha (Morgan) Chenoweth, were natives of
Madison and Franklin Counties, Ohio, and came
to Kansas in 1871, first settling in Doniphan County
and in 1873 removed to this county, the father
buying a tract of land in London Township, which
he improved and on which they still live. To Mr.
Morse and his estimable wife two children have
been born � Emma K. and Lucretia L. Mrs. Morse
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has
many warm friends in the community, where her
husband also is highly regarded.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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