Oliver A. Morse

Morse was born in Cherry Valley, New York on March 26, 1815."[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M001013 Oliver A. Morse 1815–1870]". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed February 24, 2024.{{Cite news |date=1870-05-04 |title=Obituary |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/memphis-daily-appeal-obituary/142044741/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Memphis Daily Appeal |location=Memphis, Tennessee |pages=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} His parents were Mary G. and James O. Morse, an attorney and judge.{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Robin |title=Cherry Valley Cemetery |url=http://theusgenweb.org/ny/otsego/cemetery/cvcem.htm |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=theusgenweb.org}}{{Cite book |last=Felton |first=Cyrus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y85MAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Oliver+A.+Morse%22+hamilton+college&pg=PA215 |title=A Genealogical History of the Felton Family: Descendants of Lieutenant Nathaniel Felton, who Came to Salem, Mass., in 1633 |date=1886 |publisher=Pratt Brothers, printers and publishers |page=215 |language=en |via=Google Books}} His uncle was Wiliam M. Oliver, a congressman for the state of New York and acting lieutenant governor of New York.

Morse attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, graduating in 1833.{{Cite book |last=Morse |first=Abner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pgEXigtspdwC&dq=%22Oliver+A.+Morse%22+-wikipedia&pg=RA4-PA4 |title=Memorial of the Morses: Containing the History of Seven Persons of the Name, who Settled in America in the Seventeenth Century. With a Catalogue of Ten Thousand of Their Descendants ... |date=1850 |publisher=William Veazie |location=Boston |page=171 |language=en |via=Google Books}} While at Hamilton, he was a founding member of the Alpha Delta Phi Literary Society in 1832.“[http://www.jstor.org/stable/44762841. Alpha Delta Phi Convention].” The Yale Courant, vol. 2, no. 2 (September 12, 1866): 10. {{jstor|44762841}} He then studied law.

Morse was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Perryville, Ohio. After a short time, he returned to Cherry Valley and practiced law there.

He was elected as a Republican to the 35th United States Congress and served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859. He was opposed to slavery. He did not seek re-election in 1858.

Morse invested in several real estate ventures in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin.{{Cite web |last=Bartel |first=Roger |date=2022-04-29 |title=In Search of St. Marie: The History |url=https://princetonhistory.com/2022/04/29/in-search-of-st-marie-the-history/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Bartel's History of Princeton |language=en-US}} However, he claimed to have been swindled of $3,000 by his partner and New York attorney Samuel Campbell.

Morse married Anna Clark of Cherry Valley in 1839. They had two daughters, Anna and Sarah.{{Cite book |last=Sawyer |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5UtTAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Oliver+A.+Morse%22&pg=PA1 |title=History of Cherry Valley [N.Y.] from 1740 to 1898 |date=1898 |publisher=Gazette Print. |page=137 |language=en |via=Google Books}}

Morse died in New York City on April 20, 1870. He was buried in Cherry Valley Cemetery in Cherry Valley.

{{reflist}}

• {{Find a Grave|7255233}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{US House succession box

| state= New York| district= 19

| before= Jonas A. Hughston| after= James H. Graham

| years= March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morse, Oliver Andrew}}

Category:1815 births

Category:1870 deaths

Category:Hamilton College (New York) alumni

Category:Alpha Delta Phi founders

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:People from Cherry Valley, New York

Category:19th-century New York (state) politicians

Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives