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Llewellyn J. Morse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Llewellyn J. Morse (December 19, 1819 – October 24, 1902) was a politician and merchant of lumber and ice in Maine. He founded Morse & Co.[1] in 1851. The company was headquartered in Bangor, Maine. It became Oliver, Haight & Morse when he took on partners. Ralph W. Morse joined the firm in 1866 (he died in 1870) and L.J.'s son Walter I. Morse joined the firm in 1874.[2]

Morse was born at Parkers Head along the Kennebec River.[3] In the 1870s Morse was an alderman in Penobscot, Maine.[4] Morse served in the Maine House of Representatives in 1874 and 1875 and was a Republican.[5] His brother-in-law, Capt. Frank B. Ames, captained the ship named for Morse, the Llewellyn J. Morse (built 1877).[6] The ship later stood in for the USS Constitution in the 1926 film Old Ironsides.

Llewellyn J Morse in the Bering Sea of Alaska

His brother-in-law became ill and upon his return home from captaining a voyage in Asia on the Llewellyn committed a murder-suicide on his sleeping wife.[7]

The Morse & Co. Office Building is a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

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During the American Civil War in 1863 he served under John L. Hodsdon.[8] Future Vice President of the United States Hannibal Hamlin served under Capt. Llewelyn J. Morse at Fort McClary in Maine.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Bangor Historic Register". 16 March 2011.
  2. ^ History of Penobscot County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Williams, Chase & Company. 8 November 1882. p. 801 – via Internet Archive. L.j. morse maine.
  3. ^ "New York Times Newspaper Archives, Oct 25, 1902, p. 9". 25 October 1902.
  4. ^ History of Penobscot County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Williams, Chase & Company. 8 November 1882. p. 758 – via Internet Archive. llewellyn morse penobscot.
  5. ^ Maine Legislators Biographical Database
  6. ^ "Love For Sail - PORTLAND MAGAZINE". www.portlandmonthly.com.
  7. ^ The New York Times, May 10, 1882, available online via Karen Stephen whose grandfather later captained the boat
  8. ^ Office, Maine Adjutant-General's (8 November 1863). Annual Report. p. 2 – via Internet Archive. L.j. morse maine.
  9. ^ "The vice president shouldered a rifle in Kittery". 11 September 2014.