Obituary from newspaper of 27 Feb. 1933: CLAYTON--Attorney George Eddy Morse, 71, practicing Jefferson county lawyer for 49 years, died at his home, 617 Union street, this village, at 2 this morning. Death was due to pneumonia, which set in
last Saturday, following a period of ill health which has existed for several months, but which did not result in confinement to the house until a few days ago.Mr. Morse was one of the oldest and best known attorneys of the county, and was a member of a family of lawyers, his father, the late Horace E. Morse, before him having been one of the early practioners of the legal profession in the
county.During the nearly half century of George E. Morse's legal career he pursued his profession in this village, of which he was a native, and during about 30 years his offices were located in the First National Exchange bank building, from the
time of its construction until about two years ago.Mr. Morse was born in this village Dec. 2, 1861, son of the late Horace Eli and Helen Eddy Estes Morse. He was educated in the Clayton schools and the Adams Collegiate institute, from which he was graduated and entered the Albany Law
school. There he pursued a full course, studying in his father's office during the summer vacations, and completing his legal training there after his law school graduation.His admission to the bar occurred March 28, 1884, and he continued his association in practice with his father until the latter went to Cape Vincent in February, 1887, as collector of customs under appointment of President Cleveland.
From that time on George E. Morse practiced law alone, but continued his residence in this village, becoming collector of customs of this port from 1894 to 1898.
Like his father he was an ardent Democrat and while he was seldom a candidate for office and held no posts other than that of customs collector, he was active in party affairs.
On one occasion, he was nominated by his party for the office of state senator, but in a district overwhelmingly Republican, was defeated.
In 1886, two years after his admission to the bar, he was married to Miss Eliza Rogers of Chaumont, the wedding occurring in Syracuse. As a result of the marriage two children were born, Ralph I. Morse, who became an attorney and died a
few years ago in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Vera, now Mrs. R. C. Hudson of Potsdam. Mrs. Morse is a granddaughter of Ralph Rogers, county pioneer settler, who helped clear a large tract of land on Point Salubrious.George E. Morse was descended from colonial New England stock, his great-grandfather, Joseph Morse, having been born in Massachusetts June 8, 1770, and later having become founder of the family in New Hampshire. Attorney Morse's
grandfather, Hiram Morse, removed from New Hampshire to New York state with the westward sweep of civilization, and joined a younger brother, Samuel Morse, in the purchase of a farm on Dry Hill near Watertown. There his father, Horace E.
Morse, was born August 24, 1831, but ultimately became a prominent resident and attorney of Clayton, who figured extensively in Democratic politics and held a number of minor offices including those of school commissioner, town superintendent
of schools and supervisor.Since his admission to the bar in 1884, George E. Morse has been a member of the Jefferson County Bar association. He was a communicant of the Clayton Protestant Episcopal church, and a member of Clayton lodge, No. 296, F. & A. M.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Eliza Rogers Morse, he is survived by one daughter, Mrs. R. C. Hudson, Potsdam; a brother, Horace E. Morse, Clayton; one sister, Mrs. Floyd Nash, LaFargeville; four grandchildren, Ralph and Jean Morse, Pittsburgh,
Pa., and George and Ross Hudson, Potsdam; and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Edith Morse, Pittsburgh.The funeral will be held from the family home at 2 Wednesday afternoon, Rev. George Dudley Barr, rector of the Episcopal church, officiating, and burial will be made in the Clayton cemetery.