USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 65
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Mr. Morse was a member of the Boston school committee for three years, from 1876 to '78 inclusive. During 1882 and '83 he was a member of the Boston common council, and was president of the council in 1883, and a trustee of the public library. At present he is one of the commissioners for building the new court-house for Suf- folk county.
As trustee and clerk of the Boston Home for Incurables, vice-president of the Boston Home for Aged and Infirm Hebrews, and trustee of the Boston Dental College, he has been and is a respected and trusted servant. He is a brother of Hon. Leopold Morse, ex-member of Congress.
Mr. Godfrey Morse is unmarried.
MORSE, JOHN TORREY, JR., son of John Torrey and Lucy Cabot ( Jackson) Morse, was born in Boston, January 9, 1840.
In early boyhood he attended the school then kept in the basement of the Park Street church by Thomas Russell Sullivan, a member of the historical Sullivan family of Massachusetts. He afterwards attended the school of Epes Sargent Dixwell. Here he fitted for Harvard College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1860. He immediately entered the law office of Hon. John Lowell, Boston, since then judge of the United States district and circuit courts. After two years of study there, he was admitted to the bar, at twenty-two years of age. His tastes, how- ever, led him into lines of work more con-
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sonant to his genius; they were literary, and while in the practice of law he was writing more or less for newspapers, maga- zines and reviews. He wrote two profes- sional works, "The Law of Banks and Banking," which has just reached its third edition, and " The Law of Arbitration and Award." He wrote for the " American Law Review " many articles on various criminal trials, such as the Tichborne, Prince Napoleon, Troppman, Mrs. Wharton, and many others. Many of them were after- wards collected and published in one volume, by Little, Brown & Co. Mr. Morse wrote the " Life of Alexander Ham- ilton," two volumes, published by the same house. He was for several years a constant contributor, chiefly of leading articles, to the "Boston Daily Advertiser," when edited by Prof. Dunbar, and after- wards by Mr. Goddard. He has been a valued contributor to the "Saturday Re- view " and to " Fraser's Magazine " (Eng- land), to the "North American Review," the " Atlantic," and the " Nation."
In the winter of 1879-'So he finally re- tired from the practice of law. Since that time he has been chiefly employed in literature. For four years, in conjunction with Henry Cabot Lodge, he edited the " International Review." Latterly Mr. Morse has been editing the series of "Lives of American Statesmen," for Houghton, Mifflin & Co. His own con- tributions to this thus far have been the biographies of John Adams, Thomas Jef- ferson, John Quincy Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.
Mr. Morse was a member of the House of Representatives in 1875, elected by a coalition of dissatisfied Republicans with the Democrats of ward 6, Boston. He declined a re-election. He is now serving a second term as a member of the board of overseers of Harvard University. He is a trustee of the Boston Athenaeum, and a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
In 1865 he married Fanny, daughter of George O. Hovey, of Boston. Of this union are two sons : Cabot Jackson and John Torrey Morse.
MORSE, NATHAN, son of Nathan and Sally (Gilman) Morse, was born in Moul- tonborough, Carroll county, N. H., July 24, 1824. He was directly in the line of two of the oldest and best families of New Hampshire.
The first thirteen years of his life were passed on his father's farm, attending pub- lic schools the usual time allotted to farm
MORTON.
boys in country districts. At this time, a fire having destroyed all the farm build- ings, the family removed to the village, where his father was appointed postmaster, holding the position for twenty consecutive years. At the age of eighteen, Nathan, Jr., was appointed assistant-postmaster - a po- sition he held until he came to Boston in 1843.
He studied medicine some months after coming to Boston, under the direction of his elder brother, then in the Harvard med- ical school. Not finding medicine suited to his tastes, he decided to make the law his profession. In 1845 he entered the Har- vard law school, and devoted two years to its study, graduating in 1847.
During these years he was entirely de- pendent upon his own earnings for his sup- port, with the help of such sums as a friend was able to loan him toward the payment of his tuition fees ; but by persistent industry and economy, and that courage and self- reliance which has ever characterized him, he overcame all difficulties in his path, and soon after graduation was admitted to the Suffolk bar.
Entering at once upon the practice of his profession in Boston in 1852, he formed a partnership with Hon. Ambrose A. Ran- ney, under the firm name of Ranney & Morse. This relation continued for many years, and the firm became one of the most prominent in the State. He has risen rapidly in the ranks of his profession, and has a large clientage and lucrative prac- tice. His business is largely in the courts, as senior counsel in the trial of causes. He commands the confidence of the bench and the bar.
Mr. Morse has never accepted publie office, with a single exception - that of common councilman in 1863 - his entire time and strength being given to his chosen work. Adhering to the faith of his father, he has for many years been a mem- ber of the Old South church.
Mr. Morse was married in Boston, No- vember 18, 1851, to Sarah, daughter of Daniel Deshon. Of this union were two children : Fannie Deshon and Edward Gilman Morse.
MORTON, MARCUS, son of Marcus and Charlotte (Hodges) Morton, was born in Taunton, Bristol county, April 8, 1819.
His early education was accomplished in the public schools of his native town, and he fitted for college at the Bristol County Academy, entering Brown Univer- sity, Providence, R. I., 1834, from which he was graduated in the class of 1838. He
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MOWRY.
studied law in the Harvard law school, and later with the firm of Sprague & Gray. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1841, and at once began practice in Boston.
On the 19th of October, 1843, at Provi- dence, Mr. Morton married Abby B., daughter of Henry and Amy (Harris) Hoppin. Their children are : Amy, who married William Charnley ; Charlotte, who married Frank A. Mullany ; Mary, who married Clarence Whitman ; Abby, who married David B. Douglass ; Lorania Car- rington, and Marcus Morton, Jr.
He changed his place of residence to Andover in 1850, and represented the town in the Constitutional Convention of 1853. In 1858 he was sent as representative to the General Court, where he served as chairman of the committee on elections, and the same year was appointed justice of the superior court of Suffolk county. In 1859 he was appointed justice of the superior court of the State, which position he held till his appointment, 1869, as asso- ciate justice of the supreme judicial court of the State. This office he held until, in 1882, he was appointed by Governor Long to fill the position of Chief Justice, made vacant by the resignation of Horace Gray, who had been, by President Arthur, ap- pointed associate justice of the supreme court of the United States.
Judge Morton is a man whose clear in- sight and practical knowledge of men have won for him enviable distinction in the legal records of the community.
MOWRY, WILLIAM A., son of Jonathan and Hannah (Brayton) Mowry, was born in Uxbridge, Worcester county, August 13, 1829.
His father died when he was three years of age, and for the next ten years he lived with his grandfather. From that time till he was eighteen he averaged four months of schooling per year, and earned his living by his own efforts.
At eighteen he began to teach school in ungraded country districts, and taught in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He subsequently taught the graded grammar school in Whitinsville for two years. Leav- ing this school in the autumn of 1851, he entered Phillips Academy, Andover, and prepared for college, entering Brown Uni- versity in 1854, where he remained two years, ill health compelling him to give up study for a time.
In 1857 he became editor and proprietor of the "Rhode Island Schoolmaster," a monthly magazine devoted to the interests
of teachers. This he continued three years.
In the spring of 1858 he married Caro- line E., daughter of Ezekiel and Eliza (Daniels) Aldrich, of Woonsocket, R. I. Of this union were three children : Walter Herbert, Arthur May, and Ruth Emeline Mowry.
The same year he was appointed teacher in the Providence high school. In 1859 he was made principal of the English de- partment of the high school, which position he held for five years.
He enlisted as private in the 11th regi- ment, Rhode Island infantry, September, 1862. He was promoted to a captaincy, and assigned to the command of company K, served through the period of enlistment, and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service.
In 1864 he established a private school for boys in Providence, having for a time associated with him John J. Ladd, and then for twenty years Charles B. Goff. This school was called the English and Classical school, and soon rose in numbers and im- portance until it took rank with the fore- most schools in the country.
In 1884 Mr. Mowry removed from Provi- dence to Boston, and became the editor of the " New England Journal of Education." In 1886 he established himself as the editor and publisher of a well-known monthly magazine entitled "Education," and in January, 1887, began the publication of a magazine entitled "Common School Edu- cation." At present he is the president of a corporation for carrying on the publish- ing business, called "The Eastern Educa- tional Bureau." He received the degree of A. M. from Brown University in 1866, and in 1882 the degree of Ph. D. from Bates College, Lewiston, Me.
Dr. Mowry has filled many offices, princi- pally of an educational character. He has been superintendent of schools, Cranston, R. I .; member of the school board, Provi- dence, six years, and is now a member of the Boston school board ; was president of Rhode Island Institute of Instruction ; of the American Institute of Instruction; and of the higher department of the National Educational Association ; was president for two years of the Congregational Club, Providence ; is president of the Martha's Vineyard Summer Institute ; has been president of the Massachusetts Council of the American Institute of Civics; is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a member of the National Council of Education ; of the
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MUDGE.
New England Historic Gencalogical Soci- ety ; corresponding member of the Rhode Island Historical Society, and of the Oregon Historical and Pioneer Society, and New Hampshire Antiquarian Society. He is the author of various books ; among others, "Studies in Civil Government," "Talks with My Boys," "The First American Steamboat."
He is a member of the G. A. R. His religious connections are with the Congre- gational church.
MOXOM, PHILIP S., was born in Mark- ham, Canada, August 10, 1848. He was originally registered as Philander S., but upon the completion of his military service, while yet a minor, with the full consent of his parents, the first name was changed
PHILIP S. MOXOM.
to Philip. He removed with his parents, when quite a child, to Ogle county, Ill. He received his early education at De Kalb, Ill. In January, 1862, he went out with the 78th Illinois regiment, as " boy " to Capt. Bewley, and was present at the battle of Fort Donelson. On October 3, 1863, at the age of fifteen, he enlisted in the 17th Illinois cavalry, and served until honorably discharged, November 28, 1865. He entered Kalamazoo College, Michigan, January 1, 1866, and while there accepted the gospel of Christ, and was baptized into
the fellowship of the Battle Creek church by his father, the Rev. J. H. Moxom. In the autumn of 1868 he entered Shurtleff College, where he remained until 1870, when he returned to Michigan to teach.
Early in 1871 he engaged in the study of law, but in a little while, under pressure of solicitations to preach, abandoned that for the ministry. His first settlement was at Bellevue, Mich., where he received ordi- nation September 19, 1871.
He was married September 6, 1871, to Isabel, daughter of Hon. Adam Elliott, of Barry county, Mich., and has four children living : Philip Wilfred Travis, Howard Osgood, Edith Knowles, and Ralph Pendle- ton Moxom. In October, 1872, he became the pastor of the church at Albion, Mich., and in 1875 removed to Rochester, N. Y., to pursue theological studies. During the period of his studies in Rochester, he was pastor of the Baptist church at Mount Morris. He was called in November, 1878, to the pastorate of the First Baptist church, Cleveland, O., which he assumed on April 1, 1879.
In June, 1879, he was graduated with the degree of A. B. from the university of Rochester, and three years later received the degree of A. M.
In June, 1885, a cordial and unanimous call was given him from the First Baptist church at Boston. He accepted the call, and was installed pastor on the 7th of Oc- tober, 1885, which position he still holds.
He is a clear thinker, an incisive writer, and a fearless and magnetic speaker.
MUDGE, AUGUSTUS, son of Amos and Sarah (Wilson) Mudge, was born in Danvers, Essex county, August 21, 1820.
His youth was spent upon the farm when not at school. He received his education at academies in Hancock and Hampton Falls, N. H. Having prepared himself for teaching, he commenced in 1842, in his native town, and taught six successive years. On January 1, 1849, he formed a partnership with his brother Edwin, for the manufacture of shoes, and since then has given it his principal attention, being at present a member of the firm of E. & A. Mudge & Company, boot and shoe manufacturers, Danvers.
October 3, 1843, at Danvers, Mr. Mudge was married to Lucy Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Clarissa J. Wentworth, of Danvers. Benjamin Wentworth was for- merly the governor of New Hampshire. Their surviving children are : Clara Helen (born September 22, 1847), Pamelia Joce- lyn (born September 27, 1849), Lucius
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Augustus (born October 4, 1852), and Mary Braman (born March 20, 1860).
Mr. Mudge has served on the school board of Danvers for ten years, is presi- dent of the Danvers Savings Bank and trustee of Danvers Insane Asylum. In 1882 he was a member of the state Senate, serving on the committees on education, woman suffrage, and public charitable institutions. He is at present a member of the executive council of Governor Ames. His church connections are with the First Congregational church in Dan- vers, having been superintendent of the Sabbath-school for forty years.
The family of Mudge is of considerable antiquity in English history, the name being originally written " Mugge " (pro- nounced with soft "g"), and may be found on record as early as the close of the four- teenth century. Augustus Mudge is a direct descendant of Jarvis Mudge, one of the thirty-six grantees or planters to whom home lots were granted in New London, Conn., in the year 1649. Jarvis Mudge was born in England, came to this country about the year 1638, was in Boston that year, in Hartford in 1640, in Weathers- field in 1644, and removed to Pequot, now New London, in 1649, where he died in 1653.
MUDGE, JOHN GREEN, son of John and Sarah (Field) Mudge, was born in Winchester, Cheshire county, N. H., March 26, 1823.
His educational training was obtained in the common schools of his native town and in Deerfield Academy. In March, 1847, he entered business life for himself in the firm of Wetherell & Mudge, in Pe- tersham, conducting a country store, and manufacturing palm-leaf hats. This part- nership was dissolved in 1875 by the death of the senior partner, and since then Mr. Mudge has not been in active business.
Mr. Mudge was married in Petersham, his present residence, December 7, 1848, to Eliza Ann, daughter of Sampson and Lucy (Kendall) Wetherell. Of this union were three children : Arthur C., Mary Eliza, and Ruth Wetherell Mudge.
Mr. Mudge was a member of the House of Representatives, 1856, '58, and '65; and was a member of the state Senate, 1867 and '68. He has been treasurer of Peter- sham the past twenty years, director in the Miller's River National Bank, of Athol, since 1865 ; president and a trustee of Athol Savings Bank. He was captain of company F, 53d regiment, Massachusetts volunteers.
MURPHY, JOHN R., son of John and Jane (Smiley) Murphy, was born in Charles- town, Middlesex county, August 25, 1856.
He received his early education in the public schools of Boston, graduating from the Charlestown high school.
His first connection in business was with Silsbee & Murphy, brokers, and subse- quently he was business manager of the " Boston Pilot " for seven years.
JOHN R. MURPHY.
Mr. Murphy was a representative in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1883, '84 and '85, and a member of the Senate in 1886. While in the House he performed conspicuous service for three years upon the committee on public charitable insti- tutions. In the Senate he served upon the committees on engrossed bills, printing (chairman), public health, and on the special committee for re-districting the state.
In 1886, while a member of the Senate, he was appointed by Mayor O'Brien fire commissioner of the city of Boston, which position he now occupies, and in which city he continues to reside. In the dis- charge of all his official duties he has dis- played great energy, rare tact and an intel- ligent conception of work.
Mr. Murphy resides in the Charlestown district, and is unmarried.
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NEEDHAM.
NASH, STEPHEN G., son of John and Abigail Ladd (Gordon) Nash, was born in New Hampton, Belknap county, N. H., April 4, 1822.
He was fitted for college at the institu- tion in New Hampton ; entered Dartmouth College at the age of sixteen, and was graduated in the celebrated class of 1842.
He was engaged in teaching the classics at New Hampton, and later was principal of the Noyes Academy, Franklin, N. H., where he studied law with Judge Geo. W. Nesmith ; was admitted to the bar of Suffolk county, Mass., in 1846 ; continued in practice in Boston till appointed judge of the superior court in 1855, at the age of thirty-three years.
After leaving the bench he resumed the practice of law in Boston, where he still has an office, with his residence in Lynn- field.
Judge Nash was married in Wakefield, in 1860, to Mary, daughter of Edward and Betsey Upton. Their two sons, Arthur. Upton and Gordon, died in childhood.
Judge Nash was a member of the House of Representatives in 1855. His business practice was relieved in 1859-'60 by a year's travel in Europe, and by a shorter tour again in 1883.
NEAL, PETER MORRILL, son of Elijah and Comfort (Morrill) Neal, was born in North Berwick, York county, Me., Sep- tember 21, 1811.
He attended public school until fourteen years of age, then went to the Friends' boarding school, Providence, R. I., where he spent the next six years. He afterward attended the South Berwick Academy, Me., then went to Portland to pursue his stud- ies under the instruction of a private tutor, preparatory to entering college. A flatter- ing offer having been made to enter the teacher's profession, he abandoned his college course, and taught school for twenty years.
He removed to Lynn in 1850, and en- gaged in the lumber business, which he still follows.
Mr. Neal was married in Portland, Me., August 16, 1836, to Lydia, daughter of Edward and Phebe (Opoe) Cobb. Of this union are four children : Edward C., Mary Louise, Nelly, and William E. Neal.
Mr. Neal was mayor of Lynn from 1861 to '65, a member of the House of Rep- resentatives 1870 and '71, and of the state Senate 1875.
NEEDHAM, DANIEL, son of James and Lydia (Breed) Needham, was born in Salem, Essex county, May 24, 1822.
He was educated in a private and at the high school, Salem, and at the Friends' boarding school, Providence, R. I. He studied law with David Roberts, and was admitted to the Middlesex county bar, 1847.
He began the practice of law in Boston in company with Edmund Burke, of New Hampshire, and David Roberts, of Salem,
DANIEL NEEDHAM.
the firm name being Burke, Needham & Roberts. This partnership continued sev- eral years.
He was United States bank examiner from 1871 to '86, when he retired from active business.
Mr. Needham was married in Groton, July 17, 1842, to Caroline A., daughter of Benjamin and Caroline A. Hall. Of this union were four children : Eleanor M., William C. H., James Ernest, and Effie Marion Needham. Mr. Needham's second marriage was with Ellen M. Brigham, of Groton, October 7, 188o. She was the daughter of George D. and Mary J. Brig- ham. Of this union were two children : Marion Brigham and Alice Emily Needham.
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Mr. Needham has been a member of the school board and town treasurer of Groton many years.
He was on the staff of Governor Boutwell, 1851-'52; chairman of the Democratic state committee of Massachusetts, 1853-'54 ; and organized the coalition movement which resulted in the election of Governor Boutwell. He removed to Vermont, and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1856 to '59, and a member of the Vermont Senate from 1859 to '63. Returning to Massachusetts, he was elected to the House of Representa- tives from Groton in 1867, and to the state Senate 1868 and '69. While in Ver- mont, he was appointed Vermont commis- sioner to the Hamburg International Ex- position, 1863. He has been president of the Middlesex North Unitarian Associa- tion, and president of the Institute of Heredity since its organization, president of Groton Farmers' Club, and master of the Grange, president of the Middlesex County Milk Producers' Union, president and founder of the Middlesex Club, trustee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, etc. He is a director in the Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company ; for ten years was the owner and manager of the Montello Woolen & Grain Mills, Montello, Wis., the woolen mill having been built originally by him ; and has been a trustee of the Massachusetts Agricultural College from its organization. He was secretary of the New England Agricultural Society twenty-five years ; secretary of the Ver- mont Agricultural Society six years, and superintendent of schools, Hartford, Vt. He was for years managing director of the Peterborough & Shirley Railroad, and in 1847, in connection with the associate directors, made himself liable for the debts of the corporation. He made over all his property to the banks holding the endorsed paper. He ultimately paid every obliga- tion, and perfected arrangements whereby he became reimbursed by the corporation.
Many of his public addresses have had a large circulation in newspaper and pam- phlet form-notably one on the " National Bank," and one on the "Evolution of Labor."
NELSON, THOMAS LEVERETT, son of John and Lois Burnham (Leverett) Nelson, was born in Haverhill, Grafton county, N. H., March 4, 1827.
He fitted for college at Haverhill Acad- emy, and the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H .; entered Dartmouth in 1842 ; in 1844 was transferred to the Uni-
versity of Vermont, Burlington, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1846. He received the degree of LL. D. from his alma mater in 1879.
From his graduation till 1853 he worked as a civil engineer. He then began the study of law at his native place, but later removed to Worcester, where he read law during the years 1854 and '55. He was admitted to the bar at Worcester in 1855, where he has since resided.
He was elected city solicitor, and served 1870 to '73, and has been called to serve on the school board and in various munici- pał and county offices. He was represen- tative from Worcester to the Legislature in 1869, and served as chairman of the judici- ary committee. In 1879 he was appointed judge of the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts, and is the present incumbent. He is a member of the American Antiquarian Society.
Judge Nelson was married in Mendon, October 29, 1857, to Anna H., daughter of Caleb and Mary Moore (Hastings) Hayward. His second marriage occurred March 23, 1865, with Louisa A., daughter of Samuel E. and Hannah A. (Matterson) Slocum, of Millbury. He has five children : Harry L., John, Louisa Burnham, William, and Thomas L. Nelson.
Judge Nelson, when he was appointed to the bench, had become one of the leaders of the bar of Worcester county. Probably no member of it was more frequently con- sulted by his associates in difficult cases. He had a special knowledge of equity and bankruptcy. Always modest and diffident in judging his own capacity, in the earlier part of his practice he was thought by his friends to make less impression on the court than he deserved, by the diffident and quiet manner with which he presented his views. But the supreme court soon dis- covered that everything he had to say was of value, and listened with interest for his contribution to the decision of important and perplexing questions.
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