Morse, W. H.

MORSE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/15/2008 at 07:57:47

Jackson Sentinel
Centennial Edition, 1938

W. H. Morse, Civil War Vet, Came to Maquoketa in ‘54

W. H. Morse of Wyoming, 97-year-old Civil war veteran, came to Maquoketa 84 years ago, in 1854, and has lived in Iowa continuously since that time. In speaking of his early days in Maquoketa, Mr. Morse says, “I landed in your city August 26, 1854, and got my first dinner in John E. Goodenow’s hotel. That was in the days of ox teams and lumber wagons when if you wanted to go any place and back the same day you had to start the day before.”

After living for two years, a mile and a half southwest of town, he moved to Wyoming, but he returned to Maquoketa often to exhibit his fine Poland China hogs at the county fairs. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F of the 31st Iowa Infantry, being the first man in that company, and one of 350 soldiers who enlisted from Maquoketa “Of the four veterans in Jones county, I am the only one who is able to walk a mile and a half every day, and I am the oldest man in Wyoming.” He says.

Mr. Morse made a 10-day trip to Gettysburg, Pa., this summer to attend the reunion of Yankee and Confederate soldiers held there.