Dr. John Ferdinand Morse (1872-1935)

MORSE, WHITNEY, MERRY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 00:36:41

From unknown newspaper August 8, 1935

Dr. John F. Morse, 63, for ten years medical superintendent of Iowa sanitarium, died at that institution at 7:40 a. m., today from the effects of a stroke of apoplexy suffered early Saturday morning.

Funeral services will be held at the Nevada Seventh Day Adventist church Sunday afternoon at 2:00, after which the body will be interred in the Nevada cemetery.

Dr. Morse was a physician and surgeon of exceptional ability and talent and was a man especially fitted to the position which he had held at Iowa sanitarium. His death will be a distinct loss to that institution and to the community as well.

He had had wide experience in private practice, as well as in sanitarium work and had spent several years in foreign fields, specially in Porto Rico, where he was in charge of the medical work on a large plantation and spent some time as a self supported missionary.

In his immediate family he leaves his wife Dr. Jean Whitney Morse and two adopted sons, the latter being Leon about 20 years of age and Lawrence about 12. Mrs. Esther Whitney, mother of Mrs. Morse, has also been in the home for many years.

The Iowa Sanitarium board will at once face the task of securing a successor to Dr. Morse. In the meantime, until such a successor is found, the work of the institution will be continued by Dr. Nana Rosenthal and the local Nevada doctors.

During his ten years in the institution, Dr. Morse had built up the business and established a confidence in the minds of the public that it had never attained before.

His successor will find the institution in fine working order but will face a considerable task it the same success is attained that was established by Dr. Morse.

Had Busy Life

John Ferdinand Morse was born at Spirit Lake, Ia., June 2, 1872. His parents were F. W. Morse and Margaret Ann Merry Morse.

He was raised at Mankato, Minn. At the age of 17 he entered the Battle Creek Sanitarium, Battle Creek, Mich., to take a course of nurse's training.

About the time of the completion of his training he suffered a hip injury in a fall which kept him confined to his bed or on crutches for seven years.

During this invalidism he began his medical studies while still on crutches. He graduated from the American Medical Missionary college at Battle Creek, Mich., in 1899. This college on its discontinuance became affiliated with the University of Illinois.

Graduated at Edinburgh

He served as receiving physician and surgical assistant at the Battle Creek sanitarium until he went to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1911. From that institution he received the degree of L. R. C. P. and S. (Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons). This degree gave him the right to practice in any British territory.

Went to Porto Rico

From there he spent ten years in Porto Rico as surgeon for the fourth largest sugar company in the world. He also acted as quarantine officer, being the only physician in a territory of 6,000 inhabitants.

Established Church

On the island when Dr. Morse went there, were but six members of the Seventh Day Adventist faith. On his leaving there was a church edifice in the city in which he lived with 50 members and other members of the faith scattered over the island.

Memory Honored

Two years ago in the city of Ensenda, Porto Rico a new church was built and dedicated to the memory.

Returns to United States

Dr. Morse returned to the United States in 1920 and became medical superintendent of the Hinsdale sanitarium at Hinsdale, Ill. While there he became a Fellow the American College of Surgeons. (F. A. C. S.)

Comes to Iowa Sanitarium

When Dr. Morse assumed the duties of medical superintendent at the Iowa Sanitarium in Nevada in the fall of 1925, he remarked that he would remain by this institution until its discontinuance or his death. How well it prospered under his administration the records show.

Was Married in 1906

Dr. Morse was married to Dr. Jean Harris Whitney at Battle Creek, Mich., in December of 1906. Dr. Jean accompanied him on his trip to Europe and with him visited England, France, Italy and Switzerland where she had lived four years as a girl before leaving with him for Porto Rico.

He is survived by his wife and two sons, Leon and Lawrence, by two aunts in Minnesota and by a nephew, Harry Morse, a missionary in China, by other relatives and by a wide circle of friends.