# Calvin Randall Morse

Calvin Randall Morse (August 11, 1847 – February 18, 1911) was an American newspaper publisher and Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Pierce County during the 1899 term. His name was often abbreviated as C. R. Morse, and he was sometimes referred to by his middle name "Randall".

## Biography

Calvin Morse was born in Bethel, Vermont, in August 1847. He received his early education in Vermont, but came west with his parents in 1856, settling in River Falls, Wisconsin. As a young man, he partnered with his father in the newspaper business under the firm name A. Morse & Son. When his father was unable to continue working, he sold his share of the company to J. D. Moody, and the firm became known as C. R. Morse and Company. Moody then sold out to J. H. Wilkinson, and the firm became Morse & Wilkinson, their principal publication was the River Falls Journal daily newspaper.
In 1882, Morse made his first run for Wisconsin State Assembly, running as the Republican Party nominee in the Pierce County district. He lost a very close election, falling just 31 votes short of John Day Putnam.
Morse subsequently served several local offices, including alderman, member of the school board, and county supervisor. He also was a frequent attendee of local and regional Republican conventions and caucuses. In 1898, he made another run for Wisconsin State Assembly, receiving the Republican nomination in October of that year. At the general election, Morse defeated his Democratic opponent Ferris White, taking 70% of the vote. Morse declined to run for another term in 1900 after the death of his son earlier that year.

## Personal life and family

Calvin Morse was the elder of two children born to Abner Morse and his second wife, Mary (née Randall). Abner Morse was editor of the Green Mountain Herald in Vermont before moving to Wisconsin and entering the newspaper industry there.
Calvin Morse married Mary Belle Horton in 1879. They were married for only seven years before her death in 1886 from pregnancy complications. They had three sons, but one died in infancy and another died at age 18, in 1900. Their youngest son and only survivor, Stanley Randall Morse, served as a non-commissioned officer in the 341st U.S. Infantry Regiment in World War I. He died in 1960 leaving no survivors.

## Electoral history
### Wisconsin Assembly (1882)

Wisconsin Assembly, Pierce County District Election, 1882 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| General Election, November 7, 1882 ||||||
| | Democratic | John D. Putnam | 1,373 | 50.57% | |
| | Republican | C. R. Morse | 1,342 | 49.43% | −3.21pp |
| Plurality | Plurality | Plurality | 31 | 1.14% | -4.13pp |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,715 | 100.0% | +50.58% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### Wisconsin Assembly (1898)

Wisconsin Assembly, Pierce County District Election, 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| General Election, November 8, 1898 ||||||
| | Republican | C. R. Morse | 1,725 | 69.61% | −0.63pp |
| | Democratic | Ferris M. White | 568 | 22.92% | −3.49pp |
| | Prohibition | Cassius D. Hawn | 93 | 3.75% | +0.40pp |
| | Populist | David H. Baker | 92 | 3.71% | |
| Plurality | Plurality | Plurality | 1,157 | 46.69% | +2.86pp |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,478 | 100.0% | -53.12% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |