The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-22
LIFE OF SAMUEL T.. MORSS.


Samuel L. Morss was a man of mark i'm
Nation as well as State and city His
distinguished public service as consul gen.
eral at Paris under the last administra-
ton of Cleveland. his prominence in the
councils of the Democratic party, particu-
larry in the years preceding the rise of
William j. Bryan and the free silver agi-
tation, his activity in promoting practical
reforms, his high standing in the business
world, his irreproachable private character,
his ability as an editorial writer, his activity
and energy as a publsher-al had made his
name familiar throughout the United
States.
Mr. Morss would have been fifty-one years
old Dec. 10. He was born Dec. 10, 1852, in
Fort Wayne. His father was Samuel S.
Morss, one of the pioneer settlers of Fort
Wayne, who located there when it was
little more than a French settlement in
the wilderness, in the early thirties His
lineage was honorable. His father came
to be a man of sterling Importance in the
affairs of his adopted city, a public-spirited
gentleman who was prominently identified
with the political business and social in
terests of the community. Among the po-
sitions of honor and trust which the elder
MorSS occupied were auditor and sheriff
Fort Wayne. The family was originally
natives of Maine, from which they went
to western New York, afterward to Indiana.
The stock is English. the family in America
being founded by two brothers who came
to Massachusetts about the middle of the
seventeenth century Mr. Morss,s mother
West when little girl, being with relatives
for a short time in Cincinnati and Dayton.
She went to Fort Wayne about 1885. The
mother of Mr.. MorsS was one of the first
two teachers in Fort Wayne, the other be-
ing Miss. Mann, who was afterward the
wife of Hugh McCulloch, secretary of the
treasury under Presidents Lincoln, Johnson
and Arthur.
A MAN OF ENERGY.
Mr.. Morss was not college-bred man,
although his common school education was
thorough. The rest he obtained by hard
work and direct application to the practical
school of life. His success in life was OBJ
tanned by untiring energy, a remarkable
capacity for hard work, intelligence of an
unusual order, upright living, conscien-
tiousness and fair treatment of his fellow
men. He became man of broad culture.
wide knowledge and an expert student of
human nature. He was a man of charming
personality, a favorite in society, TO which
he devoted as much time as could be spared
from his manifold business interests 1t
has been said of him that he was an easy
prey for every man with a story of mis-
fortune. His kindness of heart and hor-
ror of suffering in others kept his purse
strings constantly loosened. His charities
We're many, but given unostentatiously.
His common school and high school edu-
cation were obtained in Fort Wayne. While
a boy he manifested aptitude for news
paper work. showing a love for il that led
him on until he rose from a reporter to be
the proprietor and editor of a modern daily.
He graduated from the Fort Wayne High
School in 1871, becoming a reporter on the
old Fort Wayne Gazette almost at the
III.
with enthusiasm and capacity, he served
the Gazette in various capacities until 1874,
when he became city editor of the Fort
Wayne Sentinel. a position which he held
for six months. In the fall of 1874 he re-
turned TO the Gazette in an editorial ca
pacity.
In the spring of 1879 he was placed in en-
tire editorial control of the Fort Wayne
Sentinel, which was then owned by Will
liam Fleming. afterward treasurer of state
When he was twenty-seven years old Mr.
Morss became the owner of the Fort
Wayne Sentinel with William r. Nelson,
then of Fort Wayne. They conducted the
newspaper until 1850. when they sold it to
the present owner, Mr.. E. a. X. Hackett
In September 1850. Mr. Morss and Mr. Nell
son founded the Kansas City Star of
which Mr.. Nelson Is now the sole owner.
Mr.. Morss became the editor and Mr.. Mel
son the publisher OF the paper. They
worked together until 1Ss2 when continued
application to his duties had so UNDER
mined Mr.. Morsss health that he sold out
his interest and went TO Europe for several
months rest. When he returned 10 the
United States In the summer OF 1888 he ac-
cepted a position as editorial writer on the
Chicago Times. remaining there as an
editor and as Washington correspondent
until December. 1887.
Feb. I. 1855 Mr. Morss organized the In
dianapolis Sentinel Company. becoming it's
principal stakeholder and president He
purchased the indianapolis Sentinel, TAX
ing charge as editor. From time TO time
he absorbed the interests % others in the
company. His ability as manager and his
brilliance as an editorial writer gave the