Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-27
W. Y. MORSE CALLED TO REST
Pioneer Omaha Merchant Passes
Away After Long Illness.
WAS ACTIVE IN MANY AFFAIRS
At the Time of His Death Mr.. Morse
Was a Director of the Omaha
Il Council Bluffs street
Railway Company.

William V. Morse, a resident of Omaha
since 1863. died yesterday at his home,
1922 Davenport street, aged 6s years. His
death was due to heart failure. and al
though he had been in poor health for
three years. his condition was not con-
sidered critical. Thursday he was up and
down town during the forenoon. Tuesday
he was at the offices OF the Omaha street
railway company, where he talked with
General Manager Smith relative to bust
ness matters.
Mfr. Morse was born in Nova Scotia and
when boy came to the States, locating
in New England. where he cierked in
shoe store. learning the business thor
oughly. Saving his money, he concluded
TO go into business and as he felt that
the west offered more opportunities than
the east, came TO Omaha. Having some
money and large line of credit with the
eastern shoe manufacturers, Immediately
after securing location In Omaha on
Douglas street, east OF Thirteenth. he
opened the only exclusive boot and shoe
store In the city. He prospered from the
start and few years later engaged In
the shoe jobbing business but continued
to sell at retail. later putting in factory
for the manufacture Of shoes However.
some years later this burned and the
business of manufacturing was dlscon-
tinued.
In Dry Goods business.
As early as 1877 William v. Morse. with
his brother. S. P. Morse. organized the
Morse Dry Goods company. one OF the
first dry goods jobbing houses In the
city. s. p. Morse Is now OF New York.
This firm for some years occupied thu
Ames building at Sixteenth and Farnam
streets which was recently burned.
Mr.. Morse organized the firm Of w. v.
Morse g. Co., shoe jobbers. This firm in
1891 was reorganized as the Morse Shoe
company.
He was also a charter member
Of the Omaha Real Estate Owners as.
ISOLATION. organized in 1891, and was &C.
tive in the conduct OF the affairs Of the
organization.
Helps Organise Water Company.
Mr.. Morse was one OF the organizers
Of the Omaha Water company. as well
as being the head OF the old cable tram
way company and one of the principal
stockholders, When this rapid transit
company consolidated with the old horse
railway company. his cable stock was
turned into the new company. in which
he also became stakeholder and d.
rector. Subsequently when the merged
company bought out the old Mercer cleo
trio company and consolidated. Mr.. Morse
became one OF the directors. holding the
position at the time Of his death.
During his long residence In Omaha Mr.
Morse was looked upon as one OF the
progressive citizens OF the city. investing
his money here and taking hold OF most
Of the enterprises tending to build UP and
benefit the community.
He Is survived by his widow. three
daughters and a son. The children are
Mrs. George Palmer. Mrs. Forest Rich
ardson. Miss Ethel Morse. former Ak.
sar- Ben queen. all Of Omaha, and Robert
Morse Of Seattle.
His wife was Miss Laura Lehmer. once
teacher In the Beals school and . sister
OF the late Joseph Lehmer.