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| Eunice and Joseph Morse |
This week working on the book for the Eaton Village Cemetery
as a “fund Raiser” I had the opportunity to think about a great number of women
who survived the arduous journeys from other Northeastern areas to Eaton in the
times of settlement.
Women, who bore
children, took care of the family and worked side by side with their husbands
clearing land and starting a new life.
Certainly among the most famous is Eunice Bigelow Morse of
the famous Stowe-Bigelow -Morse families of Natick, Massachusetts. Eunice came with her husband Joseph, and
young children to a place that would become not only home to her but to
generations of her family.
A relative Harriet Beecher Stowe in a book titled “Old Town
Folks”, forever immortalized Eunice’s family.
Many believed the story was written by Harriet's husband Calvin Ellis Stowe
for his family… the Stowe’s… However, when Harriet married Callvin she married
into the same family as her grandmother. * It is interesting to note that the
Eaton Museum has the first edition of Hearth & Home with the first
installment of that book inside…a newspaper kept untouched by Eunice
Morse.
The museum also has Eunice’s rocker and the cradle she used
for what became the famous Morse brood.
The Natick crowd (Old Town Folks) also included other Morses…crab (Hezekiah
Morse”, Grandpa Stowe of Eaton’s Stow Tavern…. and many more.
From Luna Hammond’s History in part:
Joseph (Eunice) removed to Eaton in 1796 from Natick… Joseph
Morse was the founder of Eaton village, and his sons have been identified
with nearly all of its business interests. These sons were named as follows: Ellis, whose biographical sketch appears in
the chapter relating to Eaton, Joseph, who moved to Pennsylvania served in the
Legislature of that State, and also became judge of the County Courts; Calvin,
who was an elected member of the Legislature from Madison County in 1842, and
has held municipal offices in town and county; Alpheus, who has been a merchant
and scientific farmer, and for many years past, manufacturer, being proprietor
of the Alderbrook Woolen Mill; and Bigelow, who was a respected citizen of
Fabius, Onondaga County. Eunice, the eldest daughter of Joseph More, married
Dr. James Pratt the pioneer physician of Eaton. After her husband's death, she with her family
removed and began pioneer life again in Palmyra, Mo. She was a woman of indomitable will and great
energy of character.
The descendants of Joseph
(and Eunice) Morse have, many of them, distinguished themselves in various
positions. Gen. Henry B. Morse entered the late war as Captain of the 114th Reg. N. Y.
V., was promoted to the office of Colonel, and subsequently, for meritorious
services, was breveted Brigadier-General in the army of the southwest. He is
grandson of Joseph Morse; as also is the Rev. Andrew Morse, who as a young man was a
missionary to Siam and then become the Chaplain of the U S Treasury and friends
with Abraham Lincoln,. Gardner Morse, who was member of the Legislature in
1866, Walter, a member of the manufacturing firm of Wood, Tabor & Morse,
George E., a prominent citizen interested in the schools and who founded the
Eaton Village Cemetery Association, and Alfred, who bravely gave his life for
the Union cause at the battle of Winchester,Va. ; all these being sons of Ellis
Morse. Darwin and Frank B. Morse, merchants at Eaton village, Allie Morse
Burchard whose husband formed the Chenango Breeder’s Association, Children of
Bigelow, are grandsons of Joseph Morse. Two grand-daughters, Belinda and Eliza,
daughters of Calvin, have been conspicuous as teachers, the latter being now
assistant Principal of Vassar Female College.
Hezekiah Morse, the third
of the pioneer brothers, came to Eaton in 1806. His children are scattered and
many of them dead. One of his sons. Alpha was for many
years a prominent manufacturer of Eaton.
Another son, Elijah, who is now dead, was a wealthy farmer of Eaton. A
grand-daughter is wife of Rev. John
Raymond, President of Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Albert H.
Morse, a prominent citizen of Eaton is also a grandson, being son of Elijah. H.
B. Morse, youngest son of Hezekiah, is a scientific and successful farmer of
Norwich, N. Y. (and this is just and excerpt)
What a family… and
that isn’t all of them and their accomplishments. The very road today’s Eaton Village Cemetery
is located on (Landon Road) was once the Great Skaneateles Turnpike a road that
it is claimed would not have been built except for Joseph and Ellis who
controlled 51 percent of the stock investment… an investment they made of
$30,000 in 1810… think about it.
Come out to
Eaton Day on Memorial, Day Monday… tour the cemetery…by a book, make a donation
to support the Eaton Village Cemetery Association and help Eaton celebrate
History and “Happy Mother’s Day” to all of those pioneer women whose husbands and children made our area a wonderful piece of rural Americana!
*Interestingly Luna
Hammond the historian and her famous mother Deidamia Button Chase (the first
female physician of Madison County) and her famous brood are also buried in the
cemetery. Almost all of the Morse family is buried in the Eaton Cemetery
including the Morse – Motts. Did you know that Luna's brother Julius was the historian for the US Treasury in Washington DC.
Town filled with music and people
listening, especially when the Eaton Military Band played. In the evening there
was always a dance that was well attended at the opera house in town, and the
Rebekah Lodge usually served coffee to the attendees, with the dance continuing
until midnight.
