Oliver A. Morse

Oliver Andrew Morse was an American politician and attorney. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from New York. He was also a founding member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.

Early life

Morse was born in Cherry Valley, New York on March 26, 1815. His parents were Mary G. and James O. Morse, an attorney and judge. His uncle was Wiliam M. Oliver, a congressman for the state of New York and acting lieutenant governor of New York.
Morse attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, graduating in 1833. While at Hamilton, he was a founding member of the Alpha Delta Phi Literary Society in 1832. He then studied law.

Morse was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Perryville, Ohio. After a short time, he returned to Cherry Valley and practiced law there.
He was elected as a Republican to the 35th United States Congress and served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859. He was opposed to slavery. He did not seek re-election in 1858.
Morse invested in several real estate ventures in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. However, he claimed to have been swindled of $3,000 by his partner and New York attorney Samuel Campbell.

Morse married Anna Clark of Cherry Valley in 1839. They had two daughters, Anna and Sarah.
Morse died in New York City on April 20, 1870. He was buried in Cherry Valley Cemetery in Cherry Valley.