Charles Fessenden Morse
Encyclopedia
Charles Fessenden Morse (September 22, 1839 – December 11, 1926) was a Lieutenant Colonel
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
and, afterward, an influential businessman and civic leader in Kansas City
, Missouri
.
, graduating in 1858 with an S.B. degree
.
in Topeka, Kansas at the suggestion of his friend, Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
, and relocated to Kansas City, where he served first as general manager and eventually president of the Kansas City Stockyards
. Morse also served for several years as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Street Railway company. He was one of the first residents of the city's exclusive Hyde Park district, a gated suburb established outside the city limits near the frontier town of Westport in 1882. During the 1880s and 1890s, Col. Morse helped establish several elite civic institutions, including The Barstow School
and the Kansas City Country Club
. Morse maintained a summer residence in Falmouth, Massachusetts, to which he retired in 1913.
, with whom he served in the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The two maintained near daily-correspondence until the latter's death in the Battle of Fort Wagner
in July 1863, and their battlefield letters served as primary sources for the books that inspired the film.
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and, afterward, an influential businessman and civic leader in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Early life
Morse was born in Boston and spent his childhood there. He attended Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1858 with an S.B. degree
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
.
Business career
In 1878, Morse left his post as general manager of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
in Topeka, Kansas at the suggestion of his friend, Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
Charles Francis Adams II was a member of the prominent Adams family, and son of Charles Francis Adams, Sr. He served as a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War...
, and relocated to Kansas City, where he served first as general manager and eventually president of the Kansas City Stockyards
Kansas City Stockyards
The Kansas City Stockyards in the West Bottoms west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri flourished from 1871 until closing in 1991.Jay B. Dillingham was the President of the stockyards from the 1948 to its closing in 1991.-History:...
. Morse also served for several years as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Street Railway company. He was one of the first residents of the city's exclusive Hyde Park district, a gated suburb established outside the city limits near the frontier town of Westport in 1882. During the 1880s and 1890s, Col. Morse helped establish several elite civic institutions, including The Barstow School
The Barstow School
The Barstow School, founded in 1884 by Mary Louise Barstow, is a nonsectarian, coeducational, independent preparatory school in southern Kansas City, Missouri, USA.The Barstow School enrolls approximately 650 students from Preschool through Grade 12...
and the Kansas City Country Club
Kansas City Country Club
The Kansas City Country Club, founded in 1896, is a country club in Mission Hills, Kansas, USA, an affluent suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the club for which the Country Club District and the Country Club Plaza of Kansas City are named...
. Morse maintained a summer residence in Falmouth, Massachusetts, to which he retired in 1913.
In popular culture
A young Captain Morse was portrayed by Donovan Leitch, Jr. in the 1989 film Glory. This appearance was fictionalized - Morse was a close friend and associate of Robert Gould ShawRobert Gould Shaw
Robert Gould Shaw was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As colonel, he commanded the all-black 54th Regiment, which entered the war in 1863. He was killed in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina...
, with whom he served in the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The two maintained near daily-correspondence until the latter's death in the Battle of Fort Wagner
Battle of Fort Wagner
The First Battle of Fort Wagner was fought on July 10 and 11, 1863, on Morris Island in Charleston harbor during the American Civil War. An attempt by the Union Army to capture Fort Wagner was repulsed. The more famous Second Battle of Fort Wagner, which involved an assault by the 54th...
in July 1863, and their battlefield letters served as primary sources for the books that inspired the film.