Bradford Morse is the well-known City Marshal of Riverside. He is a native of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, dating his birth in Middleboro, May 4, 1848. He was reared and schooled in his native place, closing his studies in the Pratt Free High School. He then located in Brockton, Massachusetts, and was employed in the shoe manufactories for many years, becoming expert in his business, and was employed as a cutter in the manufactory of C. R. Ford. During his life in Brockton, Mr. Morse was prominent in the military circles of the State. He was for eleven years a member of the National Guard of Massachusetts. He first enlisted as a private, and rose through the successive non-commissioned grades to a lieutenancy after four years’ service, and three years later was commissioned as Captain of Company I, First Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry, holding that position four years, until, in 1881, Mr. Morse decided to seek a residence on the Pacific coast. He came to California, and in March of that year located in Riverside. Upon his arrival he purchased a ten-acre tract in Brockton square, of William Randall, which he held until the next year, when he sold out and purchased a seven-acre tract on Jurupa Avenue, and entered into horticultural pursuits. He sold that place in 1887 and purchased a ten-acre tract east of Riverside, which he has planted with Washington Navel orange trees. He is thorough in his horticultural enterprises and has set his tract with well-selected stock from his own nursery, and is destined to have one of the representative groves of his section. His residence at this writing is on Mulberry street, between Second and Third streets.
Mr. Morse is a progressive citizen and has taken a deep interest in the progress of his chosen city. He was a member of the County Board of Horticulture in 1889, and in 1887 was a director of the Riverside Water Company. September 28, 1886, the Board of City Trustees appointed Mr. Morse City Marshal and Tax Collector of Riverside. He conducted the affairs of his office so creditably and satisfactorily that in the spring of 1888 he was re-elected to the position and has filled the office since that date, being again re-elected April, 1890. He is also a member of the Riverside Board of Health In political matters he is a Republican and in whatever community he has resided he has always taken a working part in the ranks of his party. He has, since 1884, been a member of the Republican County Committee, and since 1888 on the executive board of the same. He has also served as a delegate in several of the county conventions. Mr. Morse is a member of the Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F., and also Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112, K. of P., and Division No. 30, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, holding a lieutenant’s commission in the latter order. He is a supporter of the Congregational Church.
In 1871 the subject of this sketch married Miss Ella A. Keith, daughter of Gilman P. Keith, of Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Mr. Morse’s parents were Captain Levi Morse and Sally (Tinkham) Morse, both natives of Massachusetts and representatives of old colonial families.