Last Updated on October 17, 2011 by
L. F. Morse, M. D., physician and surgeon, Mattoon; was born in Canterbury, N.Y. Feb. 5, 1839; his father was a farmer, and his early life was that of a farmer’s son; at the age of 14, he went to live with an uncle; in the winter of 1860, he began the study of medicine, under the supervision of Dr. L. T. Weeks, of Canterbury; after an extended course of reading, he attended a course of lectures in the Burlington Medical College, at Burlington, Vt.; in June, 1862, he was engaged in the Government hospital at Washington, as Contract Surgeon; here he remained one year; in 1863, he attended a course of lectures in Dartmouth Medical College from which he graduated in November, 1863; he then entered the U. S. Navy, as Assistant Surgeon, and was stationed on the west coast Of Florida; Dec. 7, 1865, he was discharged from the U. S. service; he next attended a course of lectures in the Homeopathic College of New York, from which he graduated in March, 1866; he first located in Biddeford, Me., and entered upon the practice of his profession; in September, 1867, he came West to see, and located in Pekin, Tazewell Co.; in May, 1868, he came to Mattoon, his present residence. He was married April 14, 1869, to Harriet F. Chamberlain, a native of Indiana; has three children – Helen L., Bertha L. and Clifford L. Mr. M. at present holds the office of School Director, and is Secretary of the Board.