Ben Morse

“Ben Morse, successor to V. D. and B. Morse, would respectfully announce to his old customers and the public generally that he will continue the manufacture of Linseed Oil, both Boiled and Raw, which he will sell in quantities to suit purchase. Oil Meal kept constantly on hand at the Oil Mill on Factory Hill. Cash paid for Flax Seed. Ithaca, Jan. 24 ’59. Ben. Morse.”

Advertisement for Ben Morse's Oil Mill, Ithaca Journal and Advertiser, February 8, 1859, 1.

Ben Morse, linseed oil and flax manuf., William, near Factory St, East Hill

Binghamton, NY

Benjamin Morse, oil manf., Williams about Factory St h do [the same]

H. G. Smith & Co., Lancaster, PA

Ben Morse, oil, tow and cabinet ware manufacturer, William near Eddy h. 35 Factory

Ithaca Democrat Steam Print, Ithaca, NY

  “On Saturday last at about 1 o’clock an alarm of fire was given, which was found to proceed from the Cabinet Manufacturing shop of Ben Morse, on East Hill, just west of Cascadilla Place. The building was totally destroyed and a large amount of materials and finished work consumed. It is claimed the fire commenced from the contents of a pipe emptied by one of the workmen. The woods on the opposite side of Cascadilla creek caught fire, and had not the steamers been on hand with sufficient hose to reach from the mill pond over the bridge and down the north bank, the consequences would have been still more serious. The steamer played through 1,750 feet of hose, over one third of a mile, with such force that Mr. Egbert, who happened to be in range when the pipe was moved around a tree, was knocked down and it was feared for some time one of his eyes was destroyed by the tremendous velocity of the water. No. 4 hand engine reached the fire and commenced operations first but was soon followed by the Steamers. The firemen attached to the engines express their thanks for refreshments furnished them by the proprietors of Cascadilla Place, Messrs. Bement & Benham. The loss on the entire property is supposed to be $5,000, with but $500 insurance.

  Mr. Morse desires to thank the firemen and citizens for their efforts to save his property on Saturday last.”

Ithaca Daily Journal, May 14, 1872, 1, accessed, July 3, 2026, https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=tij18720514-01.1.1

BEN MORSE, horse rakes, 26 Williams, h. 37 Factory St

Norton & Conklin, Publishers, Ithaca, NY

“Auction,

Household Goods

 At residence of Ben Morse, Esq.,

37 Factory Street, Corner Buffalo

Wednesday and Thursday August 25th and 26th…”

Ithaca Daily Journal, August 18, 1880, 4, https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=idj18800818-01.1.4

“Mr. Ben Morse, who after a long residence in Ithaca, left here eleven years ago, is in town today. Mr. Morse is now located at Trumansburg, where he represents a life insurance company.”

“Purely Personal,” Ithaca Daily Journal, January 2, 1892, 3, accessed, July 3, 2026, https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=idj18920102-01.1.3

  “The death of Mr. Ben Morse occurred at the house of his eldest son, Everett, in Trumansburg, at 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon. Mr. Morse had been in failing health for a considerable time, and only recently had been taken to his son’s home in the village.

  Mr. Morse, the second son of John and Sarah Johnson Morse, was born January 4, 1821, in Susquehanna County, Pa, and came when six months old to Ithaca, where, with slight exception, he passed the years of his long, honorable and not uneventful life.

  He was a lineal descendant of Anthony Morse,—one of the seven brothers who came from England in 1634-7, and settled in New Hampshire—and was a first cousin of the late Professor S. F. B. Morse, the inventor of the electromagnetic telegraph.

  Ben Morse, was himself an inventor and manufacturer of farming implements of his own devising. For many years he was among the most energetic and enterprising of Ithaca’s businessmen, and at one time conducted the manufacture of linseed oil at his water power on the Cascdilla, where his other business interests were chiefly located.

  Mr. Morse was highly esteemed not only for his business ability and integrity, but for his rare qualities of mind and heart. He kept fully abreast of the times, was an apt scholar and extensive reader, and discussed the problems of the day, by voice and through the press, with vigorous sincerity.

  He was a charter member of the Unitarian Society, of this place and retained to the last his connection with it. The Rev. Dr. Stebbing, at one time his pastor, respected his extensive knowledge of affairs and ever felt that, in such respect, he was a layman of exceptional ability.

  Mr. Morse, in 1864, married Sarah Fritchette, of a Virginia family who survives him. Their children living, are Everett Fleet, Virgil D, Frank Lincoln, and Minnie Rowena; a daughter Clara, died in 1879. He leaves two sisters, Mrs. Jane D. Hudson, of Sioux City, Iowa and Miss Nancy Morse, of Mason City, Iowa.

  The funeral will take place at the First Unitarian Church Saturday at 3 o’clock.”

“Death of Mr. Ben Morse,” Ithaca Daily Journal, March 7, 1902, 3, https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=idj19020307-01.1.3

Benjamin J. “Benj” Morse, 1821-1902
Son of John Morse (1789-1866) and Sarah J Morse (1788-1872) 
Brother of Virgil D Morse (1815-1891)

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188747303/benjamin_j-morse