Albert Clark Morse was born on October 14, 1842 in Huntsburg, Ohio. Morse had an older brother Amos, born on October 4, 1840 and a younger brother Cassius, born on October 24, 1844. He also had another brother, Edward, and sisters, Mattie, Emma, and Eunice. Morse's father died and the family came west to Wisconsin in 1856, settling in Grant County, near the town of Tafton (now Bloomington), Wisconsin. The three brothers attended the Tafton Collegiate Seminary from 1859 to 1861. Albert enlisted on August 19, 1861 at Tafton in Company F of the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which became part of the famed Iron Brigade. The Iron Brigade engaged in many battles during the course of the war, and among those documented in the collection are Fredricksburg, the Wilderness, and the Richmond-Petersburg campaign. Morse served with the 7th Wisconsin throughout the war, except for the second half of 1862 when he was hospitalized. Morse re-enlisted in the same company at Culpeper, Virginia on December 28, 1863. He mustered out as a Sergeant near Jefferson, Indiana on July 13, 1865. After the war Morse returned to Grant County and settled in Lancaster, Wisconsin. On October 5, 1869 he married Mary Hicks of Bloomington, Wisconsin. Albert Morse became a leading citizen in his community, building up a substantial life insurance business. He was also elected clerk of the circuit court in 1883, and he served four years in that capacity. Morse died on January 31, 1934 and is buried in Lancaster Cemetery.
