Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 161.

WILLIS B. MORSE, M. D.

     No member of the medical profession in the Willamette Valley is held in
higher repute than is Dr. Willis B. Morse, who, for nearly thirty-seven years,
has devoted himself indefatigably to the practice of medicine in Salem, in which
he has met with great success. Dr. Morse was born in McMinnville, Yamhill
county, Oregon, on the 21st of March, 1866, and is a son of William Bent and
Nancy E. (McBride) Morse. His mother, who was a native of Missouri, was a sister
of Judge Thomas A. McBride, of the supreme court of Oregon. She was one of the
pioneer school teachers of this state, and was an instructor at McMinnville
College under Professor Johnson, a noted educator of that time, who later became
president of the State University at Eugene. She was prominently identified with
the leading educators of the state, and this association covered a period of
twenty-five years. The Doctor's father was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and
was of the same family as Samuel B. Morse, the inventor of telegraphy. After
attending the public schools, he went to sea in early youth, studied navigation
and at twenty-one years of age was the master of a vessel. He sailed to most of
the important ports of the world and his first trip to California and Oregon was
made around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, which stopped at Vancouver, whence
they proceeded to Oregon City in row boats. He returned to the east, but in 1849
again came to the coast, this time by way of [he isthmus of Panama, and stopped
first in California, where he remained about a. year, coming to Oregon in the
early '50s and settling in Yamhill county. He was married there and established
his home in McMinnville. For a while he engaged in various pursuits and was then
appointed to a position at the Grand Ronde Indian reservation under General Phil
Sheridan. In 1866 Governor Woods appointed him the first warden of the state
penitentiary, in which position he served with ability and credit for four
years. In later years he became connected with the railway mail service, with
which he was associated at the time of his death, in 1883. He was prominently
identified with Freemasonry in Oregon and was closely acquainted with the
leaders of that order throughout the northwest. A man of sterling character, he
commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him and was regarded as a
leader among the pioneers of his section of the state.
     Willis B. Morse attended the public schools at St. Helens, the high school
at Portland and the Wasco Academy at The Dalles, and then matriculated in the
medical school of Willamette University, winning the degree of Doctor of
Medicine, in April, 1891, since which time he has devoted himself to the
practice of his profession, with the exception of a period in 1899, when he went
to Alaska, where he spent six months in prospecting and mining. He has kept in
close touch with the latest advances in the healing art and has taken
postgraduate work at the New York Post-Graduate School and the New York
Polyclinic, besides being a constant reader of the best professional literature.
He is a member of the medical staff of the Salem hospital, and, while he
conducts a general practice, has specialized in surgery, in which he is regarded
as the peer of any of his contemporaries.
     In 1899 Dr. Morse was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Cusick, of Salem, a
daughter of Dr. William A. Cusick, one of the pioneers of Marion county, having
come across the plains from Illinois in the early '40s. Mrs. Morse died in 1906.
The Doctor has always shown a commendable interest in the welfare of his city
and county and has served for many years as a member of the state board of
health, being president of that body during part of that time. During the World
war he was chairman of the medical advisory board and gave his best efforts to
the success of all local war measures. He is a member of the Marion County
Medical Society, the Oregon State Medical Society, of which he is now president,
the American Medical Association, and the American College of Surgeons.
Fraternally he is a member of Pacific Lodge, No. 50, A. F. & A. M.; Multnomah
Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; De Molay Commandery, No. 5, K. T.; Al Kader Temple, A.
A. 0. N. M. S., of Portland; and also of Salem Lodge, No. 336, B. P. 0. E. He is
an honorary member of the Rotary Club and belongs to the Country Club and the
Chamber of Commerce. Politically the Doctor has always supported the republican
party and has maintained a deep interest in public affairs. Kindly and
sympathetic in manner, he is a welcome visitor in the sick room, while in his
social relations he commands a host of warm and loyal friends, who esteem him
for his genuine worth.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.