Champaign Co, ILGenWeb, The USGenWeb Project - Biography

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Champaign County, Illinois	Biography of Calvin Reed Morehouse

SOURCE: "Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County, Illinois," by Milton W. Mathews and Lewis A. McLean, editors of the Champaign County Herald, published by the Champaign County Herald, 1886

CALVIN REED MOREHOUSE. Just after the war of 1812, on the first ship that was chartered for the United States, after that war, William MOREHOUSE took passage across the broad ocean for the land of liberty and plenty. He was from Dublin, Ireland. Although William was unmindful of the fact, and in fact, knew it not, Catharine KLINE took passage upon the same vessel. During the passage, those on board naturally cultivated sociability. While thus on the ocean wave William met the young lady, for the first time, that was destined soon to become his wife, and later the mother of the subject of this sketch. She was born in Maryland and was the niece of Christian KLINE, who carried on the business of Harper’s Ferry and had charge of the government works that made all the guns the government used during the war of 1812. The couple settled at Baltimore, where, May 25, 1827, Calvin R. Morehouse was born to them. The parents, when Calvin was a babe, removed to Cincinnati in 1828, when it was only an Indian town and trading post. They went back to their Baltimore home in 1829 and in 1830 again removed to Cincinnati. In 1833 they removed to the Wabash country. In 1850 Calvin R. came to Urbana and inspected the countryu. In 1852 he bought land here, and in 1853 removed here with his young wife, whom he had married in 1852. Her name was Rebecca J. WIMP and she is still living. They settled in Somer township and have carried on farming operations extensively ever since. The children born to them are Kossuth B., who resides and farms in same township, Jennie D., who married Mr. SPARKS and resides in northern Iowa, Clara B., who resides in Elgin, Ill., and Flora, who married Mr. GRING and resides in Somer township. Mrs. Morehouse belongs to the M. E. church and is a faithful member of the same. Mr. Morehouse was brought up a democrat and cast his first vote for James Buchanan for president, in 1856. He subsequently voted for Douglas in 1860, for McLellan in 1864, Seymour in 1868. In 1872 he voted his last democratic ticket in voting for Horace Greeley. He became imbued with the idea that the government had the power, and that it was its duty, to furnish the money of the people in the shame of greenbacks, and it was through his influence and energy that the greenback party got a strong foothold in this county. He is a good reasoner and an easy conversationalist, and being well posted upon the financial history of this and other governments he has ably maintained his position in politics. He voted for Peter Cooper in 1876, for Weaver in 1880, and for Butler in 1884, and still clings to the greenback labor party, confident that he is right and believing that his party has forced the old parties to do many things they would not otherwise have done, which is, doubtless true. He has been supervisor of his township from 1860 to 1863, and from 1866 to 1868, both inclusive and was again elected in 1882, and has since served in that capacity, and still holds the position, serving now on his twelfth term. He was one of the most active and influential members of the board of supervisors in securing the location of the State University at Urbana. He was one of the committee that had the matter in charge and to his efforts are largely due the success of the enterprise which has been of so much benefit to our county. He is a fair, honest and faithful legislator for the people. Enterprising and public spirited, he is not picayunish and small like some who seek to make a record of economy, yet he is always to be feared by those who would unjustly get the people’s money from the county treasury. Mr. Morehouse was educated in the log cabin school house of the pioneer days, with greased paper and slab seats. He lived on that primitive diet of the early days, corn bread and sassafras tea. It was in this kind of an educational institution in Montgomery county, Indiana, that he competed with Hon. Joseph e. McDonald, of that state, for the best record in the multiplication table, for it was there that they were schoolmates together.

Mr. Morehouse lives with his faithful helpmeet on a farm in Somer, which they have placed in a high state of improvement, and no where are more hospitable and courteous people to be found than at his model home.

Champaign County, Illinois

Biography of Calvin Reed Morehouse