E. W. Morse was born 16 Oct. 1823 in West Amesbury, Mass. In 1850 he journeyed to San Diego to start a business in general merchandising. He soon became partners with San Diego resident Thomas Whaley, and the two operated a store in the Old Town plaza. The partnership was dissolved in 1854, and Morse opened another store in the plaza until financial problems forced its closure in 1859. He opened a third store at the same general site in 1861 and subsequently sold it to Whaley and another man in 1869. At that time Morse opened a real estate and insurance office in Horton's Addition. For the next ten years he served as an agent for several eastern insurance companies. He also served as director of the San Diego and Gila Railroad Co., helped to organize the Bank of San Diego in 1870, helped to develop the San Diego Flume Co., and presided over the San Diego Bee Keepers Association in 1877.
From the description of Ephraim W. Morse family papers, 1838-1907. (University of California, San Diego). WorldCat record id: 191886669
