A Loving Tribute - Amon Alden Morse

By Isabel Morse Maresh

November 23, 1989

My father has gone Home after a lingering illness. We cannot wish him back to be with his loved ones, knowing that he is now beyond all pain and suffering.

Amon Alden Morse was born April 15, 1905, in Belmont, the son of John W. and Jennie (Levenseller) Morse. His mother Jennie died in June, 1907 at age 30, while having her eighth child. My father was two years old, and his brother Lester was aged one year.

John Morse soon remarried. Schooling for the Morse children was at Greer's Corner schoolhouse, which at that time could be seen from the home place. My father said that they could see the men harvesting ice and children skating on Tilden Pond from home.

When Daddy finished the sixth grade, he never attended school again. He went to work in the hay press with his brother-in-law, Jephtha Buck, to earn his living and pay his board. Though he had little formal education, I doubt that anyone could out-figure or out-think him. His mind worked as quickly as a computer. from that time forth, he dickered and traded.

In March of 1925, at age 18, Amon married Mary Lermond of Lincolnville, daughter of Richard and Annie (Marriner) Lermond. The couple took jobs on the Mahoney Ranch in East Searsmont, determined to make their own living and rejecting help from Dad's father-in-law. Life was not easy. Two babies passed away on the Mahoney place, of what is probably now termed "crib death". After this, Mary did not want to live there.

At age 23, by hard work, long hours, and working together, Amon and Mary had saved $900 to buy the farm in Northport in 1928. Their family grew, and they had a total of 10 children.

1931 and 1942 were again tragic years. Annie, then two years old, was playing under a dump truck with a bucket of sand when the truck rolled over her leg, crushing it. She was saved from permanent damage by the sand bucket, but spent weeks in the hospital in traction.

Janette, aged 11, had a serious sinus operation and passed away that year. A premature infant son also died. In the spring, brother Lester was mysteriously killed.

In 1943, oldest son Richard was drafted into the war and marched away. Mary worked the farm, mowed and raked hay, and milked cows side by side with her husband. During the war years, with a shortage of gasoline, Amon sold 58 horses. He was well-known as a farmer and cattle dealer.

In January of 1955, on a bitter cold night, while Amon and Mary were in Florida, electrical wiring in the barn caused a tragic fire which destroyed his buildings, 23 cows, two pigs, and a dog sleeping in the hay. His grandson Ricky said as he saw the fire, "Bumpa is going to be mad." But Amon rebuilt the farm and started over as he had done before.

Amon and Mary Morse raised three sons and three daughters, Richard, Isabel, Raymond, Annie, Sylvia, and Amon Jr., and instilled in each of us integrity, honor and honesty.

As an old obituary read, "He was a Republican, strong in his convictions." When my father saw wrong in the world, he made no bones about speaking out against it.

My father suffered long, and would not complain. He passed away silently Nov. 13, after a long vigil of all six children and spouses, and grandchildren. The large funeral and procession gave tribute to the respect paid by grieving relatives and friends.

My father raised a garden which was the envy of all who saw it every year until this last year. The song that most typifies the feelings that I had as we sat with him at the end, goes this way:

"These hands ain't the hands of a gentleman,

These handa ain't done all that they've planned.

But, O God, hear my plea, when it's time to judge me,

Take a look at these hard-working hands."

We all love you, Daddy.