Bio of VORSE, Charles H. (b.1846) Wright Co., MN
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316           HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY 

Charles H. Vorse, one of the best known men in the county, was born in Garden
Valley, McHenry county, Illinois, March 22, 1846, son of William and Lois 
(Hart) Vorse, the pioneers, who in 1855 brought him to Clearwater township 
in this county. As a young boy Mr. Vorse attended what was, perhaps, the 
first school taught in Wright county. This school was held in the summer 
of 1856 on the Big Bend of the Mississippi river, some three miles below the 
village of Clearwater. The schoolhouse consisted of a sloping roof of brush 
and leaves, held up by a pole placed across two crotched sticks. When a hard 
rain fell, this roof was but little protection. The books used were such as 
the children happened to have at home. The teacher, Mrs. Ellen Kent, was paid
by a subscription taken among the parents. Among the pupils were Charles H. 
Vorse; Anna, Zell and Mannville Markham, 

HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY                          317 

Cyrus and Fred Thrall, George Oakes and Maria Boyanton. At the age of sixteen, 
in 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Eighth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, under 
Captain Edward Hartley. He served on the frontier against the Sioux Indians, 
under General Sulley, and afterward went south and saw service with the Army 
of the Ohio in the Twenty-third Army Corps. He took part in the Battle of the 
Cedars and the Battle of British Crossroads, as well as in many minor 
engagements and skirmishes.  After three years of service he was mustered 
out at Charlotte, N. C., July, 1865. Then he returned to his home and attended 
school for three months, for although a seasoned war veteran he was not as yet 
twenty years of age. His schooling completed, he learned the trade of 
wheelwright from his father and followed this occupation for several years. 
About 1883 he became proprietor of the Morrison House, at Clearwater, then 
one of the best hotels northwest of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 1884 he went 
to Delano. After conducting the Danforth and Brown hotels there be was in 1889 
appointed postmaster under President Benjamin Harrison and served until 1895.
Then in 1897 he was appointed clerk of court of the Fourth Judicial District 
for Wright county. He succeeded himself by election, and served until the 
close of 1903. Since retiring from office he has retained his home in Buffalo 
and has devoted his attention to the fire insurance business. Having the 
progress of the village at heart, he has done good service as a member of 
the village council. He is now a justice of the peace and the court 
commissioner. Mr. Vorse became a Mason at Clearwater in 1867 and is now a 
member of the Nelson lodge of Buffalo. At one time he was an Odd Follow. 
He is an active member of John Cochrain Post, G. A. R., of Buffalo. 
Mr. Vorse was married December 24, 1872, to Mary Ella Bogenrief, of Clearwater, 
and they have had three children, Lois, Nellie and Vivian. 
Lois married J. W. McDonald, of Minneapolis, and they have one son, Russell. 
Nellie married Charles Carmen, of North Dakota, and they have a son, Ralph. 
Vivian is a teacher at Glenwood, Minn. She is a graduate of the St. Cloud 
State Normal.