[3][4] He received a limited education[1] before studying law in Springfield, Massachusetts under the direction of Judge Morse in Cherry Valley, New York.
[1][2] In 1830, he was elected president pro tempore of the State Senate and was Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York until the end of the year.
[1][2] Afterwards, he became clerk of the New York Supreme Court and was founding president of the Yates County Bank from its charter in 1832 until 1857.
[4] They lived in 158 Main Street in Penn Yan on what is now called Mansion Row in a Greek revival style house that was built in 1820 and is now part of the Penn Yan Historic District.
[4] His nephew, Oliver A. Morse, was also an attorney who served in United States Congress from New York.