Governor Albert Pickett Morehouse

By RWB Lloyd G. Lyon Missouri Lodge of Research

On July 11, 1835, a future Missouri governor was born in Delaware County, Ohio. In 1853, at the age of 18, Morehouse began teaching school until 1856, when he moved to Nodaway County in northwest Missouri. He came to Missouri with his father, Stephen Morehouse, and family. His father was elected county judge.

While teaching school, he also studied law, which led him to being admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1860. He began practicing law in Montgomery County, Iowa, 70 miles north of Nodaway County. When the Civil War broke out, Morehouse took a teaching job in the Graham School District in Nodaway County and he moved back to Maryville, Missouri.

In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army and was elected 1st Lieutenant of Company E of the “Six-Month Militia” made up of Nodaway County men. The “Six-Month Militia” disbanded after their 6 months of duty. Morehouse joined the Thirty-Sixth Missouri Militia and, in 1862, was promoted to Assistant Provost Marshal and then to Quartermaster Sergeant. While on active duty and traveling through Lafayette County Missouri, Morehouse met and married Mattie McFadden in 1865 in Lexington, Missouri.

While enrolled in the militia, Morehouse continued to live in Maryville where he went into law. He joined Maryville Lodge 165, but the date is unknown. Grand Lodge Annual Communication Proceedings reflect Morehouse served as Worshipful Master of Maryville Lodge in 1869.

Morehouse would expand his business ventures and by 1871 owned a full-fledged real estate business and, in 1872 he founded the Nodaway Democrat, later to be known as the Maryville Daily Forum. Morehouse would also delve into politics, and in 1872 and 1876, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore and St. Louis, respectively.

Around 1865, Morehouse discontinued practicing law, but he continued in the real estate business, as well as adding a farm loan business. In 1875, civil engineer Nathaniel Sisson and Hart C. Fisher, President of Farmers Bank, would partner with Morehouse in his real estate and loan business.

In 1876, Morehouse ran for the state legislature and won. During the 1877 session, he stated the “legislative mill grinds slow and Jefferson City was dull and gloomy.” He would serve in the General Assembly from 1877-78 and again in 1883-1884. While serving in the General Assembly, Morehouse was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the establishment of the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, later known as Northwest Missouri State College.

In 1884, Morehead would run as Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic Ticket with John S. Marmaduke, and won handily. He would preside over the State Senate in 1885. Governor Marmaduke died in office in December 1887, and Morehouse became the governor of Missouri on January 3, 1888, serving out the remainder of the term. He was known as a wise and excellent chief executive, winning the applause of the citizens. In 1888, Morehouse did not win the nomination for governor, left Jefferson City, and returned to Maryville, where he again entered the real estate business.

On September 21, 1891, Morehouse was driving cattle from near Ravenwood to his Barnard farm and became overheated and suffered a ruptured blood vessel on the brain. Over the next two days he was ill, delirious and fearing he was going insane. While watching Morehouse, his daughter, Nannie, left her father alone for a brief moment, when he pulled out a pocketknife and cut his own throat. He was 56 years old.