From the History of Easton, Mass., by W. L. Chaffin, 1886, p. 588:
"E. J. W. Morse first came to Easton in 1829, and not long after that time he engaged in the cotton-thread business at the Furnace Village. February 27, 1837, he purchased one quarter of the property at the Morse privilege of Lincoln Drake, the latter holding it probably as an executor of the estate of Gen. Sheperd Leach. December 22, 1840, Mr. Morse bought of Mr. Drake another quarter of the same property. The other half Mr. Drake sold June 21, 1845, to Robert Lunn and Daniel W. Heath. Mr. Lunn sold his quarter interest May 14, 1853, and Mr. Heath his quarter April 14, 1856-- both selling to Edward N. Morse. E. J. W. Morse at the time of his first purchase began the manufacture of cotton thread, having in other sections of the town already conducted some branches of this work. The thread was manufactured from combed sea-island cotton. In 1844 a steam-engine was added as supplementary to the usual water power; it was the first steam-engine used in Easton. This firm keep the name of E. J. W. Morse & Co., and claim to be the oldest cotton-thread company in the United States now in operation. They employ about fifty hands, producing an article in general use, which is manufactured on as expensive and complete a system of machinery as is now used in any similar business. The view of the Morse thread-factory here given is from the north, overlooking a part of the pond."