John Gorman

As printed in 1910

John Gorman, for almost a half century a resident of Jones county, during much of which time he was connected with general agricultural pursuits, owning and cultivating two hundred and eighty acres of rich land, was throughout that period classed with the respected and representative residents of this part of the state. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1819. and after spending his youthful days on the Emerald isle came to America in 1847. For year he remained in Pennsylvania where he enlisted in the United States regular army, being stationed at the Waterville arsenal in New York for two years and nine months. On the expiration of that period he received an honorable discharge and was paid with a land warrant. While in New York he was married in West Troy to Miss Mary Rooney, who was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland, and came to America in 1850.

Removing to the middle west Mr. Gorman located near Chicago, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he engaged in farming for eight years. This property is now within the city limits, its southern boundary being Randolph street. Mr. Gorman subsequently traded the land for a drove of cattle, and in 1857 took a contract for the construction of seven miles of the air line railroad. Subsequently he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land in Hale township, Jones county, and for more than a third of a century thereafter devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding to his place all of the equipment and accessories of a modern farming property. In 1892 however he left the old homestead and took up his above in Anamosa, Iowa, where he resided until called to his final rest January 5, 1905. His wife died in Anamosa, July 17. 1903. Through all the period in which he made Jones county his home he was respected as a man of good business ability and enterprise; reliable, methodical and accurate. Moreover while he lived a quiet, unostentatious life he was loyal in duties of citizenship and ever championed the best interests of the community.

As printed in History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.