In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1852, Ashland county
From History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908 : also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county (1908), A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio (1901)
SAMUEL R. GORHAM.
When a man's purpose has taken definite form and his energies are concentrated on the prosecution of a career which he has marked out, he cannot fail to win a gratifying degree of success. Prosperity results not from favorable conditions or from influence, but must depend upon the man, and certain qualities always bring desired results. Depending upon his own efforts Samuel Gorham has steadily worked his way upward financially and is classified among the substantial citizens of his community.
Mr. Gorham was born in Perrysville, Ashland county, April 7, 1852, his parents being Hezekiah and Charity (Turner) Gorham, of whose family of twelve children six are yet living. The father was born at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, September 22, 1807, and in early life went to sea, where he rose from one position to another until he became the captain of a vessel. Some years after his marriage his wife, who did not like her husband's occupation, for it kept him so much away from home, removed with the family to Ohio, and some months later he left the sea and joined her in Perrvville. He was a mason by trade and here he resumed work at his old occupation. At the time of the discovery of gold in California he made his way across the plains to the Pacific slope in 1849, and there, like many others, he acquired considerable money, but lost it through speculation. After two years passed in the Golden state he returned to Ohio and again worked at his trade until his death, which occurred May 18, 1874. He held membership in the Baptist church and exercised his right of franchise in support of the men ami measures of the Republican party. His wife was born in Waitsfield, Vermont, November 18, 1811, and was a sister of Gilbert Turner, the noted author, and the aunt of Roswell Horr, who is considered authority on financial matters. She died June 15, 1887. Their surviving children are John G., who is with the house of Aultman-Taylor, of Mansfield, Ohio; William H. H., who is in the real-estate business in Cleveland; Eliza, the wife of William Strimple, a farmer of Richland county; Elizabeth, the wife of Aaron Smith, an agriculturist of Monroe township; James, a railroad man, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Samuel R., a farmer of Monroe township.
The last named spent his boyhood days in his father's home and in the common schools acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in the Perrysville Academy. His close application and his natural aptitude prepared him for a teacher's profession and at the age of twenty-one he entered the schoolroom as a teacher. For eighteen years he was numbered among the successful educators in the common schools in this part of the state, having the ability to impart clearly to others the knowledge he had acquired. He was also capable of maintaining discipline, which was an important factor in his successful career. For several years he also taught vocal and instrumental music and to a limited extent still gives instruction in that art. About 1889, however, he purchased his present farm and began the operation of his land, placing the fields under a high state of cultivation and making many excellent improvements. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in its appearance and the buildings and fences are kept in good repair, the owner thus being classed among the leading farmers of his community. In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gorham and Miss Clara B. Shanabarger, native of Richland county and a daughter of
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Emanuel Shanabarger, now deceased. Their marriage has been blessed with one son, Ira G., who is now a student in the State University at Columbus, where he is preparing for the bar. Socially Mr. Gorham is connected with the Royal Arcanum Lodge at Perrysville, of which he is the secretary. He also belongs to Hanover Lodge, F. & A. M., of Loudonville, Ohio, and is a faithful member of the Baptist church. He is a Republican and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do. Public-spirited and progressive, he withhold his support from no measure that is calculated to prove of general good and has been particularly active in promoting the educational interests of this section of the state, realizing fully the importance and value of an education as a preparation for life's work.
As printed in A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
S. R. GORHAM.
S. R. Gorham, a native son of Ohio, is now identified with the agricultural interests of the state, operating a valuable tract of land comprising one hundred and forty-five acres, situated in section 13, Monroe township, and is also the owner of land in Green township, Ashland county. He was born in Ashland county, April 7, 1852, a son of Hezekiah and Charity (Turner) Gorham, the latter a native of Vermont, while the birth of the former occurred in Massachusetts. They removed with their family to Ashland county in the early HOs, where the father worked at the stone and brick mason’s trade. In early life he followed the sea for twenty-five or thirty years. He also made a trip to the Pacific coast in 1849 during the gold excitement and amassed quite a fortune during his sojourn in the west, but in later years lost all the money he acquired. His death occurred in 1874, while his wife survived for many years, passing away June 15, 1887. Their family numbered twelve children but only five of the number are now living, namely: John G., a resident of
Mansfield, Ohio; James R., of Cleveland; S. R., whose name introduces this review; Harriet, the wife of William Strimple, of Richland county; and Elizabeth, the wife of Aaron Smith, a resident of Richland.
S. R. Gorham began his education in the common schools, this being later supplemented by a course of study in Perryville Academy. He also pursued a course in telegraphy but this vocation not being congenial to him, he never followed it. He remained with his father until he reached years of maturity, when he engaged in teaching school, following that occupation for fifteen years. During that time he accumulated a sum sufficient to enable him to become the owner of land and thinking to find a farm life more congenial, he purchased one hundred and forty-five acres of land, situated on section 43, Monroe township, where he is now making his home. He has here a good farm property, supplied with excellent buildings. He is engaged in raising the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also gives attention to raising and feeding stock. In everything he is thoroughly practical, following only the most modern methods in carrying on his work, so that he is meeting with excellent success.
Mr. Gorham established a home of his own by his marriage on the loth of Mareh, 1880, to Miss Clara B. Shanabarger, who was born in 1861, on the farm which is now her home, her parents being Emanuel and Catherine (Miller) Shanabarger, whose family numbered four children. The father passed away in 1870, but the mother is still living, making her home in
Mansfield. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gorham has been blessed with one son, Ira G., who was born February 5, 1881. He has been afforded excellent educational advantages, having graduated from the Perryville high school, after which he attended the Ohio State University. He also pursued a law course in Ann Arbor Univensity, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is now teaching mathematics in Los Angeles, California.
Mi\ Gorham gives his political support to the republican party and has served as road supervisor of Monroe township. Socially he is a member of Royal Arcanum Lodge at Perryville, having filled all the different chairs in that order, and likewise a member of Lodge No. 16, A. F. & A. M., at Loudonville, and a member of the Maccabees. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they take a very active and helpful part.
His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Richland county and at all times he is ready to lend his aid to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
As printed in History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908 : also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Aaron Smith William Strimple (b. 1840)
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.