My Genealogy Hound

Dr. H. D. Gorham. The Gorham family was first represented in America by the great-grandfather of Dr. Gorham, who came from England at an early day and settled in Connecticut. While serving in the Continental army, during the Revolutionary War, he was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. His son, Seth Gorham, was born in Connecticut, served throughout the Revolutionary War and lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1854. His son, Deming Gorham, father of the Doctor, was born in Rutland, Vt., in 1798, and was a farmer by occupation and also followed the cooper’s trade. He became one of the wealthy land owners of Rutland County, Vt., and died in his native State and county in 1861. He was married to Sabra Gates, who was also born in Rutland, Vt., and a daughter of N. Gates. She was the first cousin of Gen. Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, and became the mother of three children: Dr. H. D.; Sarah J., wife of J. M. Goodno, and Elizabeth J. (deceased). She died in 1869. Dr. Gorham grew to manhood on a farm in Vermont, and was married in 1831 to Electa D., daughter of Josiah Duten. She was born and reared in New Hampshire, and was the mother of two children: Ellen, wife of Rollin Mead, and George W. His second wife was Jane Duten, who bore him two children: James K. and Mary, wife of G. W. Smith; she died in 1853. He married his third wife, Esther M. Cook, who was reared in Morgan County, Ohio, and by her became the father of five children: Wallace D.; Harriet M., wife of W. P. Williams; Mariette H.; Austrilla, wife of H. B. Minnie, and Larilla, wife of J. L. Burns. In 1838 the Doctor moved to Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until 1843, when he moved to Van Buren County, Iowa, and opened the first coal mines on the Des Moines River. In 1850 he made an overland trip to California, and was engaged in mining for one year. He then returned home, and in 1856 went back to his old home in Vermont, and took charge of the old home farm until his father’s death. While residing in Iowa his eyesight failed him, and he was blind for eighteen months, but doctored with some of the best physicians of the West and East, all to no purpose, until he engaged the services of a man by the name of Campbell, residing in Iowa, who eventually restored his sight. He obtained the prescription from Dr. Campbell’s son, and after locating in Michigan, in 1863, began making the treatment of the eye his especial business, practicing at Grand Rapids, Mich., and Fort Wayne, Ind., and is now known in many portions of the United States. Since 1870 he has resided in Washington County, Ark., where he has a good farm of sixty acres. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Viney Grove Lodge, and he and family worship in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.