GORHAM, Alexander - Putnam

GORHAM, ALEXANDER, P. O. Fillmore, Farmer, Section 6; was born in Bourbon

County, Ky., November 10, 1813; son of Alexander and Sarah TYLER-GORHAM, who

settled in this county October 3, 1829; his father had previously entered

land in the county in 1824 and purchased 240 acres for a homestead in 1828;

brought his stock with him from Bourbon County, Ky. At the time of their

settlement here, Mr. GORHAM was about sixteen years old; many of the usual

privations of a first settler's life were spared him, having all the

necessaries of life in abundance, but hard work could not be escaped, and

often he spent the whole day and many hours of the night in clearing land

and burning log-heaps. At that time the country was almost a wilderness; no

roads; the only mills, small corn-crackers in little log huts; game in great

abundance, and plenty of Indians for neighbors, one of the camps containing

1,500. Mr. GORHAM was married February 13, 1834, to Eliza C., daughter of

Thomas and Nancy JACKSON; they commenced housekeeping in a little log cabin

in the woods, and were undoubtedly as happy as if in one of the more elegant

structures thought necessary by the young folks of to-day; four children

were born - Mary E., John W., Sallie C. (deceased) and Campbell. Mr. GORHAM

had his first pair of boots sometime after his marriage, he furnishing the

leather and gave one dollar in money for making.

ALEXANDER GORHAM, a representative pioneer of Putnam County, and a resident of Marion Township, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, November 14, 1813, son of Alexander and Sarah [Tyler] Gorham, natives of Virginia. The Gorham family originally came from Ireland and settled in Virginia. his parents were quite young when they removed to Kentucky. His mother was for some time obliged to take refuge with her parents in a fort, as a protection from the Indians. It was unsafe to even go as far as the gate of the fort to obtain water. The father of our subject removed with his family to this county in 1829. He entered considerable land from the Government in Marion Township, settling on section 5, where he had 240 acres of timber land, for which he paid $1,500. He lived there until his decease, which occurred in 1837. His wife survived until 1863, and died her ninety-third year. There were about twenty acres of clearing on his farm when he first settled upon it. The previous owner, Judge Smith, had set out a large number of peach trees and apple trees, which bore fruit the first season he was here. He had some means when he came, so that his family did not suffer the hardships of most of the pioneers. He removed his family, which consisted of wife and eleven children, with a six-horse team and one five-horse team. He also had two saddle horses. He and his wife rode the saddle horses. The six-horse team belonged to his son William and he returned back to Kentucky with his team after leaving the family here. He brought some household goods and some farming implements, and before leaving Kentucky he bought a good stock of cotton, which was very useful to the pioneer. He had been twice married, and was the father of thirteen children, of whom six survive--Lutitia, widow of John S. Allen, late of Greencastle; Priscilla, wife of Timothy Mark, of Monroe county; Mary, who became the wife of Henry Sanders, of this county; of this county; Beersheba, widow of Caleb Reeves, late of Greencastle, and Susan, who married Samuel Flynn, of Fayette County, this State. Alexander Gorham, the subject of this sketch, has always been a farmer. He received a rudimentary education in the early subscription schools of his time, and this was all. He was married February 13, 1834, to Eliza C. Jackson, born June 13, 1812, in Harrison County, Kentucky, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Jackson. In 1829 she came to this county with her parents, who settled in Marion Township, remaining there until their decease. Mr. and Mrs. Gorham have had four children, three of whom are living--Mary E., wife of Isaac M. Day, of this county; John W. and Campbell A., also of this county. Sarah C. is deceased. Mr. Gorham owns 148 acres of well developed land, and has been quite successful as a farmer. He operated the second circular saw-mill--a portable mill run by steam-power--in the county. In politics Mr. Gorham is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He has never accepted official positions, though frequently solicited to do so. He is a public-spirited man and always contributes to anything that will benefit the community. He has been a member of the Christian church since 1838; has served as deacon, and for many years officiated as elder. The parents of Mrs. Gorham were natives of Virginia and removed to Kentucky when young. They were among the first settlers of Marion Township. Of their twelve children, only four are living--Thomas, Elizabeth, Eliza and Mary. The mother died in 1831 and the father in 1864. They were very worthy people and greatly respected by all who knew them.