James G Gorman (1869 - 1951)

Born 23 Apr 1869 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ann (Hartnett) Gorman — married 23 Apr 1889 in Oswalt, Jasper County, Iowa

Descendants

Died 1951 at about age 81 in Peoria, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Janne Gorman [send private message]

Biography

James G. Gorman was born April 23, 1869, in Auchenleck of Ayre, Scotland, the son of James MaGorman and Mary Ann (McLay) MaGorman. (See notes) ^[1] His parents brought him to the United States at the age of two. They lived in Angus in Union Township, originally called Coaltown, settled in the 1870’s. James related to his grandchildren that by the time he was nine years old, he was working in the mines. ^[2] On the 1885 census, he is 16 years of age and listed as "James G. Gorman." ^[3]

In 1885 Angus was the largest coal mining town in Iowa and had a population of between 3,500 and 5,000 persons. The Climax Coal Company, operated by railway magnate James J. Hill, was the largest of the nine companies operating in Angus. A strike, declining coal reserves, the closing of the Climax Mine, a bank panic and changes in the management of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad (the Mud Line) doomed the town. By 1900 there were only 333 persons left. Berkeley, first called Somersville, in Union Township, was laid out in 1883. Like Angus it was on the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad. ^[4]

Jame married on the day of his twentieth birthday, April 23, 1890, in Jasper county, Iowa, to Margaret Hartnett. ^[5] James and his wife "Maggie" are found on the United States Census of 1895, living in Jasper county, with two children. ^[6] They moved to Colorado, where their son, Maurice Eugene Gorman was born, but were living in Iowa, again, when their daughter, Lena was born. By 1910, James and Margaret were living in Peoria, Illinois. ^[7]

James and Margaret had six children: Mary, Maurice, Eve, Lena, Maude and Ellen. James worked in the brewing trade for 57 years, 27 of which were for Pabst Blue Ribbon. He worked there until he was 82 years old, eventually as a night watchman. His last day on the job was February 5, 1951. He lived at 107 Chandler Street, Peoria, Illinois for forty-five years and died of old age.

James Gorman died in 1952, and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery, in Peoria, Illinois. His wife survived him, and passed away August 8, 1965 and is buried with him. There is a photograph of the headstone, which they share, on his Find A Grave memorial. ^[8]

Researcher's Notes

From a certified copy of his birth record from Scotland, his date of birth was April 23, 1869, and his father's name is recorded as James MaGorman.

1885 Census

Name: James G Gorman Event Type: Census Event Year: 1885 Event Place: Angus, Union, Boone, Iowa Gender: Male Age: 16 Birth Year (Estimated): 1869 Family Number: 208 Page: 3 Line Number: 25 GS Film number: 1021444 Digital Folder Number: 004539572 Image Number: 00367

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

James Gorman M 44

Mary Gorman F 34

James G Gorman M 16

Wm Gorman M 14

1910 Census

Name: Eva Gorman Event Type: Census Event Date: 1910 Event Place: Peoria Ward 8, Peoria, Illinois, United States Gender: Female Age: 12 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race: White Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter Birth Year (Estimated): 1898 Birthplace: Illinois Father's Birthplace: Scotland Mother's Birthplace: Iowa Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 6

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

James Gorman Head M 40 Scotland

Margaret Gorman Wife F 38 Iowa

Mary A Gorman Daughter F 19 Iowa

Maurice Gorman Son M 17 Colorado

Lena Gorman Daughter F 15 Iowa

Eva Gorman Daughter F 12 Illinois

Eleanor Gorman Daughter F 8 Illinois

Maud Gorman Daughter F 5 Illinois

District: ED 104 Sheet Number and Letter: 6B Household ID: 123 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T624 Affiliate Film Number: 316 GS Film Number: 1374329 Digital Folder Number: 004971174 Image Number: 00944

Obituary

James Gorman Taken By Death At Age Of 82 James Gorman, 82 a resident of 107 Chandler Street for 45 years and of Peoria for for 57 years, died at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday at his home. Mr. Gorman was a watchman for the Pabst Brewing Company, where he had been employed for 27 years. He last worked February 5. [1951] He had worked at the brewing trade for 57 years.

Born in Scotland April 23, 1869, he was a so of James and Mary Ann McClay Gorman. He married Margaret Ann Hartlett at Oswalt, Iowa April 23, 1889. Mr. Gorman was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church and the Brewery Workers Union.

Surviving are his wife, one son, Maurice Gorman of Peoria; five daughters, Mrs. Mary Rogy, Mrs. Lena Heiden, and Mrs. Maud Donahoe, all of Peoria, Mrs. Eva Bowden of Alliance, O. and Mrs. Ellen Foote of Rock Island; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be announced by the Wilton mortuary.

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYYG-GF4 : 10 February 2018), James Gorman, 24 Apr 1869; citing AUCHINLECK,AYR,SCOTLAND, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 6,035,516
2. ↑ Personal knowledge of his great-grandson, as told to him by his family. His great-grandson, David, was 11 years old when James died.
3. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HHF4-WZM : 11 March 2018), James Gorman, Angus, Union, Boone, Iowa; citing p. 3, 1885, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,021,444
4. ↑ https://boonecountyhistoricalsocietyiowa.org/boone-county-history/
5. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ2Q-X5M : 10 February 2018), James Gorman and Margaret Hartnett, 23 Apr 1890, Jasper, Iowa, United States; citing reference p 107, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,034,509
6. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT36-JV4 : 12 March 2018), James Gorman, Jasper, Iowa, United States; citing p. 294, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,020,366
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKX3-6C7 : accessed 3 August 2019), James Gorman, Peoria Ward 8, Peoria, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 104, sheet 6B, family 123, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 316; FHL microfilm 1,374,329
8. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138057085/james-gorman