Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Thomas F. Gorman
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
THOMAS F. GORMAN is the owner of one of
finest farms of Noble Township, Dickinson
County. His home is located on section
22. The sketch of so prominent a gentleman
should not be omitted from this work, or the history
of the county will be incomplete. He was
born in County Tipperary, Ireland, December 21,
1850, and is a son of James and Ellen (Miller)
Gorman. His mother died during his early childhood,
and his father died when he was only twelve
years of age.
In 1865, Thomas Gorman came to the United
States alone and made his home with his sister
who lived in Cincinnati. He remained in that
city until 1871, working in a wholesale liquor
store. He then removed to Lawrence, Kan.,
working in the painting department of the shops
of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He had
charge of the painting on the Kansas Valley Division
and a number of men were under his supervision.
He remained with the company for about
four years and traveled extensively in its interests.
He painted the Chapman depot when it was
first built, and bought land of the railroad company
near that place. He afterward spent two
and a-half years in Texas, where he engaged in
painting in the shops of Marshall and later was
connected with a surveying party. In 1876, he returned
to this State, and the following year went
to the Black Hills, where he spent about twelve
months. On horseback he then returned to Lawrence,
Kan., and from there came to Chapman,
living one winter with John Erwin.
On the 14th of July, 1879, Mr. Gorman wedded
Mrs. Anna O'Brien, who came to Dickinson
County about 1873. Her first husband, Michael
O'Brien, had located this farm at the latter date,
but at his death it was only partially paid for. Mrs.
Gorman was a most estimable lady and proved a
true and faithful helpmate to her husband, aiding
him greatly in making his line farm what it is today.
She died March 19, 1887, leaving six children:
James, aged nineteen; John, aged seventeen;
Annie, twelve years of age; Thomas, a lad
of nine; Gertrude, seven years old; and Mary, a
little maiden of five summers. Mr. Gorman was
again married, September 2, 1888, his second
union being with Miss Katie Hickey, daughter of
the pioneer, Dennis Hickey, whose broad acres extend
far to the north and east of the Gorman
home. Mrs. Gorman is a lady of many excellencies
of character and her admirable qualities have
won her a large circle of friends. By her marriage
she has one child, Frank, an interesting baby
of a year and a-half.
Upon his farm Mr. Gorman placed $2,400 worth
of improvements, paid off an indebtedness of
$1,100 and has since purchased two eighty-acre
tracts of land, for which he paid $3,000, so that
his fine farm now comprises half a section. It is
slightly rolling and is a rich and fertile tract,
upon which he grows wheat extensively. Mr.
Gorman is also one of the large stock-raisers of
the community. He feeds from sixty to eighty
head of hogs, and breeds Norman horses, having
grown some of the finest Norman horses in the
State. He has frequently carried off prizes at the
different stock exhibits and was the winner at
Junction City over competitors from five counties.
In politics, Mr. Gorman is a stalwart Republican
and has been a member of the County Republican
Central Committee. He served as Township
Clerk one term but has never been a politician in
the sense of office-seeking. He and his family are
members of the Catholic Church. Socially, he is
a member of the Odd Fellows' Society, the
Knights of Pythias, United Workmen and Modern
Woodmen. He has improved his opportunities
and made the most of his advantages, and his active
brain and quick discernment stood him instead
of capital in early life and won him prosperity.
Mr. Gorman is also a man of strong convictions
who reads and thinks for himself, and is unbiased
in his opinions, neither fear nor favor causing
him to swerve from the path in which he chooses
to tread. He has many good qualities, and the esteem
of all with whom he has come in contact
attests his upright life.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP