I have a considerable amount on George Congdon Gorham including the Obit, his papers and the "Song of Hiawatha" book that he gave to his wife on their wedding. I am looking for information about Sarah Belle Gorham as I only have her birth date and location. Thank you Tom Rueter -----Original Message----- From: gc-gateway@rootsweb.com [mailto:gc-gateway@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of dvkester@hotmail.com Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 9:29 PM To: GORHAM-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GORHAM] Re: SARAH GORHAM, 1890 This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BiZ.2ACIB/258.1.3 Message Board Post: Hi Tom, I have your Sarah Belle Gorham, b. 4 Feb 1871 Dorchester, Norfolk, Massachusetts, d/o George Congdon Gorham, b. 5 Jul 1832 Greenport,Suffolk, NewYork and Sarah Ann Hills, b. 18 Feb 1825 Dracut, Middlesex, Masachusetts. George was prominent in California and national politics. See obit below. Dave Kester Stockton, CA Obit: Sacramento Union 16 Feb 1909. "Gorham-In Washington D.C., February 11, 1909, George C. Gorham, husband of Effie Bassett Gorham, father of Sherwood F., William H., Paul, Mary G., Belle and Maud Gorham and brother of Charles M. Gorham." Passing of George C. Gorham. In the death of George C. Gorham, announced in the Union today, there passes away one of the men who formed a connecting link with the glorious past of California. Stirring as have been the political activities of the Republican party since its birth in this State, especially since Haight's administration, nothing has ever equaled the constant display of energy and ability that marked the career of George C. Gorham, to whom the Republican party of California, as we now know it, owed its existence, for it was through him that the Union party was organized, and out of that our present Republican party was developed. Partisan feeling has died away. We no longer draw social and fraternal lines on party differences. We fail to realize the intense bitterness that characterized politics in the late '50's and the '60's and can scarcely comprehend the fierce struggle for supremacy of which men like George C. Gorham were the center. Gorham had been a war editor of the Union, and, under his pen, the editorial columns of this paper never preached a treasonable doctrine or said a false thing. He had come to the Union from the Marysville Democrat which he had conducted as a straightout Union paper, and it was in Sacramento that he gave all his restless energy to the formation of the Union party. His was a task compared to which those of Hercules were puerile. The Whigs were still strong and bitter; the Republicans were new and were distrusted; the Conness Democrats were still hoping for power, while, of the old Breckenridge Democracy, there were many who chose to stay by the Union. It was essential to amalgamate all these elements into an harmonious whole. It is true that Gorham had as assistants in this effort some of the most vigorous men of the time, but he had also to labor against the implied hostility, if not downright antagonism, of men who surrounded Milton Latham and his friends. Yet Gorham persevered, and, by working night and day, he accomplished what had seemed to be the impossible. He wrought harmony out of discord and the Union party stood as a monument to his indomitable efforts. With the end of the war, the Union was no longer able to support Mr. Gorham. He entered into alliances that we believed to be dangerous. His coalition with the boss elements in San Francisco and the methods with which his nomination for Governor was obtained did not appeal to the Union. The columns of this paper were open to him, always, but he was unable to satisfy the body of the voters of his sincerity and his integrity. His position on the Chinese question was retrograde. He did not see the rising tide against Asiatic encroachme! nts and his stand in favor of Chinese immigration-for it could be understood in no other way- forced into opposition even those who admired his courage in assuming such an attitude. His defeat led to his withdrawl to the East and to Washington. We suppose that during the last administration of Grant, that of Hayes and even along so far as the early part of Arthurs's, no single Californian wielded a larger influence in California's affairs at Washington. As Secratary of the United States Senate he was in a position to make that influence effective, and it is a strong testimonial to the worth of the man that no one can ever point to a single nomination secured by his efforts, or with his aid, that ever brought discredit upon the State. He realized the error in regard to the immigration of Asiatics, and it is but just to him to say that Senator Newton Booth of California and Senator Jones of Nevada, to whose efforts the first anti-Chinese bill was due-the measure that was vetoed by Hayes-received his cordial aid. Time has removed the animosities of the old days. We who were then his enemies have long since forgiven and forgotten and he, on his part, had forgiven, too. Today we remember only that he was one of the great men of that marvelous period in the political history of California when the leaders of the people were giants, and he was one of them. He occupies an enduring place in the annals of the Golden State, and history holds him dear as one of the heroic figures of the West." ==== GORHAM Mailing List ==== Browse GORHAM archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/gorham ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237