Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gorman, Timothy 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com October 4, 2007, 10:57 pm

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County 

TIMOTHY GORMAN, who is a well-known general merchant of Channahon, has made  
his home in this county since 1858. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 
1829, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Kelly) Gorman, lifelong residents of 
County Mayo, where his father followed the occupation of a brick and 
stonemason. When a boy our subject had few advantages. His life was one of 
constant toil from an early age. At fifteen years he was bound out to the 
tailor's trade, the plan being for him to serve five years, but at the 
expiration of two and one-half years, owing to a panic in the money market and 
a consequent depression in business, he was released from his engagement.   
Having a brother who was a tailor in Birmingham, England, he went to that 
city, but found that there, as in Ireland, times were hard and work scarce. He 
spent three years in England, working at various occupations in different 
parts of the country.

In May, 1849, Mr. Gorman took passage on the sailing vessel "James H. 
Shepherd" for America and landed in New York on the 12th of June, after a 
voyage of five weeks. In New York he finished his apprenticeship to the 
tailor's trade and for nine years remained in that city and in Yonkers and  
Williamsburg, working at the occupation. The year 1858 found him in Will 
County, Ill., where he worked for three years at tailoring in Joliet. Next he 
removed to Channahon, where for a time he worked at his trade. In 1871 he  
established the mercantile business which he has since conducted. Being a man  
of good business ability he has met with considerable success and is one of 
the substantial men of the village.

The marriage of Mr. Gorman, in 1854, united him with Miss Mary Lennon, who was 
a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and a daughter of John and Judith (Corwin) 
Lennon. After the death of her father in Ireland, her mother brought the  
family to America. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gorman twelve children were 
born, of whom ten are living, viz.: Peter, a blacksmith in Denver, Colo., who  
is married and has three daughters; Martin T., of Chicago, who is married  and 
has two children, Timothy and Mary Edna; Francis, a merchant of Wolcott, 
Colo., whose family consists of five children, Harry, Anna, Francis L.,  
Marguerite C. and Helen W.; Patrick H., a steam-fitter living in Chicago; 
John, also a steam-fitter in that city; Anthony, who is connected with his 
brother, Francis, in merchandising; Margaret, a teacher in the public schools 
of Will County; Timothy J., who is in Pullman, Ill.; Jeremiah, who is with
his older brothers in Wolcott, Colo.; and Mathew, who is with the American 
Insurance Company of Newark, N. J., Rockford, Ill., being the headquarters for 
the western department.

In politics Mr. Gorman is a stanch Democrat. Under the two administrations of 
President Cleveland he served as postmaster of Channahon and for ten years, 
altogether, he filled the office of town clerk. During the existence of the Odd
Fellows' Lodge at Minooka he held membership in it, but upon its disbandment 
did not transfer his membership to Joliet, the distance being too great for 
him to attend the meetings regularly. He is a well-known citizen of Channahon. 
As village trustee, which office he now fills, he favors plans for the benefit 
of the town and the promotion of its interests.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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