USGENWEB PROJECT ARCHIVES: TENSAS PARISH LOUISIANA
http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/tensas/

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Joseph Marion Gorton; Tensas, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
AUG 2001


Joseph Marion Gorton, M. D. in medical circles of Shreveport the name 
of Dr. Joseph Marion Gorton is recognized as that of a very capable and 
reliable physician and surgeon, skilled in his profession and active in 
civic affairs. In addition to looking after a barge practice he dis-
charges the duties incidental to his office as city physician, and has 
the distinction also of having seen active service in France as a cap-
tain in the Medical Corps during the recent War.

Doctor Gorton was born at Waterproof, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, in 1886,
and is a son of W. D. A. and Rebecca Covington (Wailes) Gorton, natives 
of Louisiana. and a grandson of the original Louisiana Settler of the 
family, who came from Troy, New York.  W. D. A. Gorton was for many 
years a prominent citizen of Tensas Parish and for sixteen years pres-
ident of the School Board.  Joseph Marion Gorton received his early ed-
ucation in the public schools of his native place, following which he 
pursued an academic course at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn-
essee.  He then took a medical course, graduating with the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine as a member of the class of 1909, and subsequently 
did post-graduate work at New York City, specializing in the diseases 
of children, to which he has always given much of his professional 
attention.  Doctor Gorton began his practice at his native town, 
Waterproof, where he continued his labors until he volunteered in the 
Medical Corps of the United States army in the fall of 1917.  He was 
commissioned a lieutenant at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, and later while 
in service in France was promoted to the rank of captain.  Doctor Gorton 
went overseas early in July, 1918, and served as regimental surgeon of 
the First Pioneer Infantry, Corps Troops, on the Chateau Thierry front 
and later in the Meuse Argonne.  After the war closed he served several 
months at Base Hospital No. 54 at Mesves, France, and for four months at 
Naval Base Hospital No. 1 in the city of Brest.  He returned home in 
July, 1919.  On the 8th day of which month he received his honorable 
discharge at Camp Dix, New Jersey.  On January 1, 1920, Doctor Gorton 
located at Shreveport and became established in the practice of his 
profession with offices in the Giddens-Lane Building.  In 1921 he was 
made city physician of Shreveport, and carries on this work in addition 
to his own general practice.  Doctor Gorton holds membership in the 
leading organizations of his profession and in several civic bodies and 
fraternal organizations.  He is a member and past official of the local 
American Legion post at Shreveport, and was Grand Chef de Guerre for 
Louisiana of the 40 et 8 Society for year of 1923-1924.

Doctor Gorton married Miss Olive Clare Robertson, daughter at Marshall 
P. Robertson, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who for many years was engineer
of the Fifth Levee District.  She is a prominent officer in the 
auxiliary of the American Legion at Shreveport.  Doctor Gorton is a 
Mason, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Civitan 
Club of Shreveport.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 183, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, 1925.