Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Gorham, Seymour B. 1912
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net June 13, 2013, 5:38 pm

The Ionia Daily Sentinel, Monday, September 30, 1912

Seymour B. Gorham, a life long resident of Ionia, died Sunday morning about 
nine o’clock at his residence on East Main street.  His death came as the 
culmination of an illness lasting about seven weeks, with typhoid fever.  He 
took to his bed four weeks ago and at that time had been suffering from 
illness for some time.  Since that time he has steadily grown worse and for 
several days there has been no hope for his recovery.

Mr. Gorham was born in 1850 in Jackson which was his boyhood home.  His father 
was Dr. George Gorham and his mother’s maiden name was Miss Harriet Bates.  It 
was something more than 35 years ago when Mr. Gorham came to Ionia as a 
conductor on the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan railroad, now the Pere 
Marquette.  He was one of the first conductors to run over the Stanton branch 
and was in that service during the lumber days when Montcalm county was the 
center of the industry.

About 35 years ago he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bell, daughter of Hon. A. 
F. Bell, of Ionia.

In 1894 Bert Babcock organized the Ionia Lumber company with place of business 
on South Third street.  This business was bought out by Mr. Gorham in 1894, 
who later formed a partnership with Levi Marshall, the firm doing business in 
the name of S. B. Gorham & Co.  A few years ago Mr. Gorham went to Detroit 
where he maintained an office for about three years, when he returned to Ionia 
to continue his residence.  This residence in Detroit was the only time that 
Mr. Gorham was away from Ionia after he came here.

Always actively identified with the business of the city Mr. Gorham maintained 
his interest in Ionia and took part in all projects looking to the advancement 
of the city.  He served for two terms as a member of the board of aldermen and 
one year as president of the board of trade.  It was due to his efforts that 
the matter of home building in Ionia was taken up when upon his return he 
recognized the impending growth of the city.  He took up the work of the board 
of trade which he found sleeping and roused it as much as it was possible to 
rouse that moribund institution.  Several excellent projects which he had in 
sight were dropped because of lack of cooperation.  His efforts bore fruit 
however and the campaign for more homes developed into the present Building & 
Loan association, an institution which is destined to prove most important to 
the future growth and prosperity of the city.

Mr. Gorham by his genial personality and energy won for himself the esteem and 
friendship of those with whom he was thrown.  He was the life of gatherings 
where he was present and had a fund of ready wit and humor upon which he drew 
freely.  He was a splendid citizen not the least of whose admirable traits was 
a profound regard for the city which he has made his home for many years.  
There is no citizen of Ionia whose demise would be more generally lamented.

The funeral will be attended from the house Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock and 
will be conducted by Rev. W. K. Spencer.  Burial will be in Highland Park 
cemetery.  Friends are requested to kindly omit flowers.


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