Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Gorton, James T. January 29, 1824 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:16 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers 

JAMES T. GORTON, a highly respected member of the farming community of Nottawa 
Township, is pleasantly located on section 29, where, with his family, he is 
surrounded by all things needful for his comfort, and is pursuing the even 
tenor of his way as an honest man and good citizen.  He is a natvie of the 
Empire State, and was born near the town of Henrietta, in Monroe County, Jan. 
29, 1824.  Reared to farm life, he has been familiar with its pleasures and 
employments since his first recollection, and he remained a member of the 
parental household until a young man twenty-two years iof age.  He then 
commenced working land on shares, and was thus occupied in his native State 
until the spring of 1854.

In the meantime, on the 18th of March, 1850, our subject was united in 
marriage with Miss Hulda J. Mansfield.  The young people began life together 
in Genesee Co., N.Y., where they lived until the spring of 1854, and then Mr. 
Gorton, disposing of his interests in his native county, and bidding adieu to 
the friends and associations of his boyhood, started overland with his family 
for Michigan.  Soon after his arrival he selected a tract of land in Nottawa 
Township, this county, where he located and has since lived.  His property 
comprises a farm of sixty-six acres, all of which is in a productive 
condition.  His buildings are fairly good, and he has the outhouses and 
Machinery suitable for the successful prosecution of his calling.

John Gorton, the father of our subject, was born in Hartford, Conn., and 
married Miss Almira Ellis, a native of the same place.  They continued 
residents of Hartford County a few years, then, leaving New England, 
established themselves on a farm in the vicinity of Henrietta, Monroe County, 
N.Y.  Later they removed to Bergen, Genesee County, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives.

To the parents of our subject there were born eight children, four sons and 
four daughters, of whom James T. ws the fifth in order of birth.  The parents 
of Mrs. Gorton were William and Polly (Jacobs) Mansfield, the father is a 
native of London, England, and the mother of Rutland, Vt.  Mr. Mansfield 
crossed the Atlantic early in life, and after his marriage settled in 
Washington County, N.Y., where he engaged in the boot and shoe trade.  Later 
he removed with his family to Bergen, in Genesee Conty, where his death took 
place in the fall of 1853.  The mother, after the death of her husband, came 
to this county and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gorton, until her 
decease, which took place Nov. 27, 1865.

William and Polly Mansfield were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. 
Gorton was next to the youngest.  She was born in Hartford, Washington County, 
N.Y., May 16, 1831, and remained under the home roof until her marriage, 
acquiring a common-school education, and becoming familiar with household 
duties, the knowledge of which has so much influence in the comfort and 
happiness of a home.  Her union with our subject has resulted in the birth of 
five children:  Emogene is the wife of Dwight Legg, and they are residing in 
Colon; Fremont, a railroad man, makes his headquartes at home; Judson died at 
the age of seventeen years; Eliza is the wife of James H. Murray, of South 
Boardman, Mich., Maude died at the age of seven years.  Emogene and Eliza took 
kindly to their books in childhood, and developed into successful school 
teachers.  These two daughters with their parents are members in good standing 
of the Baptist Church, with whom Mr. Gorton has been connected since 1867.  
His estimable wife has been an almost lifelong member of this church, having 
united with it as early as 1857.  Mr. Gorton cast his first Presidential vote 
for James K. Polk, and has been a Republican since the organization of the 
party thirty-two years ago.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman 
Brothers 1889

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/stjoseph/bios/gorton686gbs.txt

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