MUSKINGUM COUNTY OHIO BIO: GORSUCH, Charles (published 1892)
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From the 
The Ohio Biographies Project
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html
a part of
The U.S. Biographies Project
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CHARLES GORSUCH, farmer, Zanesville, Ohio. The Gorsuch family in America originated from
three brothers, Thomas Talbot, Charles and Lovelace, who left England to come to the United States four
generations back. The first named returned to England and there died. Norman Gorsuch, grandfather of
Charles Gorsuch, and a descendant of one of these brothers, was born on a farm in Baltimore County,
MD, May 10, 1756, and was the founder of the family in Ohio. He was married in Maryland to Miss
Katura Gorsuch, who was born October 10, 1765, and who was of the same name but no relation. To
them were born nine children: Charles, Eleanor, Nicholas, Margaret, Joshua, Achsah, Rachel,
Abarilla and Mary, all born in Maryland. Norman Gorsuch settled on a farm in Baltimore county, MD.,
and there remained until fifty-nine years of age. He was a large land and slave owner. In 1815 he
emigrated to Muskingum county, Ohio, and settled in Muskingum township, on land now occupied by his
grandson, Charles Gorsuch. He brought his family with him in a covered wagon, relics of which are seen
on the old homestead at the present time. He entered a quarter section of land, which was densely
covered with heavy timber, and on which he soon made a clearing and erected a log cabin. He resided
there for about thirteen years, after which he moved to another part of the township, and there died, on
September 3, 1828. His wife survived him until January 25, 1841. Mr. Gorsuch brought from Maryland
one slave girl, Hagac Dorsey, who grew up and is still living in Zanesville, having been reared by the
family. The remainder of the slaves were set free after a certain time. Mr. Gorsuch had about 360 acres
of land, all of which he gave to his children. His son, Joshua Gorsuch, and the father of Charles
Gorsuch, was born April 4, 1798, in Baltimore county, and was fairly educated in the common schools.
When seventeen years of age, he came with his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, and early in life
became inured to the hardships of pioneer life. The woods teemed with game of all kinds -- deer, bears,
wolves, and wild turkeys -- and young Gorsuch became a noted hunter. He was married, on January 22,
1829, by Rev. James Fleming, to Miss Philander Thrap, daughter of Joseph and Jemimah (Van Camp)
Thrap. Mr. Thrap was a native also of Baltimore county, Md., and his father, Robert Thrap, who was
of the same county, married Elizabeth Hilton, and was the father of ten children: Robert, James, John,
Joseph, William, Sallie, Betsey, Nancy, Ellen and Polly. All of these children came to Muskingum
county at an early day, and each reared a family. Robert Thrap settled on a farm in Muskingum county,
and there passed his last days. Joseph Thrap, his son, was married in Virginia, where the family lived
for some time, and became the father of twelve children: Adaline (died in infancy), Philander, Israel,
Lucinda, Julia A., Harriet, John, Joel, Marcus, James, Ellen and Martha A. In the spring of 1804 Mr.
Thrap settled near Hanover, Licking county. He put in his crops, and the same fall moved his family from
Virginia. His father, Robert Thrap, came with his family about the same time. Joseph Thrap settled in the
southwest corner of Muskingum township in 1809, and here passed the remainder of his days. The
county was a wilderness when he first settled here, and he was one of the pioneers. He was a member of
the Methodist church, a devout man, and meetings were held regularly at his house before there were any
churches. He became a local preacher and followed his ministerial duties for many years in the
wilderness. He united in marriage many of the early settlers. He was ninety-one at the time of his death,
and his wife lived to be eighty-seven. He made many converts and was a great factor in establishing the
Methodist church in the backwoods country. He would work six days in the week on his farm and then
preach Sundays. He was a staunch Union man during the war, and sixteen of his grandsons served as
soldiers, three as captains. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Gorsuch they settled on the old
home farm, and here Mr. Gorsuch passed the closing scenes of his life. His venerable wife still resides
in the old home. Their family consisted of nine children: Charles, Cynthia, Joseph T., Emeline, Jane,
Norman W., Eliza E., Mary A., and Margaret E., all of whom lived to be grown except Emeline, who
died in infancy. Eliza died July 17, 1890, aged forty-seven years. Seven of the children are still living.
Mr. Gorsuch was an excellent citizen, a successful farmer, and was liberal in his methods of dealing. He
died December 5, 1883, and was nearly eighty-six years of age. He gave each of his children a good
education, and spent his means liberally to further all worthy movements. He was loyal to the Union,
during the war, and one of his sons, Joseph T., was in the famous Ninety-seventh regiment, Ohio
Volunteer infantry, Company G. He enlisted as a private and was promoted through the different grades
until he held the rank of captain, in which capacity he was serving when he shot through the hand, at
Kenesaw mountain. He was at home but one week, when he rejoined his regiment. Capt. Gorsuch is now
a resident of Zanesville, and one of the proprietors of the glass works. He is a prosperous business man.
The old Gorsuch homestead was built in 1849. The mother is now eighty-five years of age, and still
retains her memory and mental faculties to a wonderful degree. She has lived through the settlement and
progress of this part of the Buckeye state, and well remembers the old pioneer days. She reared a large
family of children, to whom she was indeed a counselor and guide. Her son, Charles Gorsuch, was
born October 10, 1829, on the anniversary of his Grandmother's Gorsuch's birth, and on the farm where
he now resides and where he has passed over sixty-two years. This old farm has been in the Gorsuch
family for seventy-six years. Charles Gorsuch received a good, practical education, and became one of
the prominent and successful agriculturists of the county. He has held the offices of township clerk,
treasurer, and supervisor, and has been interested in school matters, holding the office of school director
for some time. He now controls 420 acres of fine farming land, and is a raiser of fine stock, horses,
cattle, hogs, etc. In politics he affiliates with the republican party. He is a man of intelligence, and is a
great reader of books and papers, of which he keeps on hand a goodly supply. His brother, Norman W.,
is engaged in the cattle business in Texas, and is successful at this. Mr. Gorsuch is a representative Ohio
farmer, industrious, honorable and straightforward; he takes a decided interest in all laudable
enterprises. His sister, Margaret, married James R. Gilkey, of Adrian, Mich., and became the mother
of two children: Jennie and Alberta. Cynthia married John Welsh, a farmer, of Licking county and has
four children: Edmond, Laura, Joseph, and Rose. Mary A. married George B. Vandenbark, a farmer,
of Muskingum county, and they have three children: Harry, Fred and Weldon. Eliza married J. Frazier,
of Frazeysburg, Ohio. She is now deceased. Jane, another sister, is at home.

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio: Chicago, 1892: The
Goodspeed Publishing Co.