Pleasants County, West Virginia, Biography of R. A. Gorrell

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R. A. GORRELL

R. A. Gorrell, sheriff of Pleasants county, and one of its prominent 
citizens, was born in 1837 in Tyler county, within a fourth of a mile 
from where he now resides.  His parents were Elias and Berthiah 
(Galloway) Gorrell. The father was born and reared in Tyler county, 
and was the son of Ralph Gorrell, a Pennsylvanian, who served in the 
war of 1812.  Our subject's mother was a native of Baltimore city.  
Elias and Berthiah Gorrell were the parents of seven children, of 
whom only five are living, viz.:  Amos, Priscilla, Ralph A., Moses 
and Oliver.  Our subject's father came to Pleasants county in 1828, 
and settled just over the line from Tyler county.  When he arrived he 
owned but one horse and but little else.  He settled in the woods, 
and by hard work and strict economy prospered rapidly.  At one time 
he was one of the largest land owners of the county, having in his 
possession over 1,400 acres.  He lived to the ripe old age of 
seventy-three years, honored and respected by all who knew him.  He 
was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church during most of 
his life.  Our subject was reared on the farm and received an 
ordinary common school education in the usual way, having to walk a 
distance of three miles throuh an unbroken forest to school. In 1865 
he married Martha E., daughter of Joseph and Jane (Martin) McCoy.  
Her father came to West Virginia from Ireland when about sixteen 
years of age, and lived to the age of ninety-two years.  The marriage 
of our subject resulted in the birth of two children:  Mary J. and 
Eva B.  Mrs. Gorrell was born and reared in Tyler county, and she and 
her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  In 1886 
Mr. Gorrell was appointed commissioner of Pleasants county to fill a 
vacancy caused by the resignation of L. M. Maxwell, and served in 
this capacity until 1888, when he was elected sheriff of the county, 
a position which he now holds.  In addition to these official trusts, 
he also served for four years as justice of the peace of his 
district.  He is one of the leading politicians of Pleasants county, 
besides being a representative farmer and citizen.  At present he 
owns 440 acres of the old homestead farm, which is in a good state of 
cultivation and well improved.    

From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I; Brant & Fuller, 1891.


(Linda Cunningham Fluharty)