Mrs. Gorham’s Death Recalls Mate’s Murder
Mother of Wolfe Creek Farmer Passes While Visiting Relatives in Texas – Lived in Mexico
Mrs. Sarah A. Gorham, mother of Jack Gorham of North Powder and Mrs. Enolia Brothers of Cove, died at the home of her neice, (sic) Vesta Green, at Slidell, Tex., July 26, last. The funeral took place in that city July 27, at the Methodist church, of which she was a member nearly all her life.
Mrs. Gorham and her family for many years made their home in old Mexico and her death recalls the murder of her husband, Franklin P. Gorham, by five Mexicans at Chamal, state of Tamaulipas, April 28, 1919. In 1903 the Gorhams were members of a colony of 35 families who moved to that section of Mexico and most of whom remained there until 1917 when President Wilson intervened and Americans were requested to return to the states, this government paying their transportation to any point in this country in which they wished to come. Mr. and Mrs. Gorham with their daughter and her husband, D.B. Brothers, and three younger sons came to North Powder, to which place two sons, Edgar and Jack had preceded them several years.
Remaining here a part of two years, the elder Gorham returned to Chamal, where he and other members of the original colony still retained land and property. It was shortly after his return that he was waylaid and wantonly murdered, presumedly (sic) for the trifling amount of about $10 on his person. Members of the highwaymen who killed him are said to have confessed but, with frequent revolutions in Mexico at the time, it is believed they never were punished.
Mother of Eleven Children
Sarah A. Taylor, daughter of William Taylor, was born near Little Rock, Ark., Jan. 31, 1859. She married Franklin Pierce Gorham in that state in 1875.
About two years later they moved to Slidell, Tex., where they made their home for many years. They were the parents of 11 children. At about the beginning of the present century they joined the colony which settled in Mexico as stated. She did not accompany her husband to Mexico when he returned there in 1919, only to meet his death. He was accompanied by their son Otho, who died before his father was killed.
Mrs. Gorham and her younger sons went back to Mexico in 1921, previously waiting to see conditions become settled in that country. She continued to reside in Mexico since, making several trips to the United States to visit her children, and came back the last time about a year ago. She expected to return to Chamal this fall. At different times she resided in Texas and Oklahoma, at Mangum in the latter state before originally going to Mexico.
The woman who rests from such a strenuous life leaves to mourn a devoted mother: Four sons, Jack, North Powder, Ore.; William, Arthur, and Edgar, Chamal, Tampaulipas, Mex.,; Joshua, Erick, Okla.; four daughters, Mrs. J.W. Marsh, Collins, Ia.; Mrs. Olive Everett, Erick, Okla.; Mrs. Louis W. Sweet, Mangum, Okla., and Mrs. Enolia brothers, Cove, Ore. The three children who died previous to their mother’s passing were Otho, Thomas L. and Minnie.
Mrs. Gorham also leaves three brothers, Cicero Taylor, Glenrose, tex.; Symour Taylor and Ashley Taylor, both of Chamal, Mex., and one sister, Minnie Barrow, Shamrock, Tex.
North Powder News
Friday, August 17, 1934