Jerry Gorman. One of the most widely known men of Champaign County is Jerry Gorman. Mr. Gorman has had an unusual career of achievement. He is a hard working and thrifty Irishman,’ never had any special advantages when a boy, and has relied on honest toil and judgment born of experience to place him in the front rank of farmers and land owners.
He was born in Ireland, came to America when a young boy grew up on farms in Grundy County, Illinois, where he worked out as a hired laborer, and in 1875 he came to Champaign County. At that time he located on section 7 of Raymond Township, and began as a modest but substantial farmer. His success has been growing year by year, and out of the proceeds of his work as a general farmer and stock raiser he has increased his holdings to 1,200 acres and has some of the best improvements found on any individual tract of land in the southern part of Champaign County. Mr. Gorman is a vigorous Democrat, and he and his family worship as members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Crittenden Township.
He married Mary Fitzgerald, a native of Champaign County, and sixteen children were born to their union. Fourteen of these are still living, named as follows: John, on the home place; Maggie, wife of Terrence Williams of Danville; Mary, wife of Mathew Reynolds of Springfield; Catherine, wife of M. Lowry of Crittenden Township; while the other children, all at home, are named Fannie, Annie, Josephine, Hester, Ruth, Gertrude, James, Jeremiah, Lawrence, and Martin. Truly, this is one of the notable families of Champaign County.