Henry O. Gorham, one of the oldest and best known citizens of this section passed this life at the Protestant hospital in Baker, Saturday evening of last week. Mr. Gorham’s death was not unexpected. He had been failing in health for the past two years or more, since he suffered injuries in falling from a load of hay, on his ranch near North Powder. He was 92 years old at the time of his death.
Funeral rites were held from the Methodist church at North Powder Tuesday afternoon of this week and burial was made in the North Powder cemetery. The services were in charge of the Odd Fellows lodge of North Powder.
Henry Oscar Gorham was born in Logan County, Kentucky December 29, 1835. His parents being Henry S. and Mary Cooper Gorham, who were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively.
In 1863 Mr. Gorham became one of a party who had planned and had begun to journey toward the west with ox teams. The emigrants reached their destination with comparatively little trouble. He took up his abode in Baker City, Oregon where he engaged in the business of freighting and hauling goods between Umatilla and Boise city, Idaho, until 1867. He then took up farming in the North Powder district. In connection with his agricultural interests he carried on a general merchandising establishment at North Powder in association with the late Herman Rotschild.
In 1870 Mr. Gorham was married to Miss Mary Ann Nelson of Nebraska. To this union were born the following children: William, Mrs. John Haines of North Powder, Charles Edward, deceased; Mrs. Virginia Poland of Portland; Robert Franklin of Washington; Mrs. Robert Stockweather of Stanfield, Oregon; Arthur and Oscar both of North Powder; Harvey E., deceased, Bryan and Mrs. Bryce Denning of North Powder; and Baby Gorham, deceased. He is also survived by twenty-one grandchildren and two great grand-children.
For forty-one years he had been a member in good standing in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was the happy possessor of a veterans emblem.
Oregon Trail Weekly
North Powder News
Saturday, January 7, 1928