^'"^X 



Alonzo H. Gorton was born in the town of Corning, this 

 county, May 18, 1828. 



His grandfather, Kufus Gorton, was one of the pioneer set- 

 tlers of Corning, was engaged in the lumber business, and 

 carried on a grist-mill, and was among the early thrifty and 

 enterprising business men. At about the age of fifty he went 

 to Michigan, and engaged in farming, and died in that State 

 about the year 1863. 



Of his children, seven sons and two daughters, Samuel Gor- 

 ton, father of the subject of this narrative, was fourth child, 

 born April7l802, in the town of Corning ; was a millwright 

 by trade, and spent some eighteen years in the State of Michi- 

 gan, working at his trade and farming. Married Sarah Ann 

 Daley, of Milford, Chemung Co., N. Y. Of this union were 

 born two sons, of whom only Mr. Alonzo H. Gorton sur- 

 vives. His mother died at Corning, in 1864, aged about fifty- 

 two. His father, still hale and hearty, resides with his sister 

 at Athens, Pa. 



Mr. Gorton's minority was mostly spent on the farm, having 

 very little opportunity for any education from books. Very 

 soon after reaching his majority he came back to his native 

 town from the State of Michigan, where the family had re- 

 sided for some years, and began work at his trade as a car- 

 penter, and also engaged in car building. This he followed 

 until the year 1857, when he engaged with the State in the 

 reconstruction of the dam on the Chemung Kiver, at Corning. 

 From 1858 to 1860 he spent in pattern-making for a foundry 

 here. By this time Mr. Gorton had acquired much experience 

 in general business, and his integrity with all with whom 

 he had been connected had won for him their full con- 

 fidence. 



In 1860 he began at the bottom of business for the Fall 

 Brook Coal Company, occupying almost every position, until, 

 in 1864, he was given the superintendency of the "Corning, Co- 

 wanesque and Antrim Kailway," formerly called the '^Bloss- 

 burg and Corning Kail way." 



When Mr. Gorton first became connected with this road as 

 superintendent it extended only from Corning to Lawrence- 

 ville, to which additions have since been made to Antrim, 

 and another branch to Elkland, Pa., and in the year 1877 

 another road was completed from Corning 4o Geneva, called 

 the ^' Syracuse, Geneva and Corning Eailway," of which he is 

 superintendent. 



He has been connected with the Democratic party since his 

 first vote, and identified with the local interests of the village 

 of Corning during his residence here. For many years he 

 has ofiiciated as one of the trustees of the village, and for two 

 terms was president, and is said to have been one of the origin- 

 ators of the water- works of the place. 



In the fire department of the village he has been an active 

 member since the new organization, for several years foreman, 

 and for the last four years president. Mr. Gorton's has been 

 a life of activity, and for the last few years one of much care 

 and responsibility. 



In the year 1850 he married Maria Louise, daughter of 

 Thomas Alexander, of Ann Arbor, Mich. 



Their surviving son, William Gorton, received his pre- 

 liminary education at Corning Academy and Poughkeepsie, 

 studied medicine with Dr. Updegraff, of Elmira, and after 

 three courses of lectures at the New York Homoeopathic 

 Medical College, was graduated M.D. from that institution, 

 April, 1878. 



