Matthew K. Gorman

The following passage is from the Gorman family history document, written in the 1960's and 1970's and preserved by Rose Payne:

In County Kildare, Ireland, near Dublin, Timothy and Catherine Kelly Gorman lived and reared five children; Matthew, Rose, John, Mary, and Peter. Timothy died on February 24, 1867 in Ireland. Two of his children also died in Ireland, Mary and John. Peter, Rose, and Matthew came to America with their mother. Their voyage was made on the “Alexander Marshall.” They left Liverpool on July 29, 1867 and reached the New York harbor on September 21, 1867. They went directly to the township of Lebanon, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. In Lebanon they lived with a cousin of Matthew’s, Michael Gorman. Michael had lived in America since 1836, and owned two hundred and eighty acres of land in Lebanon, at Gorman’s Corners, later known as Fitzgerald’s Corners. Catherine and her children lived with Michael until they purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber land, which is presently part of the Garrett Gorman farm.

Matthew, the eldest child, was born on November 11, 1846. After four years’ education he began work. At age fourteen he learned gardening and continued in that occupation for seven years in Ireland. He was twenty-one when they came to America. He immediately applied for citizenship and worked for others to help support the family.

Ten years later on October 1, 1877, Matthew married Mary Agnes Loughrin at St. Patrick’s Church, Lebanon, where both were parishioners. Upon their marriage Matthew and Mary moved to another area of the property to make their home. At the time of this writing (circa 1965-1975), it was considered the Edward Gorman farm.

Besides clearing land, raising crops, and erecting buildings, Matthew developed an impressive orchard. He raised apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, rhubarb, grapes, and a large garden of vegetables. He also did much grafting of fruit trees. Matthew and Mary had twelve children. Nine lived to adulthood. In 1899 Matthew and Mary had a large frame house built, and it stands today with considerable modernization. In 1904 a new frame barn and granary were built.

Matthew was very interested in politics. He was town clerk for many years. He was trustee of the St. Patrick’s Parish, where he often remained after Mass for hours working on the books, and walked home the nearly six miles. Many times he had fasted from midnight to receive Holy Communion. He was treasurer of Little Creek Cheese and Butter factory, where his milk was processed for years. Matthew was assisting a factory patron with a monthly statement when he suffered a fatal paralytic attack. He was ill five days prior to his death on January 7, 1908, at the age of sixty-two.

His family, neighbors, and relatives were with him at his death. In the funeral sermon the pastor, Rev. E. O’Neil Boyd told how Matthew had always prayed to be delivered from a sudden and unprovided death. Catholic Knights of Wisconsin were pallbearers, with burial beside his mother, sister, and deceased children.