Distinguished Citizen of Lake Charles Laid to Rest
 |
| 1st Lt. Daniel Barlow Gorham, 4th Louisiana Infantry Regiment (McNeese State University Archives) |
D.B. Gorham, an old resident and a prominent attorney at the Lake Charles bar, passed-away at his home, corner of Kirby and Hodges streets, on Sunday morning a few minutes before 7 o'clock, death following an attack of apoplexy on Saturday morning about 11 o'clock. The veteran attorney regained consciousness for only a few minutes after he was stricken.
At the bedside of Judge Gorham, as he has generally known by his friends and fellow members of the bar, were all of the attorney's children, with the exception of W.A. Gorham, who at present is in a hospital at Santa Fe, N.M. He had been wired of the serious illness of his father, but another telegram was sent after the death, stating that his father had passed away and advising him not to make the trip home, as he himself is in very poor health.
The deceased is survived by seven children, four sons and three daughters, as follows: Elmer L., Lake Charles; W.E., Jennings; W.A., Santa Fe, N.M.; Drew, at home; Mrs. George Streeter, Lake Arthur; Mrs. Louis Barbe, Lake Charles; Miss Minnie, at home. One sister, Mrs. W.O. Hines, of Clinton, La., also survives.
Judge Gorham was born Feb. 15, 1838, in East Baton Rouge parish, on his father's plantation. Here he remained until in the later '50s, when he entered Bardstown University, Bardstown, Ky., following the course of academic instruction with a law course in New Orleans.
At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Gorham, then about 23 years of age, entered the Confederate army as a private. He served through the four years of the struggle, emerging at its close with the rank of major. Most of his service was in the armies under Generals Johnston and Beauregard. Major Gorham made a brilliant record for himself as a soldier as is evidenced by the rapid manner in which he rose from the ranks to hold the high commission.
At the close of the war he returned to Louisiana and for a year operated his mother's plantation near Clinton, East Feliciana parish. In 1867 he moved to Catahoula parish in the central part of the state, taking up the practice of law there. His home was at Harrisonburg. He was elected and served as district attorney for one term while a resident of Catahoula. The reputation he then made for himself as a zealous official has been an asset of which he had reason to be proud.
In 1873, Mr. Gorham was united in marriage to Miss Zoe Lombard. This this union eight children were born of whom as stated seven still survive. One son died of yellow fevor in 1898 while a student at Tulane University.
Twenty-five years ago Mr. Gorham removed with his family to Lake Charles. He resumed law practice here with Colonel Mitchell, father of Attorney A.R. Mitchell, as partner. The office of the firm was on South Court street for a few years, being changed to the Calcasieu National Bank building when the latter was erected over twenty years ago. In 1908 his son, W.A. Gorham joined the firm, Colonel Mitchell having retired some years before. In 1907 another son, William, entered the firm, the latter being located at Jennings.
At his death Judge Gorham was the senior member of the local bar. He was a man well liked by all who knew him, both in his profession and as a man. Always of a genial and kindly temperament, he made friends with everyone he met. He had been in good health practically all of his life, until stricken with the last fatal illness.
The funeral services were held this afternoon at 3 o'clock, being conducted at the home by the local Masonic orders, of which deceased was a member in high standing. Judge Gorham had held positions in the local lodges, and was thrice illustrious grand master of the state. He was a Knight Templar and a Mystic Shriner. Preceding the ceremony by the Masons, Rev. W.W. Drake, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), held the regular service of the church. The burial was made in Orange Grove cemetery. The mortal remains of the deceased were followed to the grave by a large concourse of his special and professional friends.
A Brilliant Lawyer
Judge D.B. Gorham was accounted one of the most professional lawyers in southwest Louisiana. His knowledge of the law was wonderful, his memory was exceedingly alert and his ideas were mixed with fundamental things rather than exigencies and trivial circumstances. He was scholarly in his legal attainments and withall was broad, deep and well-rounded in his knowledge and insight of law, both as represented by books and as seen in nature and society.
He was patriotic to an unusual degree; true and faithful in creating for the good of the whole country. He was exceptionally unmindful of influences of his immediate life, and although he was a disciplinarian of more than average attainments he was entirely informal and straight-forward in attempting to arrive at right and fairness. As a friend he was warm and cordial. He gained the confidence and esteem of his fellow lawers, and once a friend he was loyal and true and thoughtful. His life was modest, his desires few, and the enjoyment of the friends he loved and the association with them up the full measure of his life. Hundreds of people throughout Calcasieu will carry a burden in their hours for the passing of Judge Gorham. -- R.S. Harrison
Military Record of Daniel B. Gorham
Gorham, Daniel B. (also Gorham, D. H.), Pvt. 1st Lt. Cos. F and H, 4th La. Inf. En. May 25, 1861, Tangipahoa. Present on Rolls to Dec., 1861. Regtl. Return for Jan., 1862, On extra daily duty as Special Police. Present Sept. and Oct., 1862, as 2nd Lt. Roster dated Aug. 6, 1863, shows him appointed 2nd Lt., May 19, 1862, or June _, 1862. Roster dated March 5, 1864, shows him promoted 1st Lt., Nov. 25, 1862; L. A. Courtad, successor. Rolls from Nov., 1862, to July, 1863, Present as 1st Lt. Col. W. H. Allen, Comdg. 4th La. Inf., in his report of April 10, 1862. His Regt.in Battle of Shiloh, Series 1, Vol. X, Part 1, Records of Union and Confederate Armies, gives: Honorable mention of D. B. Gorham, Color Guard, who, amid shot and shell and a hail storm of balls, held the flag firm and erect, and brought it back torn into tatters by the bullets of the enemy.
[Records of Louisiana Confederate soldiers and Louisiana Confederate commands : in three volumes
by Booth, Andrew B, Published 1920, Baton Rouge, La.]
No comments:
Post a Comment