GEORGE CONGDON GORHAM
GORHAM, GEORGE CONGDON, is the son of George and Martha P. Gorham, of Greenport, New York. George C. Gorham was born in that town July 5, 1832, receiving his education at New London, Connecticut. At the age of seventeen, inspired by the discovery of gold in California, he made his way among the pioneers to that region, reaching there December 19, 1849, in the height of the gold fever. In the following year he accepted a position as clerk to Stephen J. Field then Alcalde of Marysville (afterward justice of the United States Supreme court). In 1856 he was elected city clerk of Marysville. While thus engaged Mr. Gorham developed ability as a newspaper writer which finally led him into journalism, and he became assistant editor of the Sacramento "Daily Standard" in 1859, editor of the San Francisco "Daily Nation" in 1860, and editor of the "Marysville Democrat" in 1861, and assistant editor of the Sacramento "Daily Union" in 1861-62. Hitherto he had been a Democrat; but with the outbreak of the Civil war he became strongly Unionist and Republican in sentiment, and in 1862 took an active part in organizing the Union party, made up of Republicans and Union Democrats. From that time he was for many years strongly interested in Republican politics and played a part of some importance in national affairs. In 1863 Justice Field appointed him clerk of the United States Circuit court at San Francisco, a position which he held until 1867, when he received the Republican nomination for governor of California. Mr. Gorham's prominence in the party annals was recognized the next year by his appointment as secretary of the United States senate, in which important office he remained for eleven years, until 1879. He represented California on the Republican national committee from 1868 to 1880. In 1880 he became the editor of the "Daily National Republican," of Washington, District of Columbia. His connection with this paper ended in 1884, since which date he has taken no active part in political life. He withheld his support from the Republican nominee for the presidency in 1884 because of what he
