A new month and a new surname to study. I’ll start with Amos Gorrell Jr., then move to his father, Amos Gorrell, Sr., and lastly Amos’ father, James Gorrell. I will attempt to locate information about Amos Sr’s wife, Leah Wollam, and James’ wife, Sarah Mullholland. Like months before, I’ll work through the documents I already have, then search for more. Amos Jr’s wife, Catharine Shotts will be researched in a later month.
Amos Gorrell, Jr.
My husband’s great-grandfather, Amos Gorrell, was the son of
Amos Gorrell, Sr. and Leah Wollam. He was born on 12 February 1837 in Beaver
County, Pennsylvania, perhaps in Ohio Township, where his father was living in
1840.[1]
However, Amos stated later in life that he was born in Beaver Falls, which was not
in Ohio Township.[2]
His parents moved to Ohio and first settled in Scioto Township in Jackson County, where he attended school with his younger brother, Joseph.[3] Later they moved to Ross County. On 25 December 1858, Amos and Joseph purchased two lots of land on the waters of Indian Creek from George Froehler and his wife, Eva Magdalena, one 100 acres and the other 50 acres. They paid $2117 for the two lots of land.[4]
In March 1859, Amos and Joseph agreed to “leave to Fredrick Traylor son of George Trailor a wagon rode sufficient for his own local business and hatting. At the east end of the farm and on the south side of the county rode where the line comes in conjunction with the lines of said Fredrick Trailer and Daniel Banter which rode we hereby agree to surrender to the said Fredrick Trailor and his heirs and assigns forever.”[5]
On 21 November 1860, Amos and Joseph sold the land back to George Froehler for $1700.[6] There must be a story there, but I have no idea. Both Amos and Joseph lived with their parents in 1860, each having real estate valued at $850.[7]
When the Civil War started, Amos made an agreement with his brother that he would join up if Joseph stayed and took care of their parents. Amos agreed to send home money to help pay the rent on the farm where their parents lived.[8]
After the war, he married Catherine (Shotts) Sayre, who was the widow of Civil War veteran, Lemuel Sayre, who died 9 May 1862.[10] Catherine and Lemuel had one son, May M. Sayre. Amos became his guardian and handled the minor’s pension application.[11]
Amos decided to move to Missouri, settling in Cooper County, first buying 24 acres of land from James and Virginia Staples.[12] By 1870, he reported 11 acres improved and 14 acres wooded. Besides horses, milk cows, and cattle, he raised Indian corn, Irish potatoes, and made 50 pounds of butter. He also sold wood from his forest and meat from slaughtering his animals.[13]
In 1879, he and Catherine sold that land to J.W. Gillespie.[14] He then purchased a 40-acre tract from Charles Hall.[15] Four months later, he purchased forty acres from Robert and Mary Seal.[16] He continues living on the farm at least until 1910 when he listed farming as his occupation and 73 as his age.[17]
Two years later, they move into the town of Blackwater, first renting the property owned by Mrs. Mayme Cramer.[18] In 1915, Amos bought two- and one-half acres of land in Blackwater from Isaac M. Smith for $500. The land was located next to the Smith house.[19]
On 6 February 1916, their children surprised them with a supper after church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. All their children were present except two sons, Arthur, and May. The article listing the guests also mentioned that their son-in-law, Price Netherton, was renting the old farm.
Catharine died suddenly on 22 September 1918 and she is buried at Lamine Cemetery.[20] Amos lived another ten years, dying on 31 March 1928.[21]
Amos and Catherine had six children:
- Louella, b. 6 Nov 1866, d. 28 Jan 1938.[22] She married William E McMahan, 27 Mar 1894.[23]
- Linnie Sarah, b. 29 Feb 1868, d. 10 Apr 1950.[24] She married William Price Netherton, 6 Feb 1900.[25]
- Joseph Norman, b. 9 Mar 1869, d. 21 Jul 1960.[26] Married Matilda Pearl Davey, 19 Dec 1900.[27]
- Ada Leah, b. 30 Apr 1872, d. 9 Jul 1967.[28] Married John N. Whitlow, 26 Feb 1902.[29]
- William Taylor, b. 25 Jan 1875, d. 10 Feb 1875.[30]
- Arthur Leonidas, b. 27 Feb 1876, d. 19 Apr 1916.[31] Married Minnie Gillespie, 3 Oct 1903.[32]
Next Up
Amos’ father, Amos Gorrell, Sr.
[1] 1840
U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Twp, p 4, Amos Gorrell.
[2] Declaration
For Pension, Act of May 11, 1912, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications,
1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Record Group 15; Records of the
Department of Veterans Affairs; National Archives, Washington, D.C, Amos
Gorrell (Prt., Co. A, 18th Regt., Ohio Infantry, Civil War), pension Invalid
no. 1110444.
[3] 1850
U.S. census, Jackson Co, Ohio, Scioto Twp, p 360b, household 198, fam 203, Amos
Gorrell
[4] Ross
County, Ohio, deeds, v. 62, pp 364-65, George Froehler to Amos Gorrell &
Joseph Gorrll, 1858; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-T694
: accessed 4 Sep 2025), IGN 008330732, image 203 of 330.
[5]
Ross Co, Ohio, deeds, v. 97, p. 128, Amos & Joseph Gorrell to George
Trailor, 1859, filed 1884; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-X91J-6
: accessed 29 Jun 2026), IGN 008330745, image 94 of 649.
[6] Ross
County, Ohio, deeds, v. 65, p. 405-07, Amos Gorrell Jr & Joseph Gorrell to
George Froehler & wife, 1858, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKH-D975-D
: accessed 4 Sep 2025); IGN 008142549, image 225 of 737.
[7] 1860
U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington twp, p 433b, household 341, Amos
Gorrell.
[8] Amos
Gorrell, “My Semi-occasional Journal, or Diary while a Soldier in the war of
1861, transcribed from a penciled account which I carried with me with some
correction,” entry July 30; typed by unknown person, photocopy, Gorrell,
[9] Compiled
Military Service Record, Amos Gorrell, Pvt., Co. A, 18th Ohio Infantry, Civil
War; Carded Records, volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Record Group 94:
Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917; National Archives,
Washington, D.C.
[10] Ross
Co, Ohio, marriages, v. I, p. 63, Amos Gorrell to Catherine E. Sayer, 1866,
imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BJJK-M
: accessed 3 Sep 2025); IGN 004256209, image 98 of 421. For Lemuel’s death, see
“Adjutant General’s Office,” 21 Aug 1863, Catharine E. Sayre widow’s pension application
no. 2728, May M. Sayer minor’s pension certification 123488, service of Lemuel
Sayre (Pvt., Co. B, 63rd Ohio Vols, Civil War); Case Files of Approved pension
Applications . . ., 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Record Group
15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; National Archives,
Washington, DC; imaged, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/307752160/sayre-lemuel-j-page-8-us-civil-war-widows-pensions-1861-1910
: accessed 1 July 2026).
[11]
Ross Co, Ohio, probate, no. 8366, appointment of guardian of May M Sayre, 28
Feb 1866; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Q5-K7CK
: accessed 1 Jul 2026), IGN 005880798, image 1122 of 1744.
[12] Cooper
Co, Missouri, deeds, v. K2, p 473-74, James & Virginia Staples to Amos
Gorrell, 1869; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLK-N9WC-K
: accessed 1 July 2026), IGN 008195906, images 246-47.
[13] 1870
U.S. census, Cooper Co, Missouri, Ag sched., La Mine, p. 1, no. 2, Amos Gorrell;
imaged, Missouri State Archives (https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Archives/Census/Ag_1870/Ag_1870_Cooper.pdf
: accessed 1 July 2026), image 45 of 116.
[14] Cooper
Co, Missouri, deeds, v. U2, p. 528, Amos Gorrell & Catherine E Gorrell to
JH Gillespie, 1879; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR1-T3WP-7
: imaged 1 July 2026); IGN 008316782, image 286 of 682.
[15] Cooper
Co, Missouri, deeds, v. U2, p. 540, Charles Hall to Amos Gorrell, 1879; imaged,
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR1-T3WL-Z
: accessed 1 July 2026), IGN 008316782, image 292 of 682.
[16] Cooper
Co, Missouri, deeds, v. W2, p. 8, Robert & Mary Seal to Amos Gorrell, 1879;
imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTM-SZV6
: accessed 1 July 2026), IGN 008316783, image 12 of 674.
[17] 1910
U.S. census, Cooper Co, Missouri, ED 69, Page: 5A, household 94, Amos Gorrell.
[18] “Blackwater,”
The Bunceton Eagle, 23 Feb 1912, p. 8, col. 4.
[19] “Real
Estate Sales,” Cooper County Record, 2 Apr 1915, p. 8, col. 2. Also,
untitled, Blackwater News, 19 Mar 1915, p. 1, col. 1.
[20] Missouri
State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no.
29020, Katherine Elizabeth Gorrell, Cooper Co, 1918; imaged, “Missouri Death
Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00030160.PDF
: accessed 1 Jul 2026). For cemetery, gravestone of Amos and Catherine E
Gorrell, photo taken May 1988, by Lisa S. Gorrell.
[21] Missouri
State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no. 8317,
Mr. Amos Gorrell, Cooper Co, 1928; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates,
1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1928/1928_00008565.PDF
: accessed 1 Jul 2026).
[22] Missouri
State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no. 2530,
Lou Gorrell McMahan, 1938; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri
Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1938/1938_00002530.PDF
: accessed 1 Jul 2026).
[23] Cooper
Co, Missouri, marriages, v. 3. p. 302, 1894, McMahon to Gorrell; imaged, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9CT-G4F4
: accessed 1 Jul 2026), IGN 007424332, image 652 of 748.
[24] Missouri
State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no. 12402,
Linnie Gorrell Netherton, 1950; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates,
1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1950/1950_00012403.PDF
: accessed 1 Jul 2026).
[25] Saline
Co, Missouri, marriages, v. 6, p. 238, W. P. Netherton to Linnie S. Gorrell,
1900; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998M-1ZG7
: accessed 5 Sep 2025), IGN 007514068, image 465 of 659.
[26]
Kansas State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Certificate of
Death, no. 011151, J. N. Gorrell, 1960; Office of Vital Statistics, Topeka,
Kansas.
[27] Jackson Co, Missouri, marriage
license, v. 26, p. 598, no. 21336, Joseph N Gorrell & Tillie Davey, 1900; imaged,
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8989-3ZZ1
: viewed 1 Oct 2025), IGN 007515712, image 345 of 716.
[28] Missouri
State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, no. 67
0018561, Howard Co, Ada Leah Whitlow, 1967; imaged, “Missouri Death
Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1967/1967_00018561.PDF
: accessed 1 Jul 2026).
[29]
Cooper Co, Missouri, marriages, v. 5, p. 417, John N Whitlow to Ada L Gorrell,
1902; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89CT-T6HL
: accessed 1 Jul 2026), IGN 007424333, item 2, image 217 of 251.
[30] I
don’t know how I know these dates. Need to look through paper files.
[31]
Gravestone of Arthur L. Gorrell, Old Lamine Cemetery, Cooper Co, Missouri,
photo taken May 1988 by Lisa S. Gorrell.
[32] Saline
Co, Missouri, marriages, v. 7, p. 243, Arthur L Gorrell to Minnie R. Gillespie,
1903; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998M-B9QN
: accessed 1 Jul 2026), IGN 007514069, image 129 of 611.
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