Catharine Elizabeth Shotts Gorrell

This post will double as a 52 Ancestors and a 12 for ’26 post. This month, I’m studying the Shotts and Bishop families, beginning with Amos Gorrell’s wife, Catharine Elizabeth Shotts.

Elizabeth was born on 18 February 1835 in Ross County, Ohio, to Daniel Shotts and Mary Ann Bishop.[1] She was the second child of six. The family lived in Huntington Township and Daniel was a farmer. Even though Daniel could not read and write, his children were all attending school in 1850.[2]

When she was 22 years old, she married Lemuel J. Sayre on 14 January 1857. Rev. William Morris officiated.[3] Lemuel was a 21-year-old Virginia-born farmer, the son of Squire and Lydia Sayre.[4]

They had three children.

• Mary Adela Sayre was born on 29 May 1857 and she died 11 November 1858.[5] She is buried in the Denver Cemetery, Ross County. Her death date was calculated from age at death: 1y 5m 13d.[6]
• George Sayre was born on 3 August 1859 and he died on the same day. He is also buried in the Denver Cemetery.[7]
• May Mansfield Sayre was born on 29 November 1860, and he died 22 February 1927.[8]

It must have been sad for Elizabeth to lose her first two children. A year after May was born, Lemuel entered the 63rd Ohio Regiment on 9 October 1861 as a private in Company R, at Chillicothe for 3 years enlistment. He was on Company B’s muster roll in May and June of 1862. He died 9 May 1862 in the hospital at Hamburg, Tennessee of typhoid fever.[9] Elizabeth filed for a widow’s pension under the Act of July 14, 1862. Her pension commenced on 19 May 1863. She received a pension of $8 per month.[10]

This certainly helped in raising her son, May. She probably lived with her parents, but nothing is known about her life before being courted by Amos Gorrell after he returned from the service in the Civil War.

Amos Gorrell was born 12 February 1837 and died 31 March 1928.[11] He served in Company A, 18th Ohio Regiment and returned to Ross County 9 November 1864.[12] He spent the next year living at home and “dating” different women until he spent most of his time with Catherine, that he called “Cate,” who did live with her parents.[13]

Amos and Catherine married on 6 February 1866 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, by Joseph H. Creighton.[14] Amos made note of the day in his diary:

He did not tell his parents until the 10th. It is not clear why his parents opposed the match. The diary is full of reports of the two families spending time together, eating meals together, and attending church events together. Perhaps it was because she was previously married and had a son, and that she was two years older.

By February 26, he had decided to move to Missouri.[15] In preparation for the move to Missouri, Amos secured guardianship for Catherine’s son, May.[16] He also submitted for the minor’s pension for May.[17] Since Catharine married Amos, she lost the pension but May was now entitled to it. Amos took care of applying for each increase until 28 November 1876 when he aged out.

Amos and Catharine, along with May, moved to Cooper County, Missouri, where they farmed and raised five children. A sixth child, William Taylor was born 25 January 1875 and died a few weeks later, on 19 February. 75. Census records document the children.

In 1870, Amos and Catharine had four children in the household.

Gorrell, Amos, 33, farmer, Ohio
Cath E, 35, keeping house, Ohio
May M, 9, Ohio, school
Luella, 3, Missouri
Sarah, 2, Missouri
Joseph, 1, Missouri[18]

The 1880 census shows all five children plus May.

Gorrell, Amos, married, 43, PA, farmer, PA/MD
Catherine, 43, OH, keeping house, VA/OH
Louella R, dau, 13, MO, PA/OH, school
Sarah L, dau, 12, MO, PA/OH, school
Joseph N, son, 11, MO, PA/OH, farm laborer
Adah L, dau, 8, MO, PA/OH, school
Auther L, son, 3, MO, PA/OH
Sayre, May M, stepson, 19, OH, farm laborer, VA/OH[19]

Not much is known about Catharine’s life on the farm. Amos’ diary is mostly about what he did, though he mentions his wife doing things with him such as visiting, attending church, and receiving visitors. It is unfortunate that the diaries stop in the middle of 1872. Either he kept no more or they were lost to time.

Newspapers aren’t much help either. There are many articles about Amos and the occasional article about Mr. and Mrs. Amos Gorrell, especially when their children come to visit. In 1912, they move from the farm into Blackwater, a small community.[20] They were 75 and 77 years of age, Catharine two years older. In 1913, Catharine’s younger sister, Sarah Anne Logan, came to visit from Engle, Texas.[21] In 1915, she celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends.[22]

In 1916, they celebrated their 50th anniversary. Their three daughters, Louella, Linnie, and Ada surprised them with a fine dinner ready when Amos and Catharine came home from church. Their son, Joe, who lived in Kansas was also present. Two sons were unable to attend. Arthur, sent them $5 in gold from Kansas, and May lived in Portland, Oregon.[23]

Catharine died suddenly at home on 23 September 1918 from choking while eating. The funeral was held at the Methodist church with Rev. L. N. Pollock officiating, and she was buried at the Lamine Cemetery.[24] However, her death certificate gave additional information, she having goiter.[25]

She lived a long 83 years, gave birth to nine children, with six surviving to adulthood, took care of the household duties, and cared for her husband and children. Many of the Shotts family line lived long lives at a time when many died much younger.

#52Ancestors: Week 36 – More Than a Name

This is my ninth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, #29020, Katherine Elizabeth Gorrell, 1918; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00030160.PDF : accessed 2 Sep 2026); Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

[2] 1850 U.S. census, Ross Co, Ohio, Huntington Township, p. 318, household 211, Daniel Shots.

[3] Ross Co, Ohio, Marriages, v. G-H1, p. 237, Sayre-Shotts, 1857; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-91SD-4X : accessed 2 Sep 2026), IGN 004016201, image 195 of 377.  Ross Co, Ohio, Marriage Register, v. 3, p. 271, Sayre-Shotts, 1857; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-919D-SW : accessed 2 Sept 2026), IGN 004016208, image 577 of 684.

[4] 1850 U.S. census, Jackson Co, Virginia, Dist. 27, p. 232b, dwelling 608, family 614, Squire Sayre.

[5] “In the Matter of Claim No. 2728 Additional Evidence,” 13 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/307752168/sayre-lemuel-j-page-16-us-civil-war-widows-pensions-1861-1910 : accessed 1 July 2026).

[6] Find a Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160959848/mary_a-sayre: accessed 2 Sep 2026), Mary A Sayre (unknown–11 Nov 1858), memorial 160959848, Denver Cemetery, Denver, Ross County, Ohio; maintained by Mary Ann (contributor 47479459). There is no photo. For inscription, see Tombstone Inscriptions Huntington Township Ross County, Ohio (Chillicothe, Ohio: Ross County Genealogical Society, 1993), 72, Mary A. Sayre.

[7] Tombstone Inscriptions Huntington Township Ross County, Ohio (Chillicothe, Ohio: Ross County Genealogical Society, 1993), 72, George Sayre. Also, tombstone photo, George Sayre, added by Penny Cox Brown, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39823898/george-sayre : accessed 2 Sept 2026), George Sayre, memorial no. 39823898, Denver Cemetery, Ross Co, Ohio.

[8] Oregon State Board of Health, Certificate of Death, no. 154, May M. Sayre, 1927; Oregon State Archives, Salem.

[9] Official roster of the soldiers of the state of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866 v. 5 (Akron :: Werner Co.,1895), 391, imaged, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/ohiowarroster05howerich/page/391/mode/1up?q=sayre : accessed 2 Sep 2026). Also, “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/307752153/sayre-lemuel-j-page-1-us-civil-war-widows-pensions-1861-1910 : accessed 1 July 2026), images 1-14.

[10] “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/307752153/sayre-lemuel-j-page-1-us-civil-war-widows-pensions-1861-1910 : accessed 1 July 2026), images 1-14.

[11] Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, #8317, Mr. Amos Gorrell, 1928; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1928/1928_00008565.PDF : accessed 2 Sep 2026); Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

[12] “Muster Out Roll, Nov 1864,” Compiled Military Service Record, Amos Gorrell, Pvt, Co. A, 18th Regiment Ohio Infantry, Civil War; Carded Records, Volunteer Organization, Civil War; Record Group 94; Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[13] Amos Gorrell diaries, years 1864, 1865, and 1866.

[14] Ross Co, Ohio, Marriage Record, v. I-K, 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.

[15] Amos Gorrell diary, 1866.

[16] Ross Co, Ohio, probate case file 8366, application of Amos Gorrell to be appointed guardian of May M Sayre, 1866; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Q5-K7CK : accessed 2 Sep 2026), IGN 005880798, image 1122-23 of 1744.

[17] “Claim for Minors’ Pension,” 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/307752153/sayre-lemuel-j-page-1-us-civil-war-widows-pensions-1861-1910 : accessed 1 July 2026), images 1-14.

[18] 1870 U.S. census, Cooper Co, Missouri, LaMine Twp, p. 441a, fam. 3, Amos Gorrell.

[19] 1880 U.S. census, Cooper Co, Missouri, Lamine Twp, ED 130, p. 6, dwel/fam 45, Amos Gorrell.

[20] The Boonville Daily News, 11 Apr 1912, p. 3.

[21] The Bunceton Eagle, 27 Jun 1913, p. 5, and The Boonville Daily News, 24 July 1913, p. 3.

[22] The Bunceton Eagle, 26 Feb 1915, p. 5.

[23] “Celebrated Golden Wedding,” The Bunceton Eagle, 11 Feb 1916, p. 1.

[24] “Local News,” The Bunceton Eagle, 27 Sept 1918, p. 6. Also, Arrow Rock Statesman, 17 Sep 1918, p. 3, col. 1.

[25] Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, #29020, Katherine Elizabeth Gorrell, 1918; imaged, “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1969,” Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00030160.PDF : accessed 2 Sep 2026); Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. 

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