Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
This gentleman has nearly reached fourscore years, which have not been vouchsafed him along by reason of strength, but because a strong constitution protected by a temperate use of good things of life, an even temperament, and a husbanding of his resources has enable him to endure the hardships of pioneer experiences and the exhausting exposures and trials of a frontier life.
He was born in New Town, Long Island, May 3, 1802. His father, also a native of the same place, was killed in the battle of Queenstown, in the war of 1812. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wood, was a native of New York, and one of the family of eleven children. After the death of his father, David, being only ten years of age, took his first lesson in farming in Sullivan Co., N. Y., living there with his grandparents, and pursuing diligently this avocation until he was sixteen years of age, when he embarked for himself, receiving for his services three dollars an a half per month at the outset. In 1824 he married Miss Clarissa Worden, a native of Sullivan County, where she was born Dec. 5, 1803. Her parents were both native of Orange Co., N. Y., and the parents of eleven children, Clarrisa being the seventh. Her father died there in 1828, and her mother in Ohio, in 1871. After their marriage David labored by the day or worked land on shares as the opportunity afforded in Sullivan and afterwards in Niagra County, until 1836, when, with his wife and six children, he turned from all the scenes of his childhood and early years, and friends and relatives, journeyed through the lakes to Detroit, and thence by his own conveyance to Wheatfield township, where he located one hundred and twenty acres on sections 34 and 35, he being the only white man in four townships. In 1837 they received their first neighbor in William Drown, who lived in the house with them. Their first home was a house twelve by sixteen feet. Poles covered with shaked were substituted for doors. These he made by lamp-light, and all carpenter-, mason-, and other work was done by himself. To Mr. and Mrs. Gorsline were born ten children, of whom six are living; Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1824; Catherine, born April 24, 1826; Parden E., born Feb. 24, 1829; Richard A., born March 8, 1831; David, born Feb. 24, 1833; Edwin, born Dec. 29, 1840.
In 1872 they left their old home, which contained two hundred and forty acres, and which they had transformed from a wilderness to blossoming fields by thirty-six years of hard labor and privation, and moved to Williamston. In 1873 he sold his farm, and the year following moved to Leroy township, where they now live in the enjoyment of ease and comfort.
In politics Mr. Gorsline is a Democrat; has held all the various town offices, including the supervisor, which he held six years, and has proven himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him. Mrs. Gorsline is a worthy member of the Baptist Church, Mr. Gorsline being liberal in his religious views.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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