Springfield-Greene
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of Many of the Representative Citizens
DANIEL C. GORMAN. It is a mistake to farm on the theory that crop rotation is the only essential to the maintenance of soil fertility. It is true that an intelligent rotation of crops will generally result in increased yields, but unless the land is heavily fertilized, the rotation will readily mean depletion. Rotation will have the effect of increasing the yields for a period of years and an increased yield naturally draws heavily upon the plant food element of the soil. All this and much more in regard to general farming is well understood by Daniel C. Gorman, one of the most progressive farmers of Greene county, whose fine farm, "Prairie View," is admirably located in Murray township, throughout which he is well known and influential for the general welfare, for he believes that "man should not live for himself alone," or in other words, is unselfish, desiring to see his neighbors prosper as well as himself and is public-spirited.
Mr. Gorman was born January 22, 1854, in Cocke county, eastern Tennessee. He is a son of David H. and Ruth, (Long) Gorman, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume, hence their life records will not be reproduced here.
Daniel C. Gorman spent his boyhood days in eastern Tennessee and received his education in the schools of his native community in Cocke county. He was seventeen years of age when he removed with his parents, in 1871, to Greene county, Missouri, the family locating in Murray township, the father of our subject purchasing here a good farm of two hundred and forty acres; this place, which is still known as the old Gilmore farm, is one of the oldest in Murray township. Daniel C. Gorman remained on the home farm assisting his father with the general work until he was twenty-four years of age, then married and bought out the interests of the other heirs to the homestead and here he has resided to the present time, actively engaged in general farming and stock raising, and, having prospered with advancing years through his close application and able management, he has added to his original holdings until he is now owner of four hundred and sixty acres, practically all in one tract, all well improved and productive, valuable land, constituting one of the most desirable farms in the county. He farms on an extensive scale and handles large numbers of live stock, no small portion of his annual income being derived from this source. He built a large, convenient barn in 1898, and he also has a good modern home, from which may be had an inspiring panorama of the surrounding country, his buildings being situated on a hill on the sides of which grows a beautiful grove, and one can see the country round about for many miles, and his place is most appropriately named "Prairie View." Everything about the place denotes thrift and prosperity. At one time Mr. Gorman fed live stock extensively, especially mules, but of late years he has confined himself to general farming.
Mr. Gorman was married January 24, 1878, to Joanna Wadlow, a native of Greene county, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of John W. and Mary Ann Wadlow. Mr. Wadlow was born in Washington county, Virginia, in what is now West Virginia, December 17, 1797, and there he spent his earlier years, moving from there into Tennessee, from which state he immigrated to Greene county, Missouri, about 1835, settling twelve miles northwest of Springfield. On July 24, 1837, he married Mary Hastings, and to them seven children, were born, namely: Alzirah Jane, deceased; Mary Louisa is living; Sarah Ann, Margaret Elizabeth, Martha Agnes, Matilda Caroline and John are all deceased. Mary Hastings was born January 27, 1820, and her death occurred December 12, 1854. On November 29, 1858, John W. Wadlow married Mary Ann Lethco, then living in Greene county, and to this union seven children were born, namely: Joanna, wife of the subject of this sketch; Susan Arbell, Charles E., George W, and Dora Emma were twins; Laura May is deceased; and Lillie Daisy, wife of Albert S. McLinn, a farmer of Murray township, whose sketch appears herein. The death of the mother of these children occurred March 13, 1909. Cyrus Cunningham, grandfather of Mrs. Wadlow, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John W. Wadlow was an active worker in the Methodist church, in which he was long a member, and he gave a tract of land on which was built the Wesley Chapel in Murray township, and he also donated ground for a cemetery, and in this he was finally laid to rest, at the advanced age of ninety-two years after a long, useful and honorable life, which had been of great service to others. In his early life he taught school, and he was justice of the peace in Greene county for many years. He was a rugged pioneer of the true type. When a young man he entered land from the government in Virginia, and from that state moved to Tennessee with his parents, John W. and Mary (Arnold) Wadlow. He was a Democrat, kept well posted on current matters, was a successful farmer and influential citizen, and by his thrift he accumulated a comfortable competence. He led a well regulated life and was active almost to the very last, doing a good deal of work at the age when most men are incapacitated for work of any kind. His wife, Mary Ann Lethco, was born March 28, 1829, in Richland county, North Carolina, and when twelve years of age she emigrated in wagons from the old Tar state to Greene county, Missouri, the family locating near Ebenezer, in Robberson township. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-nine, years. With her husband she belonged to the Southern Methodist church at Wesley Chapel and Willard, having held membership in this denomination over sixty years.
Four children have been born to Daniel C. Gorman and wife, named as follows: the first died in infancy unnamed; Virgil Wesley, born February 23, 1881, who married Corda Thomas, lives in Springfield and has two children, Graydon and Pauline; Gennella, born July 20, 1884, who married Clyde Slagle, lives in Murray township, this county, but has no children; Daniel Clarence, born July 19, 1893, is at home with his parents.
Politically Mr. Gorman is a Republican, but has never been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the Baptist church at, Mt. Pleasant, this county. He has always stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and all who know him.
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