Biographies
WILLIAM F. GORMLEY
The county of Fermanagh,
around whose history there cluster legends of romance and tales of tragedy,
formed the environment familiar to the childhood days of William F. Gormley, who was born in the village of Irvinestown,
March 5, 1862, and belonged to an old family in the north of Ireland. Memories
of those early years, as they mingle with the interesting activities of
maturity, form a pleasant background to life's bright picture of earnest
purpose and manly action. The first eventful change in the family affairs came
in 1871 with the departure of the father, Thomas Gormley,
from the old Irish home. For years he had worked in Fermanagh
as a millwright and pattern-maker and his removal to California was the result
of a contract to look after the mining interests left by William Hughes, one of
the pioneers of Eldorado county at a camp known as
Georgia Slide and who had some years pervious been struck by a large rock in
the mine and received fatal injuries. The following year the mother with their
two sons and one daughter followed him to America and joined him in Eldorado county.
It was in 1874 that the family came to
Sacramento, where the father entered the employ of the Southern Pacific
Railroad shops as a machinist and later was pattern-maker. He is now making his
home in Sacramento, his wife, Mary Ann Gormley,
having passed away November 2, 1903. William F. Gormley
was but twelve years old when his parents bought him to Sacramento, and he
entered the city schools to complete his studies. During 1877 he became an
apprentice in a bookbinding establishment and at the expiration of his time he
continued at his trade in the state printing office, where he remained for a
period of nine years altogether. When the state established a bindery in 1886
he secured a position there in a very humble capacity and at low wages.
Although at that time he voted the Democratic ticket while the head of the
department, A. J. Johnston, was an ardent Republican, owing to his efficiency
in the business he rose to be assistant foreman and the difference of his
political views with those of his superiors was not allowed to jeopardize his
position. Eventually, when he was assistant, he
tendered his resignation in order to enter other lines of business.
The undertaking business which he still
conducts was established by Mr. Gormley October 1,
1897, and later he erected the substantial structure at No. 914 Eighth street, where he established a public morgue, the first in
the county. Elected coroner in 1902, he was re-elected to the office at the
expiration of his term four years later and during 1910 he was chosen for the
third term, which he now fills. During February of 1911 he purchased the former
home of Grove L. Johnson, father of the present governor of California, which
is located at No. 720 H street. Through various
improvements and enlargements he has built up one of the finest establishments
of its kind in the northern part of the state and to add to the convenience of
his equipment he recently purchased an automobile ambulance. During the period
of his association with the bookbinding business he attended the convention of
the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders at Buffalo, N. Y., in May of 1895
and in that session he received the honor of election as vice-president. For
one term he held office as president of the Federated Trades Council.
With the honored Bishop, Thomas Grace,
acting as officiating clergyman, the marriage of William F. Gormley
and Mamie E. Fogarty was solemnized January 8, 1896.
They are the parents of three children, namely: William Manogue,
born February 1, 1897; Thomas Grace, March 27, 1898; and Mary Frances, August
20, 1901. Mrs. Gormley is a member of a pioneer
family and is the niece of Rt. Rev. Patrick Manogue,
remembered with affection as the first bishop of the Sacramento diocese,
embracing all of Northern California and Western Nevada. With his family Mr. Gormley holds membership in the Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament at Sacramento. That prominent and successful Roman Catholic
fraternity, the Knights of Columbus, has in him a loyal and generous member.
Recognition of his ability has come in his selection to serve as grand knight
of the local council. He is a member of the local branch of Catholic Knights of
America, of which he has served as both secretary and president. In 1895 he was
honored by being chosen by the state convention as representative from
California to the National Convention of the Catholic Knights of America at
Omaha, Neb., and his influence was apparent in many of the measures adopted by
the assembly.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 891-892. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.