230. Jesse K⁵ Gorby (William⁴, Eli³, Thomas², Samuel¹) was born in Near New Martinsville, WV. July 2, 1846. Jesse died December 25, 1932 at 86 years of age.

He married twice. He married Mary M Shirley in Wetzel Co, WV., April 9, 1868. Mary was born in England. August 2, 1840. Mary was the daughter of James Shirley and Elizabeth Bucherton. Mary died February 25, 1902 at 61 years of age. He married Mary L Travis 1903. Mary was born 1846. Mary died 1930 at 84 years of age. (1978) Mary L Travis was a widow. (1978) Jesse K Gorby was born on a farm near New Martinsville, WV, and spent most of his life in the farming profession. The large Gorby orchard which attracted much attention in earlier years, was planted almost entirely by his labors, and he cared for it many years.

Jesse Gorby, a private in Capt Lucian Gruiz's 2nd Regiment of WV Infantry Volunteers, enrolled February 22, 1865, to serve one year, or the duration of the war, was discharged from service July 18, 1865, at Parkersburg, WV. His army record shows him 19 years old, 5 ft 9 in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and a farmer. He was an active member of the GAR, and one of the last survivors of the war in his county.

After the death of his first wife, he married widow Mary L Travis.

Jesse united with the M E Church when quite young and was a regular attendant at church until his death. He served in the capacity of local minister and Sunday School Superintendent for many years and as a member of the Board of Education in Magnolia District. He was a good man, a true Christian, and a worthy neighbor. Jesse is buried in the Gorby Family plot in North View Cemetery, New Martinsville, WV.

Jesse K Gorby and Mary M Shirley had the following children:

+ 891 i. Ella E⁶ Gorby was born March 3, 1869.

892 ii. John Henry Gorby was born November 20, 1875. John died January 22, 1943 at 67 years of age. He married Irene Bucher August 12, 1908. (1978) John Henry Gorby was reared on a farm 3 miles from New Martinsville, WV and received his early education in the rural schools of his district, and in Magnolia High School. In 1902 he was graduated from the West Virginia Conference Seminary, Buckhannon, in the Normal and Scientific courses. Later he attended Wesleyan College and West Virgina University, receiving the BA degree from the former, 1917 and the MA degree from the University in 1934.

During WW I he was county food administrator for Wetzel County, VW, following which he was director of five extension schools conducted in New Martinsville under the auspices of West Liberty Normal. In addition he taught a number of summer schools for teachers preparing for state examinations. In his regular school teaching he taught seven years in the rural schools of Wetzel Co, spent two years as a grade teacher in the New Martinsville schools, and from 1904 to 1907 was principal of West Side School, Grafton, WV. In 1907 he was appointed Superintendent of the New Martinsville schools, where he introduced departmental teaching. With the exception of one year he was Superintendent of the New Martinsville schools, or Principal of Magnolia High School since 1907.

In college, he was actively engaged in YMCA work and in literary societies. For a number of years he was a 4-H club leader, and was the first president of the Wetzel Co Farm Bureau. Since a boy he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in later life a member of the official board, and for many years superintendent of Sunday School. He was actively associated with the New Martinsville Kiwanis Club, and was a Mason. For a number of years he was Chairman of both the Crippled Children's Council of Wetzel Co, and the Wetzel Co Tuberculosis Association.

For twelve years he was appointed by the State Superintendent of Schools to serve as one of the instructors in Teacher's County Institutes, appearing in about half of the counties in WV. In 1924 he ran in the State Primary for State Superintendent of Schools, and though his opposition included three candidates with longer tenure, came in second.

Governor Gore appointed John Henry Gorby a member of the State Board of Education, a position he held until 1933. In the teaching profession, he had an unusually long and happy tenure of 41 years. Whether a classroom teacher in a rural or town school, or as an executive, with the exception of one year, he was always permitted to return the following year if he wished to do so. When the 1936 Edition of the Gorby Family book was written, he was principal of Magnolia High School, New Martinsville, WV, and for many more years.

John Gorby was an invaluable help in assembling (in 1936) the data concerning the decedents of Eli Gorby of the third generation. Said the editor, "he has been a tireless worker in getting together lists of the various members, dates, addresses, and most interesting sketches of many of them. One like him in each branch would have made our book complete, and much credit and appreciation is given him for his splendid work."

Somehow, the busier a person is the more extra work he seems able to do. That was true of John Gorby. His work kept him busy, yet he found the time to collect all the fine material he sent in for the book, and his work was greatly appreciated. John Gorby died January 22, 1943 and is buried in North View Cemetery, New Martinsville. He and his wife Irene had no children of their own, but the influence of this soft spoken educator upon the youth of his area still endures.

+ 893 iii. Charles Thomas Gorby was born January 22, 1876.

+ 894 iv. Ida May Gorby was born April 20, 1877.

+ 895 v. George Ira Gorby was born September 30, 1880.

896 vi. Kersey Jesse Gorby was born March 10, 1884. Kersey died January 25, 1955 at 70 years of age. He married Myrtle Frum June 14, 1911. Myrtle died May 1973. (1978) Charles Thomas Gorby, George Ira Gorby and Kersey Jesse Gorby, were known in the vicinity of New Martinsville, WV as "Gorby Brothers" (grocery). See Charles Thomas Gorby for more information on this endeavor.

Kersey Jesse Gorby had always been active in the Methodist Episcopal Church Men's Bible Class, serving on a number of committees, often furnishing transportation to needy people, to go to church or visit their friends. He had no children.

Children info: No children.

Send email to preparer: thegorb@one.net

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