Richard A. Gorsuch
(1894-1954)
Richard A. Gorsuch was born at Bidwell, Fayette County, PA on June 17, 1894, the youngest son of Richard M. and Martha (Minerd) Gorsuch.
Richard grew up not knowing much of his estranged father, and only saw him on rare visits. Once he and his brother Charles went to Vanderbilt, PA to see their father, who was living in a shanty and very sick. In 1912, his father came home one last time, but then left in anger, in the middle of a snowstorm, and the family never saw him again.
Rockwood's Main Street in an old postcard view
In the fall of 1916 Richard obtained employment as a coal miner in Rockwood, Somerset County, PA, and moved there. The following April, his mother also moved to Rockwood, to be near him, bringing her youngest children Charles and Cecelia.
On Aug. 8, 1919, Richard married Blanche Hazel Swarner (1901-1991).
They had a son, David O. Gorsuch.
In August 1924, Richard and Blanche, along with his mother, sister Edna Hyatt and brothers Charles and Carl, were among a crowd of 82 who attended the annual Minerd-Miner Reunion held at Lincoln's grove, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station in Confluence, Somerset County. In an article about the reunion, the Meyersdale Republican reported: "A very successful and pleasant reunion of the Minard family was held ... A fine picnic dinner was partaken of at 12:30 p.m., after L.L. Mountain invoked a blessing." In the article the family name was misspelled as "Gorsage." In 1928, Richard served on a committee to organize the reunion held at Confluence Park.
Richard died in 1954, at the age of 60, of causes unknown. His burial site is not known.
Later, his widow Blanche married Wilson Dewey Pile. She was a co-owner of Farmer Gorsuch's Cloverleaf Market in Lavansville, Somerset County.
Copyright © 2000, 2005, 2007 Mark A. Miner