From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 167-168
 
THOMAS GORE.  This well known old pioneer of Dodge County, Wis., is a native of England, 
born at Wiltshire, January 28, 1828, a son of Joseph and Sarah (BROWN) GORE, who were 
born, reared, educated and married in Wiltshire, England.  Mr. GORE with his family, emigrated 
to the New World in 1850, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Bristol bound for New York City, 
and after an eight-weeks' ocean voyage, during which time they experienced some rough 
weather, they reached their destination.  From that city they came direct to Wisconsin and to 
Waupun, which place they reached October 15, 1850.  Mr. GORE soon afterward purchased a 
tract of wild land in Fond du Lac County, three miles north of Waupun, and on this land he located 
and at once began to clear and improve it.  He made his home there for many years, but spent 
the latter part of his life in Waupun, dying May 4, 1881, at the age of seventy-nine years.  His 
wife's death occurred in 1874.  To them three sons and one daughter were born.  Daniel was a 
substantial farmer of Fond du Lac County, but died in 1851; Thomas (the immediate subject of 
this sketch); Eliza, wife of A. SIMMS, resided in Dodge County, but is now dead; William is a 
resident of Waupun.  The youth and early manhood of Thomas GORE were spent in England and 
there he obtained a good common-school education.  In 1847 he came to the United States, 
landing at Boston, Mass., in which city he spent about one year and a half, where he secured 
employment as a gardener.  In 1849 he returned to England and moved back to this country with 
his parents in 1850, and spent the winter of that gardening, and gain came West the following 
fall.  In the spring of 1852 he again went back to Massachusetts, where he remained two and a 
half years, at the end of which time he returned to Wisconsin, purchased land in Dodge County, 
about three and a half miles south of Waupun, and after tilling their forty-acre tract for several 
years, sold out and purchased 120 acres in the same neighborhood.  He improved this farm with 
excellent buildings, and after residing on the same until 1865 sold it and moved to Fond du Lac 
County, where he purchased a 160 acre tract.  This place was located four and a half miles north 
of Waupun, and there he continued to make his home until 1875, improving it greatly in the mean 
time, then rented the place, moved to Waupun, bought lots and erected thereon a substantial and 
pretty residence, in which he has since made his home.  He is a worthy example of what a poor 
boy can accomplish when actuated by a desire to rise in the world, and his career is well worthy 
of emulation.  He was married in Wiltshire, England, in June 1850, to Miss Hannah DEVERELL, 
and although they have had no children of their own they have reared and educated an orphan 
boy and a niece, who are both now married and settled in life.  Mr. GORE has identified himself 
with the Republican party, but has never been a optical aspirant.  He is well known in Dodge and 
Fond du Lac Counties, where he has lived for forty-four years, and by his correct mode of living 
has gathered around him numerous friends.  His wife is a member of the Congregational Church.
 
William GORE, brother of Thomas, was born in Wiltshire, England, May 3, 1839, and when 
eleven years old was brought to this country by his parents.  He grew to manhood in Fond du Lac 
County, receiving a good common-school education, and until he attained his majority, assisted 
his father on the farm.  He then took entire charge of the place, in time succeeded to the old 
homestead, and there was actively and successfully engaged in tilling the soil up to 1874.  He 
built and made some valuable improvements on the place, but rented out the farm in the above-
mentioned year and bought residence property in Waupun, where he has since resided.  In 1882 
he engaged in the mercantile business, established a general store, and did an excellent 
business for about three years, when he sold out and has since been retired.  He was married in 
Fond du Lac, January 1, 1861, to Miss Wealthy E. NEWELL, who was born in Paynesville Ohio, 
but was reared and educated in Fond du Lac County.  To their union two children have been 
given: W. D. C., who is in the mercantile business in Waupun, is married and has a family, and 
Nellie, who is the wife of J. S. MORRIS, a prominent business man of Waupun.  Mr. GORE has 
been a widower since August 28, 1885.  Politically Mr. GORE has always been a Republican, and 
his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and for every Republican 
nominee since that time.  He has held a number of local official positions, and discharged his 
duties in an able, faithful and conscientious manner.  He has ever been a patron of education and 
a stanch friend of the public school system, and in the capacity of school director ever used his 
influence to secure competent instructors.  He is one of the foremost citizens of Dodge County, a 
man of unblemished reputation, and has many warm personal friends.
 
Submitted by Carol