William R. Gorsline

William Richard Gorsline (January 28, 1824 – March 30, 1879) was an associate justice of the Colorado Territorial Supreme Court from 1866 to 1870. He previously served as a circuit court judge in Wisconsin and a district judge in Colorado.

The Honorable
William R. Gorsline
Justice of the Supreme Court of the Colorado Territory
In office
1866–1870
Appointed byAndrew Johnson
Preceded byCharles F. Holly
Succeeded byJames B. Belford
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 4th circuit
In office
June 1, 1855 – July 1858
Preceded byTimothy O. Howe
Succeeded byDavid Taylor
Personal details
Born(1824-01-28)January 28, 1824
Manlius, New York
DiedMarch 30, 1879(1879-03-30) (aged 55)
Denver, Colorado
Resting placeWildwood Cemetery, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic

Early life

Gorsline was born in Manlius, New York, on January 28, 1824. He was orphaned and an uncle raised him. He did well in school and began studying law in his hometown. In 1845, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, and continued studying law with Frank Randall and was admitted to the bar later that year. He then opened up his own law office in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 1845 and 1846, he served as the register of deeds for Sheboygan County.[1]

From 1850 to 1851, he served as a county judge in Sheboygan County. Then from about 1851 to July 1858, he served as the third judge of the fourth judicial circuit of the state of Wisconsin. At that time, he resigned and moved to Colorado.[1]

Career in Colorado

In Colorado, Gorsline settled in Gilpin County[2] and established a law practice. In 1860, President James Buchanan appointed him district judge, a position to which President Andrew Johnson later reappointed him. On June 18, 1866, President Johnson appointed him to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Colorado. He served on the court until 1870.[1][3]

Death

Gorsline died in Denver on March 2, 1879. He is buried in Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan.[4][5]

References
  1. Anderson, James Sibree (1921). Pioneer courts and lawyers of Manitowoc County, Wis. : collections and recollections. Manitowoc, Wis.: The Manitowoc Pilot. pp. 33–36. hdl:2027/wu.89067401695.
  2. Smiley, J.C.; Goudy, F.C. (1913). Semi-centennial History of the State of Colorado. Semi-centennial History of the State of Colorado. Brookhaven Press. p. 654. ISBN 978-1-4035-0045-8. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  3. Logan, J.K.; Hemming, J.T. (1992). The Federal Courts of the Tenth Circuit: A History. The Federal Courts of the Tenth Circuit: A History. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. p. 44. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  4. "State matters". The Fort Collins Courier. Vol. 1, no. 87. 1879-03-06. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. "Personal", The Oshkosh Northwestern (March 5, 1879), p. 4.
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