Biography of Dr. George W Goucher
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| DR. G. W. GOUCHER of Amity, Yamhill county, Oregon, is one of the oldest practicing physicians of this county and has, by a life of devotion to his practice and uniform kindness of heart, endeared himself to the people of this community. He was born in West Virginia, August 26, 1820, and is of French ancestry, who came to the Old Dominion previous to the Revolution. His father, William Goucher, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Miss Sarah Casto in Greenbrier county of the same State. They had nine children, seven sons and two daughters, all of whom attained maturity. Two are now living, James Goucher, of San Francisco, California, and the subject of oar sketch. In 1825 the father died and five years later the mother also expired, leaving the subject of our sketch an orphan at ten years of age. When he arrived at a suitable age he read medicine with Dr. Cutton, of Marietta, Ohio, and attended the Cleveland Medical College, at which he graduated in 1842. He began to practice in Mississippi, where he remained until 1846. He then served in the Mexican war under General Smith, as Assistant Surgeon, and participated in the battles of Monterey, Molino, Del Rey and Buena Vista. After the close of the war he spent a short time in Vera Cruz, when, in 1849, he came to California, via the Isthmus. He mined on the Tuolumne river, at Hawkins' bar, for nearly a year, taking out during that time, considerable gold. His attention was drawn to the great scarcity of potatoes, which sold for fabulous prices, and, accordingly, he turned his attention to the cultivation of the juicy tuber, planting a large tract of land and hoping to realize a fortune from his crop. But, alas, for men's hopes, others had conceived of the same idea and planned in like manner, in consequence of which 'the market was overstocked and immediately reduced the price, causing him to lose heavily on his investment. He had, however, made a very respectable amount of money, as he left with $34,000. He then practiced his profession at San Jose and in Alameda county, and while in the latter place was one of the organizers of the county, being elected its first Assessor, and was elected and served as County Superintendent of Schools and organized the first school districts in the county. In 1864 he removed to Yam Hill county, Oregon, where he began to practice his profession, which he has since continued, treating the sick and suffering of rich and poor alike, all over one of the best counties of Oregon. He has always cheerfully responded to any call of suffering humanity without demanding to know the pecuniary circumstances of those in need of his experience and skill, and has many thousand dollars owing to him which he expects never to receive. It is by such deeds that he has endeared himself to his community, among the future generations of which his name will be handed down as synonymous with all that is humane and great in love to his fellow-men. In 1875 he settled in Amity, where he purchased some property, building on it some houses, among which was a comfortable residence for himself and family, which is surrounded with attractive grounds ornamented with trees and flowering shrubs. The Doctor is also an ordained minister of the Methodist Church South and is thus often privileged to dispense the gospel, that great panacea of sick souls. He has thus been enabled to do much good and has brought to his work the enthusiasts of a devout nature and warm heart. He was married, in 1854, in California, to Miss Delilah Ann Morrison, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Mr. Ephraim. Morrison, a highly respected pioneer of the Golden State. They have had six children, three of whom are living. The eldest son was drowned in Washington when twenty-five years of age. A daughter fell and received injuries from which she died; and the third died of diphtheria. The son, Elma Everett, is now a practicing physician at McMinnville; Nora is the wife of Mr. G. Springer, and resides in Creek City; Delilah is the wife of Mr. Woodson Madox, and resides in Portland. Mrs. Goucher, the faithful wife and devoted mother, died in 1875, leaving her family and many friends to mourn her loss. She was a woman of education and refinement, and possessed many amiable traits of character, which endeared her to a large community. In 1888 the Doctor married Mrs. C. E. Sailing, an estimable lady of this vicinity. Dr. Goucher is a conservative Democrat in politics and is highly esteemedby his constituents, by whom he has been elected Coroner of Polk county, an office which he filled with ability and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned; is now President of the Common Council of Amity. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, in the welfare of which he is deeply interested. Thus is brought to a close the few meager items of a full and complete life, the worth of which is written in characters of gold on many grateful hearts, which, though they beat in silence, beat none the less warmly for his welfare and happiness. Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 704.
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