He was a founder of the Republican party, an anti-slavery activist and a major general and division commander in the Michigan Militia during the years immediately before the American Civil War.

That year he incorporated the institution as the First National Bank of Marshall, and he served as president until retiring in 1898.

[4] Gorham used both positions to recruit, train, and reorganize the militia in anticipation of the Civil War.

He was a Delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1864 and 1868, and served as a Presidential elector from Michigan in 1868, casting votes for the ticket of Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax.

[10] He served as Assistant Secretary of the Interior from March, 1876 to April, 1877, afterwards returning to his banking interests in Marshall.