Henry I. Gourley served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from 1890 to 1893.

Early life

Henry Irvin Gourley was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania

Juniata County, Pennsylvania

Juniata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 24,636. Juniata County was created on March 2, 1831, from part of Mifflin County and named for the Juniata River. Its county seat is Mifflintown....

 in 1838 to a peasant family. Because of his families inability to support themselves he was sent early in life to a farm in Pine Township, Pennsylvania

Pine Township, Pennsylvania

Pine Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Pine Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania*Pine Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania*Pine Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania...

 in Allegheny County, where he displayed a great work ethic and eventually became a school teacher. In 1876 he was elected to City Council.

Pittsburgh politics

Mayor Gourley took office in 1890 and his reputation for hard and honest work served him well in city hall. His term was noted for the trust it engendered in Pittsburgh residents. After he left office he served as city controller before his death in 1899. He is buried in Homewood Cemetery

Homewood Cemetery

Homewood Cemetery is a historic, nonsectarian burial ground in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Squirrel Hill and is bordered by both Frick Park and the neighborhood of Point Breeze....

.