Gordon, James 1828 - 1900

GORDON, STILES

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/19/2012 at 21:44:33

Postville Review, Fri., 20 July 1900.

James Gordon, the subject of this sketch, was born at River Rouge, County of Artime, Province of Quebec, Canada, on the 10th of February, 1828, and died at his home on July 13th, 1900.

His early life until he reached his majority was spent on his fathers farm, where he formed those habits of industry, application and patient struggle with nature's forces that characterized all his after life.

He left the parental home in 1849 to find a larger field of opportunity to expend his energies, and came to Rock County, Wis., where he remained most of the time working on the farm until 1854, when he came to Iowa and purchased the land which now constitutes his family home.

He was married to Nancy Jane Stiles on the 27th of June, 1860. Four children blessed their home. Two, Arthur and Arzette have passed over to the other life.

Mr. Gordon was of Scotch parentage and from them he inherited that strong ruggedness of character which asserted itself throughout his entire life. Possessing that inherent sense of integrity he made no compromises with wrong. To be honest was to him a simple thing. It was in direct line with the moral forces which dominated him. He would have to do violence to his very nature to be otherwise. To live in an atmosphere of deception or dishonesty would have been unbearable. His whole life was one of ceaseless activity. He found no time to waste. To him every moment had a value. To him idleness assumed the character of crime and injustice to one's self and to the world. And yet he had a large social side to his nature and enjoyed the society of his friends and neighbors, but never permitted any enjoyment to interfere with the performance of duty.

We, who pen these lines, knew him intimately, and have been associated with him during the greater part of his life in many and varied relations, always found him true to his best and highest convictions.

His death was a painful one. Stricken with a disease that has but one sequela, he battled with the disorganizing forces of nature with all the tenacity that characterized him in all his other struggles in life. Yet he had no fear of death. He looked the approaching change squarely in the face and accepted all its results with patience and resignation. All that medical aid could do, or the sympathy and help of friends and neighbors was of no avail. And while we cannot hold back the grief and sadness that wells up in our hearts at his death, we at the same time do not dare to check the feeling of relief that comes from the consciousness that he is at rest.

His work is done, and we think we hear the voice coming out from the heart of the infinite Spirit of the universe, saying, "Come and rest, thou weary, tired child, in the bosom of everylasting Father. You have done your part, let others take up the thread of life's duties as you have shown them.

A husband, father, friend and neighbor has left us. A subtraction has been made from the sum of honest manhood, but let us not forget that the world has been made better by his having lived. He has left many memories that are pleasant and helpful and it may be that many are here today to pay the last tribute of respect and sympathy, than can recall neighborly acts of kindness in time of trouble when the sky was dark with the clouds of affliction and sorrow, he tried to make the burden a little lighter.-- J.M.

Funeral was conducted by Rev. S. W. Pollard Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home, and was largely attended.

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Note:

James Gordon 1828 - 1900, is listed in the Woodmansee book as buried in Postville cemetery, Area C, Same lot as Nancy.

Copied as published.

Submitter is not related.

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