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Samuel A. Gordon (1911)

ANDREWS, GORDON, GOWIN, HAXTON, PETTITT, ROMESHA, SILVERTHORN

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 12/29/2015 at 09:53:36

The Adair Free Press
March, 1911

DEATH OF SAMUEL A. GORDON

The Death of this Man Marks the Passing of Another Pioneer

Samuel A. Gordon was born in Ripley county, Indiana July 23rd, 1820, and died at the home of his daughter Mrs. George Romesha, Greenfield, Iowa, March 9th, 1911 at 10:30 A. M. aged 81 years 8 months 16 days.

About two years ago Father Gordon suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he never fully recovered.

Samuel A. Gordon was married to Miss Nancy Jane Gowin of Ripley County, Indiana September 12th, 1850.

In the summer of 1852 this young husband and wife left their home in Indiana and on October 15th settled in Madison county Iowa near Winterset where for 25 years they made their home.

In 1878 they moved to Adair county nine miles south of Greenfield and nine years ago came to Greenfield where they continued to reside until the time of his death.

When President Lincoln called for 300,000 volunteers in August 1862, the subject of the sketch together with his brother, Jonathan Gordon of Winterset enlisted in Company F, 39th Iowa Infantry. After one year's service he was honorably discharged on account of disability brought on by a siege of typhoid fever.

To Father and Mother Gordon were born thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy and one died at the ago of fourteen years.

Following are the names of the children aged in the order named.

Mrs. Girzille Haxton, Orient, Iowa; Mrs. Oline Pettitt, Silver City, Iowa; Irwin W. Gordon, Des Moines, Iowa; John M. Gordon, Dexter, Iowa; Lincoln H. Gordon, Greenfield, Iowa; Samuel E. Gordon, Orient, Iowa; U. S. Gordon, Canova, South Dakota; Mrs. Eva D. Silverthorn, Greenfield, Iowa; Mrs. Mittie Andrews, Omaha, Nebraska; Mrs. Geo. Romesha, Greenfield, Iowa.

He also has 44 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild, all living, this reaching the fifth generation, making a total of 64 grandchildren.

At the age of 21 Mr. Gordon united with the Christian church in Indiana. He was a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Christian church in Greenfield but never became a member of this congregation, but was in full faith and sympathy with the church.

He was a man of generous impulse, obliging as a neighbor and friend, strictly honorable in his dealings with his fellow man and was a worthy citizen in every sense of the word.

The death of Father Gordon marks the passing of one of our Iowa pioneers. He and his wife knew what it was to suffer the hardships of pioneer life.

His good wife who mourns his death was his companion for sixty and a half years and when her husband answered his country's call for volunteers was left with the care of the farm and six children, the eldest only 12 years and a girl, and their home was a little log cabin of only one room. Mr. Gordon spent his life on a farm where by his industry, economy and good management, accumulated quite a comfortable estate and was recognized as one of our well to do citizens.

The funeral services were held at the Christian church Sunday, March 12th at 10 a. m. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. B. S. Denny of Des Moines and Judge Samuel I. Gordon of Omaha, a cousin of the deceased gave an address in behalf of the G. A. R. The burial was in the beautiful cemetery at Greenfield and was in charge of the G. A. R. Post of Greenfield, about thirty of whom were present in a body. The casket was covered with the stars and strips and was bourne by six soldiers of the G. A. R. The house was packed with friends of the family and the floral offerings profuse, and unusually attractive and appropriate. All of his children except U. S. of Conova, South Dakota and Irwin of Des Moines were present.

Other relatives at the funeral from a distance were Judge Samuel I. Gordon of Omaha and his brother Jonathan and wife of Winterset.

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