Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 437

WILLIAM GORDON, one of the very earliest settlers of Muscatine, having for fifty-two years been an honored citizen of that city, is a native of Scotland, and was born in the parish of Keith, Bamffshire, on the 12th of June, 1812. He is a son of John and Margaret ( Ogilvie ) Gordon. His paternal ancestors were descended from the dukes of Gordon, of Gordon Castle, and on his mother's side, he is descended from the Ogilvies, of the Manse of Glenngerrick, who were a distinguished family. " Little of the affluence or splendor of either castle or manse was reflected upon the path of William Gordon. Neither of his parents were in the direct line of inheritance, and their children were early taught to be the architects of their own fortunes." Our subject was accordingly apprenticed at an early age to the carpenter's trade, at which he served a term of five and a half years. After one year spent working as a journeyman, he emigrated to America, being then in his nineteenth year. He sailed from his native land in the sailing-vessel " Universe," for New York. The ship encountered terrific gales, was partially dismasted, and was driven out of her course, but finally made the port of Galveston, then a part of the Mexican Province of Texas. After making necessary repairs they sailed for New York, where they arrived safely after a tempestuous winter voyage of seven weeks and three days, during which time the crew suffered greatly from hunger and thirst, and were for several days in danger of their lives.

On his arrival in New York William sought out James Gordon Bennett, formerly his near neighbor in Scotland, and was by him directed to the shops of Hon. Richard White, where he secured employment. In the course of his work he assisted in the erection of the well-known Astor House, the New Exchange of New York, and the magnificent Catholic Church, of Paterson, N. J. In the summer of 1836 he went to St Louis with his uncle, Adam Ogilvie, where they met friends but did not remain. They pursued their course up the Mississippi, and on the 10th of Aug. of that year landed at what is now Muscatine, but was then only a trading post, known as Bloomington. Only twelve white people were then residents of the town, but the Indians swarmed here by the hundreds. Mr. Gordon and his uncle located at this point, the former being the first carpenter to settle there. He at once engaged in building a town to meet the demands of the rapidly arriving settlers. At that early date there were no sawmills in the country, and consequently no lumber. Material was cut from forest trees, from which timber was hewed, clapboards split and shaved, and floors were made of split slabs hewn down to a surface. Some of the buildings which were erected in this primitive manner are still standing, and have been newly roofed and floored, and covered with sawed clapboards. The frames were so strongly made that they are yet as strong as many of the modern buildings. The first building erected by Mr. Gordon was the Hotel Kinney, then known as the Kinney House, which stood on the present site of Mr. Wallace's business house on Front street.

In the celebrated " Missouri War," so called, Mr. Gordon joined Col. Vanatta's force, was commissioned Lieutenant, and marched to Burlington, but there the regiment was met by a messenger bearing the news that a treaty of peace had been signed by the Hon. Stephen Whicher and others of his colleagues, and the Missouri Commissioners, and the war was over.

On the 20th of Oct., 1840, Mr. Gordon wedded Miss Eliza H. Magoon, their union being celebrated at Bloomington. The lady is a daughter of Isaac and Hannah ( Shaw ) Magoon, was born in Palmer, Mass., and came to Bloomington in 1839. Five children were born of their marriage, one son and four daughters: William A., who served as a soldier in the late war as a member of Company H, 11th Iowa Infantry, was severely wounded April 6, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh, and after several years of intense suffering died on the 8th of July, 1866, when twenty-four years of age ; Adelaide M. is the wife of Capt.John H. Munroe, who was Adjutant on the staff of Gen. McPherson during the late war ; Mary is the wife of Martin L. Mikesell, the present Assistant Postmaster of Muscatine ; Agnes S., who married William M. Kinkade, died in 1885 ; Clara died when thirteen years of age.

In the summer of 1857 Capt. Gordon was elected Sheriff of Muscatine County, running as the Democratic candidate, and was elected by a handsome majority when his party was in a minority. He was twice re-elected and served several years, giving general satisfaction. Mr. Gordon is still a zealous Democrat, but has long been out of politics. His principal business up to 1877 was contracting and building, and many of the finest building in the city, both public and private, were erected under his supervision. Mr. Gordon has always taken an active interest in public improvements, and was one of the stockholders of the Muscatine Western Railroad.

In 1872 our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died on the 8th of August of that year. In 1875 he met with a serious accident while standing on a step-ladder nailing some mouldings to the ceiling of the hall in a house he was finishing: a barrel of hot unslaked lime, fresh from the kiln, was upset above him and fell in his face, which nearly resulted in the loss of his eyesight, and induced a partial paralysis of his right side. He has since nearly recovered his health, but still suffers from imperfect vision. Capt. Gordon adheres to the religious views of his forefathers, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He became a member of the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons in 1843, by joining Iowa Lodge No. 2, of Muscatine, of which he soon became Master. In 1852 he took the chapter degrees in Washington Chapter No. 4, R. A. M., of Muscatine, and in February, 1855, he, with two other Royal Arch Masons, of Washington Chapter, visited Chicago, and received the Red Cross and Templar Knighthood from Apollo Commandery No. 1. The Acolade was conferred by Sir Knight J. V. Z. Blaney, then Eminent Commander. On returning to Muscatine Sir Knight Gordon helped to organize DeMolay Commandery in the State of Iowa. He subsequently filled important offices in both Chapter and Commandery.

Our subject, although in his seventy-fifth year, and having suffered so severely in health until recently, is now remarkably hale and hearty, and takes more active interest than many a young man. In a review of the history of Muscatine County, our subject stands out in bold relief as a prominent and respected representative of the pioneer days of this region.


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