The Russellville Democrat., 1884-02-07
BIRTHDAY HAPPINESS.

ans sun, Jan. asth.

Goth Birthday.
Grcenville ml.) sun. Jan. asth.
The residence Of Dir. James Cor
don was the scene Of joy and merri-
ment on Tuesday Of last week The
children OF the Doctor had planned
surprise party for that day, which
was his Goth birthday. Dinser was
served at o'clock and the family as
1t sa. at the table consisted Of the
following: Mr.. and Mrs. James Cor
don and five children, and Mrs. Eliz-
abeth Wilson and five children; of
Greenville; Mr.. and Mrs. John H.
Gordon and five children. of Poca.
hontas; Mr.. and Mrs. w. P. Gordon
and four children, Of Ramsey; Mr..
and Mrs. j. +. Gordon and two chill
dren, Of Carlyle; also Mr.. and Mrs.
Thos. Stevens and four children, Of
Pocahontas. All these belong to the
Gordon family except the Stevenses.
One son, DR.. Madison Gordon, who
is located at Clement, was unable to
be present. He sent letter stating
that he had tour or five bad cases of
pneumonia on hand and it would not
be safe for him to leave. Five Of the
Doctors grandchildren were also
absent, two being in Texas and three
of them were two young to venture
out in the cold.
After dinner, about o'clock, the
Doctor was conducted into his parlor
and again made the victim Of a sur
prise. An entire suit of clothing, in
cluding silk hat, boots, collars, shirts,
ETC., was presented him, a very appro-
pirate little presentation speech be-
ing made by j. T. Gordon, as follows:
DEAR FATHER--I have the honor
and it affords me the greatest pleas
ure, to speak the overfowing feelings
OF love and gratitude Of your chill
dren, grandchildren and friends as
sembled on this occasion, your Goth
birthday; and as further token Of
our long cherished affection we pre-
sent you these mementos, not because
we deem, it necessary IN order to re-
tain your fatherly love and counsel,
for the past years of your patient la
Dor and seif-sacrifice have fully dem
onstrated that you will never be found
wanting on your part; but 1t is more
fully to remind you, If possible, Of
our continued and everlasting graft
tude. And now, dear mother, by
looking among these mementos you
will find that you have not been for.
gotten; and for every unkind word
or expression to either of you from
us we now deeply deplore them, and
know that you will freely forgive US.
May you both live to enjoy many
more such occasions with u.s."
During the festivities it was sug-
gested that the family get weighed.
They all repaired to the warehouse
OF A. Breuchaud and it was found
that all together pulled the beam at
3,l65 pounds, while Mr.. and Mrs.
James Gordon a daughter and two
sons weighed 1,03l.
In the evening the Doctor had q
call to see a patient in the country.
1t was lady sick with infammatory
and her chances OF re-
covery were exceedingly slim. 1t
was decided that the Doctor and his
three sons, all Of whom are also ply
sicians, attend in body. The array
OF medical talent had a good effect
on the lady and she is now almost
we'll. The Doctor remarked faceti-
ously that such an army ought to kill
or cure and he was happy to say that
the latter was the result.
DR.. Gordon has been twice mar
ried. BY the first union he became
the father of twelve children and by
the second ten. Seven of his sons
studied and practiced medicine, but
three Of them are dead. He has ten
children now living. The Doctor is
native Of Alabama, having been
born in Huntsville, 1878. He studi
ed three years for the ministry, but
afterwards concluded 10 turn his at
tention to medicine and took up his
studies in Memphis where he grad
uated. He practiced in Mississippi
and Arkansas until 1864 when he
moved to Illinois, settling down in
jamestown. In 1870 he came to this
city and has built up an extensive
practice.
The wish of the Sun is that the
Doctor and his extensive family may
enjoy many more reunions like the
one of last week.