The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-05-16
IN THE PRIME OF HIS LIFE.
DEATH OF HON. JOHN r. GORDON.
An Ancestry Noted For Longevity-Early
Life and Education-In Ofhcial Posi-
tions When Young-His Later
Years-Sickness and Death.

GEEENcAsTLE, May Especial. THE Hon.
John R Gordon, of this city, died at noon to-
day. He had been complaining few days be-
lore the state convention, and while at Indian
apolis Wednesday and Thursday of that week
was not feeling at all well. He came home
Thursday evening of the 18th of April, and on
Friday morning went to his Office and was
seized with a chill. Heswas taken home III
carriage and went to bed, from which time he
continued to grow worse. He was hopeful,
until very recently, and expected to be out in
few days. His disease was typhoid pneu-
monia-
John +. Gordon was born near cambridge,
Putnam county, Indiana, in 1S4S. His paternal
grandfather served in the war of 1872, and the
one on the maternal side was in the COntinen-
tai army and saw the great surrender of Corn
wallis to Gen. Washington, at Yorktown.
Mr.. Gordon, during his life, saw all of his
grandparents and a great-grandfather, all of
whom lived TO very old age, the average
length OF life being eighty-hye years. His
father and mother are living and are beyond
MISREPRESENTATION His ancestors were dis
tinguished not only for longevity, but by the
further fact that they were pioneers in the
western movement in civilization, starting from
Maryland, Pennsylvania, the Virginias and the
Carolinas. Mr.. Gordon received his primary
education principally at the cambridge acad-
-
University, in 1872 He was then made princi-
pal of the public schools of cambridge. In the
spring of 1873 he was appointed assessor and
real estate appraiser for his township the first
under the new assessment Law passed that year.
and he experienced some of the difficulties of
inaugurating the new system contemplated by
that law. Before he had completed the duties
indicated in the foregoing paragraph he
was, in June 1873, elected Superintendent
OF the schools of his native county, likewise
the first officer in that position under the new
law passed that year providing therefor. In
less than year from the time OF his graduation
he had occupied these three important posi-
tons. As county superintendent he was like
wise called upon to inaugurate new system
In the schools of the county, under the new
law, which is an enduring monument tol the
ability and craftsmanship of Milton ID. Hop
kins. At the close of his term of Office as
county superintendent Mr.. Gordon was again
selected as the principal OF the cambridge
public schools, which position he filled with
ability and energy for two years, or until early
in the year 1877, when he began the practice of
the law. This has been his chief occupation,
devoting some attention to farming, a pursuit
which he loved and In which he was reared.
In 1882 he was elected to the lower house of
the state legislature and again in 1884 and
once more in 1886. He served his constituents
with distinguished ability and was ore of the
leaders of his side of the chamber. He was
pleasant speaker, atfable, courteous and strong
in debate, and as a law-maker he developed
wonderful aptitude, being the originator of
several of the most important laws upon the
statute books. He recently refused to become
candidate for fourth term in the legislature.
He was elected chairman of the Putnam county
democratic central committee within the last
few months and at the last democratic state
convention, April %, was chosen chairman of
the democratic state central committee. Mr..
Gordon was married Dec. 5, 1874, to Miss Matte
A. Danell of Bainbridge. His funeral will take
place tomorrow at Greencastle at 80 y. m.