The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18
COLONEL SAM GORDON.

The big subject of this small sketch
was born in 1s4s in New York City. He
was named after Uncle SAM by his
father. who loved his country n voted
with the Henry Clay whigs-in the cir
Gle. The infant was also named sam"
because II was easy to boiler. and could
be heard down at the vacant lot where
ne was wont to put in a great deal of
time playing zone old cat" He was not
provided with a middle name. but has
never experienced any difficulty In get
ting his mail on that account His
father rightly figured out that there
would be only m sam Gordon.
The youth put a solid rock founda-
ton under his structure Of knowledge,
at the public schools. New York had a
pretty fair school marin that winter.
Unlike many of the great men we hear
of now adays. Sam was not edu-
Gated for the priesthood. but he plugged
along with McGuffey's reader and San
ders' speller as his guides and counsel
lors until thirteen. when he took up
the rough and rocky road of a news
paper carrier and from the start earned
his board and keep. II was the live
Hest III of a livelihood. for he had to
be up at 4 a. m. and keep on the jump
until time to go to school. IL was while
at this Job he acquired h ardent n
passionate fondness for home cooking
that has been his mainstay and sheet
anchor during the notable journalistic
career which followed.
At n Sam struck out for the
West and made his way straight to
81 Paul. MINI. though travelling was
anything but good that spring. His
brother. who had preceded him, had
written such glowing accounts Of the
West, that Sam was undecided. at the
x.art .rEAfHor 80 co into eh, phnlaGnlp
business or 10 open up a gold mine.
He compromised by going into the re-
tail trade with Commodore kittson-
as GRAND boy. In 1861 he concluded TO
return 10 the scenes of his earlier
~endeavors. So, packing n big car
pet satchel full Of Indian trinkets n
n large and varied collection OF eN-
perience. he hit the trail for New York.
Here he entered the office of the INDIE
pendent. joe Richards was then pub
Usher and. not wishing to deprive a
man with n family of his job. Sam took
the position Of office boy. The remun-
Grafton in money was not large. but
the pleasure and experience he gained
in coming in close contact with such
mel as Horace Greeley. Thurlow Weed.
william LLOYD Garrison. Henry Ward
Beecher and other celebrities. will be
worth big money To him II he ever finds
the time to write the "reminiscences Of
those days in that graceful style and
clear diction SO characteristic OF his
flowing pen.
Sam remained I'm these e~levating sur
roundings for three wears. hen be
concluded to take hold IND help run
the government. He was sent as quar-
fermaster's clerk to Fort Abercrombie,
then the extreme military outpost Of the
Northwest. In sc he was transferred
to 81. Paul. when he threw up his job.
This was not done in a moment Of pc
tulency or pique at the manner in
which the government was running
things. He had an offer from A. ".
Wilder which was more inviting. He
became thai distinguished gentleman's
confidential man. and for a stretch Of
fourteen years was closer TO that ex-