The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-08-03
The Late Basil B. Gordon.


who died Monday at his camp in the Ad-
irondacks took place Thursday from En-
manuel Protestant Episcopa church. Bal
timore, and the interment wasin Green
mont Cemetery. Bishop pam. Randolph,
of Virginia, and Rev. J. HOutsOn Eccles-
ton conducted the services
While Mr.. Gordon had been in failing
health for a considerable time his last
illness began with an attack at Atlantic
City in June Of this year. He went 70
the Adirondacks in the hope Of being
benefited. but soon afterward the death
Of his mother occurred at Atlantic City,
on June y. Her sudden end was a
great shock to him and his condition be-
came gradually more serious. Blood
poisoning finally set in and hastened his
death. His wife, his sisters and his
brother were with him when he passed
away.
LEADER ~ VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Mr.. Gordon was the oldest surviving
child of the late Douglass Hamilton Cor
don and Anne Eliza Gordon his mother
having been Miss Peasants. He was
born on oct. -, 1860, at the home of
his parents in fredericksburg, Va. He
was educated by private tutors and at
John Hopkins University. He then stud
led law and political economy. He served
in the General Assembly OF Virginia Tor
eight years. In 1889 he was made chair
man Of the Democratic State Central
Committee He was a delegate 10 the
National Conventions Of 1883 and 1892,
the last time being also the Virginia
member on the National Committee. sue
ceeding the late Senator Barbour.
Not long after his successes in the field
Of politics Mr. Gordon abandoned public
life and devoted his attention to his
large business interests.
Mr.. Gordon married about eight years
ago his wife, who survives him, being
Miss Leila Sinclair Montague, the daugh-
ter Of Mr.. W. Powhatan Montague and
granddaughter of Commodore Arthur
Sinclair. Their children are Basil b.
Gordon. five years old; Leila, three years;
and infant twins, who were born only
five weeks ago, while Mr. and Mrs. Cor
don were at Atlantic City.
Before making his home in Baltimore
Mr. Gordon resided at Wakefield Manor,
the county seat of the Gordon family, in
Rappahannock county, Va. 1t is place
of l.. 900 acres and was left to him and
Mr. Douglas II. Gordon, his only living
brother. Had Mr.. Gordon turned his at
tention to literature instead OF politics
the manor would have fulfilled the first
intention of its owner, that OF a literary
retreat, but the active life which he en-
tered took him away from its fields and
groves.
Mr.. Gordon came of a distinguished
family. His father, Douglas Hamilton
Gordon, was a prominent man in Nir-
ginia. Mr.. D. II. Gordon lived in Fred
ericksburg, Va, and gave largely TO the
Confederate cause during the Civil war,
prior to which be had been a member OF
the Virginia General Assembly. He was
asked to become treasurer Of the COnfed-
crate States, but declined the Office. His
first wife was Miss Ellen Clarke, daugh-
ter OF Major Colin Clarke, who resided in
Gloucester county, Va, while his second
wife was Miss Anne Eliza Peasants,
daughter OF John Hampden Peasants,
who founded the Virginia Wing, and
granddaughter of Governor Peasants.
The Gordon family are related also to
the Thomas family of Maryland, and the
Fitzhugh, VOss, Knox and Thorntonfam-
lilies OF Virginia. One of the KnOxes was
blood relation of John Knox, the noted
reformer, and Mrs. Stuart Knox was de-
scended from Kenneth the Second, who
was King of Scotland in S54. On their
fathers side the lineage of the Gordons
il traced back to Lord Kenmuir's family
and the family of Sir Alexander and Lady
Gordon, of Greenlow, Scotland. The re-
lationship Of the family in Virginia is ex-
tensiye.