The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-01-17
Jersey City Loses In Him
One of Her Most Public
Spirited Citizens.
FATHEROF THE FREE LIBRARY
A Soldier at Seventeen He
Served in the Civil War
Facts of His Career.

.
After an illness Of three months of
disease of the arteries, DR.. Leonard ].
Gordon of the best-known and most
highly respected citizens of Jersey City
passed away this morning at his home,
No. 11415 Mercer street. The end came
peacefully and the deceased was sur
rounded by his brother and two sisters.
The funeral arrangements have not as
yet been completed. Out of respect for
the departed, flags are at half mast from
the poles of nearly all the prominent
buildings. The Free Public Library will
be closed the day of the funeral BY order
of the Director of the Board of Trustees.
DR. Leonard James Gordon, son of
Philip and Letitia Gordon, was born in
New York City, April 16, 1914. The
family removing TO Jersey City in 1850,
young Leonard became pupil in old
No | school, then as now under the care
of Prof G. Fl. Lindsey, to whose wise
instruction he often referred with love
and pride. After leaving No he at
tended tne New York Free Academy,
now the College Of the City Of New
York.
At the breaking out of the civil war
in 1861, he enlisted in the seventy-frst
Regiment of New York. wearing shoul-
der straps at the age Of seventeen. His
enlistment expiring, he was appointed
adjutant in the Sixth New Jersey Regi-
ment, resignlng his commission on the
death of his elder brother.
At one time he was secretary for Dam
iel Drew. After this he engaged in Mer-
camille pursuits, being in the meantime
Register of Water Works Of Jersey City,
until 1872, when he took up the study Of
medicine at Bellevue College, gradnat-
ing from that institution in 1875. After
two years practice he entered the firm
of p. Lorillard s. Co. as chemist, remain
ing in this position seventeen years.
In 1889 DR.. Gordon was appointed a
trustee of the Free Public Library, and
at the organization meeting he was cleo
ted President Of the Board Of Trustees,
an office he administered with marked
ability and entire deyotedness until his
death. He was appointed Director, or
Superintendent of the Library in 1901,
and thereafter gave all his time and SER
vices to that institution which was truly
his creation more than that of any other
one man.
He was a man Of many and varied
activities, but the crowning work of his
life was that which he did for the Free
Public Library, and the beautiful build
ing on Jersey avenue is his lasting monu-
ment.
Dr.. Gordon was what may be called
rare man. Fearless in what he thought
was right, in whatever he undertook, he
was power to be reckoned with. He
had a great heart. No deserving needy
person ever applied to him for aid but
was relieved, nor did he s.let his left
hand know what his right hand did .
1t is not only those connected with the
library who feel that they have met with
an irreparable loss.
Doctor Gordon had filed many public
offices. Besides being President of the
Library, he was while at I4orillard's,
President of the Board of Health, and
at the time Of his death was President
of the Palma Club. He was also a mem
ber of Loyal Legion. New York Com
mandry of Van Houten Post, g. a. r.,
Of the Carteret Club and the Chi Psi
Fraternity.