Weekly journal-miner., 1909-08-11
PIONEER BORDEN PASSES FROM
 EARTH
Former Resident Of Prescott Died In
 California
lFrom Tuesdays paily)

TelegrGms reached Prescott Sunday from Hanford, California, conveying the sad news that F. M. Gorden had passed away Saturday evening. F The deceased will be remembered as a resident of this city up to a few weeks ago, when appreeiating his feeble condition and anticipating that the end was drawing near, he requested his son, F. NJ. Gorden, to return him to the old homestead at Hanford that the end of life .s jour ney, might take place among the familiar scenes. His wish was grati- fled and he lived about two weeks thereafter. MT. GOrden was nearly S6 years of age. He reached Calf Grnia late in 1s49, and. incredible as it may seem he walked every foot of the way from Texas, and was ae- companied in that long tiresome and dangerous journey by one man only, David Shepard. The latter some years ago crossed the great divide, a fact which in his last days MT. Cor den recalled in a reminiscent mood and he told of how he and his loyal companion passed through where prae- tieally the line of the Santa Fe rail road runs today.
 He said that as they journeyed they met John c. Fremont, and it was the most fortunate circumstance in their life up to that time. They received from the Pathfinder food and other necessities, including ammunition, and also advice as to what route they should follow. By observing this advice they were permitted to reach civilization.
 MT. Gorden selected a little place near HanfOrd, where he says he went into camp for "keeps," as he term red it. It was strange coincidence that in his death and burial he will be laid away where in 1S49, he first drove the stake that marks his home stead on the Pacific.
 When the civil war broke out, his patriotic ardOr was again in evi- denee, and with others, he began the march back, reaching some months later, the state of Georgia, his birth place. His sympathies were with the South. and he shouldered a gun in her defense. At the close of the war fhe was mustered out with the rank of a major. He then returned to the Pacific and followed many lines of business, but eentering his in terests around the strip of ground that he located near Hanford.
 When a young man, g years of age he joined the Free Masons, and up to the time of his death retained membership in that order, closing sixty-three years of an unbroken membership. s@ t.- MT GOrden arrived in Prescott about 20 years ago, remained for some time, and returned as usual to his old place. A few years ago his health began to fail, and last March his symptoms indicating rapid de- cline, he was brought here, in the hope that a change of climate would benefit him.
 A change for the better did take place, but it was only temporary. He began to decline, and his last trip was made to the old home, where ne passed away as if in sleep.
 MT. Gorden's wife preceded him in death many years ago. Of the family many are alive and of several gen erations. Of his sons there are J. F. Gorden of Hanford, who was with him at the end, and R. H. Gorden of this city. His daughters are Mrs. Kate Simpson of Prescott, and Mrs. Anna Price of Berlin, New Jersey. Of his grandchildren there are Mrs. George Heisler and Mrs. Ed. Roberts of this city, and Misses Amy Boyd, Blanche and Dolly Gorden of Han ford, California. His great grand children number eleven, of whom there are Lee, Lem, and Mayo Simp- son of Prescott, while the remaining eight are scattered throughout the east and west
 MT. Gorden was buried Sunday evening. and his remains placed by those of his wife.