Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-15
DR.. W. 4. GORDON,
DIES IN CHICAGO
SUPERINTENDENT OF NORTHERN
HOSPITAL AT OSHKOSH, WIS,
SUCCUMBS TO CANCER.
RANKED HIGH AS A DOCTOR.
Served Fifteen Years as Head of Wis
e. consin Institution and Was 63
Years of Age.
FUNERAL TO BE IN OSHKOSH

CHICAGO, Ill, Oct. 12.-Dr W. A.
Gordon, superintendent of the Wisconsin
Northern Hospital for the Insane, died
today at the Chicago hospital His death
was due to cancer which assumed
malignant form seven weeks ago
Since that time he had been under the
treatment of physicians. Two days ago
DR. Gordon went to the Chicago hos
pital. where efforts TO prolong his life
failed.
As an alienist DR.. Gordon ranged with
the most noted in the country and for the
last fifteen years he has been at the
head of the Wisconsin Northern Hos
pital for the Insane, near Oshkosh. Wis.
He was So years old and leaves a
daughter. The funeral will be from the
hospital Of which he was the head.
Sketch of Doctors Life.
DR.. William Alexander Gordon was
born at Washington, Pa, October n,
1916. He was Of Scotch descent and
comes from a family noted for literary
and general intellectual ability. His
father was Rev. Gordon, a Presbyterian
minister and man of considerable
recognition as a scholar, who favored
the abolition movement before the war
Rev. Gordon died in 1857.
DR.. Gordon's paternal grandfather
was Rev. Robinson who for number
of years was 4 pastor in WinnebagO
county. holding charge at Winneconne
and also at Neenah
DR.. W. y. Gordon resided at Wash
ingtOn after his fathers DEATH receiving
his education in a seminary in that city.
When he was about II years of age he
was a clerk in the office of his uncle,
Gov. Pierpont. When he was IS years
old be enlisted in the army at Baltimore,
as a member Of a Maryland cavalry reg
ment, in the Civil war. His mother tried
to secure his release, but the boy did not
want to leave the army and remained
until the close Of the war.
Shortly after the war, Mrs. Gordon
moved to Winneconne with her son. DR..
Gordon entered Rush Medical college III
Chicago, from which institution he was
graduated in 1869. Returning to Winnie
come, he practiced for some time and
then removed to Oshkosh. where he prac
ticed until the building of the new state
hospital for the insane. DR.. Walter
kempster of Milwaukee, the first super
intendent of the institution, had DR..
Gordon for his first assistant.
He remained as first assistant for
about a year and then resumed his pri-
yate practice.
Improved the Hospital
In 1895 he became superintendent of
the Northern State Hospital for the In
sane and under his management many
new features were introduced and added
to the method of the care of the pa
tents. He had the distinction of hav-
ing many of his methods copied by many
other institutions of a like character. He
also had the distinction of holding the
Office longer than any Of his predeces-
sors. He arranged the interior Of the
hospital to make it more pleasant and
cheerful for the patients. secured better
lighting and sanitation and introduced a
new system of taking care of patients,
providing regular exercise for them daily
and otherwise making their lot in life as
pleasant as possible.
DR.. Gordon was married in Oshkosh
i'll 1872 to Miss Helen Jackson daughter
of Joseph Jackson, the first chief of po-
lice and the second mayor Of Oshkosh.
Mr.. Jackson was one of the early set
tiers here in 1888. Mrs. Gordon died
j ebruary 26, 1903.
-Four children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon. but only one survived,
Miss Kate Gordon, graduate of the
Chicago university and an authority
upon psychology.