The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-02
PLANS HIS FUNERAL
Brig. Gen. Gordon, Former Resident
of Minnesota, Soldier and Writer,
Dies in Los Angeles.
In Will Makes Specific Arrangements
for Simple Coffin and Unpre-
tentiOus Funeral.

The following account OF the death
of H. L. Gordon appeared in one OF
the Los Angeles papers. Mr.. Gordon
was we'll known writer and was
author of "The Feast of the Virgins"
pauline" and a number Of Indian
poems:
II agree with the Chinese philoso-
pher, Better give a cup OF water to
the living than feast to the dead .
said Hanford Lennox GordonS time
well-known criminal lawyer, author,
Indian fighter and 'Origadier-general,
in his will, filed for probate yesterday.
Gen. Gordon died in this city on the
18th inst, at the home Of his daugh-
ter, Mrs May Gordon Brassey Of 1868
West Washington street, at the age of
S3 years, after forming minute direc-
tions regarding his funeral. He left
an estate valued at nearly $50,000
His foregoing quotation follows di-
rectons regarding his burial: ~ will
and direct that my remains >be buried
in the cheapest and poorest suit Of
clothes in my possession at the time
of my death. If l have better clothes,
let them benefit the living.
81 direct that be buried in straight
redwood box Cor coffin) of two-inch
sound redwood planks, free from sap
wood, and of the following dimensions,
to-wit: Six feet long by two feet two
inches wide, and one foot eight inches
high, and that it have no plates or
handles thereon.
81 want my old friends, Frank M.
Parcher of Hudson Court, Hollywood,
and John Stephen, head Of the Rose
dale Granite company, to have full
charge of my funeral
In another clause in the will Gen.
Gordon directed that the funeral shall
not cost more than $500, saying, II
desire the cheapest funeral possible
and burial without the service Of any
priest or clergyman" He directs that
the family lots atRosedalc cemetery be
held forever by his heirs, through his
executors, Frank NJ. Parcher and his
son, William w. Gordon, and that his
body be laid along the west side of
the burial monument with his head
towards the north,
Gen. Gordon had been resident Of
Los Angeles since 1890. He held con-
siderable real estate, at one time own
ing the property where the Hotel
Clark now stands, the Gordon building
on Second street and Broadway, prop
erty on Hooper avenue and several
nearby ranches.
The deceased became lawyer in
New York and later practiced in Min
nesota. He was at one time attorney
for James J. Hill, who built the Great
Northern railroad IN the civil war
he organized the First Minnesota VOL
unteer regiment and was an officer.
Later he engaged in the Sioux IN
diean war and was made brigadier-
general by President Grant He was
later made a member of the Sioux
tribes. In late years he had written
several books, among them "Laconics,"
"Indian Legends and Other Poems"
He leaves three children, Huntley
L. Gordon, rancher Of Artesia; May
Gordon Brassey, daughter, of 1868
West Washington street, and William
w. Gordon, capitalist Of this city.
The will directs that the estate be
given to relatives and friends, in be-
quests Of from 800 to $500, and if
there is any residue, it be used to pay
the inheritance taxes on the requests.
He directed that no one shall be buried
in the family burial lots except his
descendants and those Of his children,
Especially not my spn-in-law, DR.. AL
fred H. Hedderly, nor either Of my
former wives, now divorced"