The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-21

l.
Cord0n 4 number of distinctions.
Members of his family claim that he
is the only grandfather of Civil war
veteran now living: that he is ting last
surviving member of the Indiana
state constitutional convention OF
1850, and he is one of few, if not the
only man, living today who heard
revolutionary war stories from his
grandfather who took part in it. Jan
uary % viii be Mr.. Gordon's 10lst
birthday.
Grandfather in Revolution.
MY grandfather, George Gordon of
Cumberland Pa, was a soldier in the
American revolution" related Mr..
Gordon recently. at was my great
uncle, William Armstrong. who cap
tured the six Hessians and took them
into Washington's camp, and said IN
reply to the generals question as to
how he captured them: Faith, l sur
rounded them I recall as a boy
hearing my grandfather tell Of this
and other incidents of the Revolution
AIRY war"
The attainment of an extreme old
age is a matter of much satisfaction
toe. this centenarian, because earlier
inalfe-76 years ago to be exact-Mr.
Gordon was in ill health. He was
compelled To give up the practice of
law on which he was just embarkinG,
at Newton, III. An overland trip to
Texas-during which he had typical
experiences Of the wild West such
as getting caught in a buffalo SIAM
pede and being chased by Indians
improved his health so much that he
decided to take up farming.
Never Had Debt Worries.
4 attribute my longevity largely to
my temperate habits and an active
outdoor life" said Mr.. Gordon. "Aiso
to the fact that I always have made
TO Of nbt
avoid worrying"
Mr.. Gordon has never used tobacco
or intoxicating liquors. He always
has been \ great reader and has taken
an active part in political campaigns
tho never has been a candidate for
the progress of the age with approval.
But there are some present day
systems of which I do not approve
he asserted emphatically. Il refer to
style of women's dress-short skirts,
low neclKed dresses; also this bobbed
thing else l deplore the growing lack
of observation of the Sabbath day.
That grieves me"
Was school Teacher First.
Mr.. Gordon united with the church
in 1871. He is a Mason. He was born
in Warren county, Ohio, near SPRING
boro, January %, 1921. He moved to
Sullivan county in 1885 and received
his education at Miami university and
Wabash college, but left school be-
fore graduating. He was married to
Sarah Fillmore Dunn of Crawford
vile, Ind, September %, 1882. To
this union nine children were born.
He lost two sons in the Civil war
members of the 4th and 23rd Iowa in
fantry. His living children are Mrs.
Daniel S. Weideman, Eldorado, Kan
Miss Laura NJ. Gordon, Mrs. Emma
L. Badger. Mrs. Alice Kalb. all of
Eureka, Kan; Mrs. Hypatia B. Hart.
Seattle, Wash, and Mrs. Lizzie F
Johnson. Denver. He has nine living
grandchildren, twenty great-grand
children, and four great-great- grand
children. State Senator Gordon A.
Badger of Eureka is a great grandson,
School teaching was Mr.. Gordon's
first occupation-at Monmouth, III.
He studied law and in 1914 was ad-
nitted to the bar
When elected to represent Howard
and Cass counties, Indiana, in the con-
stitutional convention in 1850, he was
moved overland to a farm near Red
u Oak. Ia He was elected to the Iowa
legislature in 1852. After the close
of the Civil war he moved to- near
Pleasant Hill. Two years later. he
moved to Kansas
Mr.. Gordon has lived in the life
time of every president except Wash
ington and has voted at every presi-
Dental election in eighty years. ex-
cept one. Mr., Gordon still has most
of his natural teeth and put on
glasses only few years ago.
------------- N-----------