Thomas
Gordon, at the age of 70 years, an old and one of Port Rowan's most
esteemed citizens, died at his home last Friday after an illness of
about eighteen months, during which time he has been incapacitated on
account of suffering from a stroke of paralysis, from which he never
fully recovered.
Mr. Gordon was a
son of the late Wm. Gordon, and was born in Paris, Ont. When a lad he
came with his parents to Walsingham, the family settling on a farm
near Silver Hill. He had up till this time lived at home, helping to
clear the farm, and had reached the age of 17 years when the Civil War
broke out in the United States.
He decided to
enlist and with a friend left home and joined the 1st Wisconsin
Company A Heavy Artillery. He was in several sharp engagements, was
wounded twice and invalided home before the war ended, and for a
number of years has been a pensioner of the United States government.
Coming to Port
Rowan when he was [23] years old, he entered the shop of the late John
Baker and learned the blacksmith trade. He followed that calling until
about fifteen years ago, when he sold out and bought a hotel business
in Straffordville. After two years he moved to Vittoria, where he kept
a hotel for five years.
Retiring from
business they moved back to their comfortable home in Port Rowan, full
of the expectations of enjoying the happiness to which they were
entitled, but which proved to be of short duration.
Mr. Gordon had
for a number of years served as councilman, and was also police
magistrate.
He married Miss
Isadore Bantam, by whom he is survived. Two sons and three daughters
also live to mourn his demise:
William of Iron Mountain, Mich., and George of Detroit. Mrs. W. D.
Gordon (Annie), of Houghton, Mich.; Mrs. A. D. Williams (Ida), of
Toledo, O.; and Mrs. J. A. Woodward (Ethel) of McGee, Sask.
The funeral was
held from the home on Monday, all of the children, with the exception
of Mrs. Woodward, being present. The services were conducted by the
Rev. Mr. Rowland. Interment took place in Bay View Cemetery.
