Franklin County Biographies

Mahlon C Gordon

Mahlon C. Gordon, one of the honored residents of Metamora or vicinity for nearly three-quarters of a century, is the sole survivor of a family of children which formerly  comprised thirteen  members, and which is notable from the fact that it was one of the first  to make a permanent settlement in this section of Franklin county.

William Gordon, the paternal grandfather of our subject, emigrated from England to Virginia in colonial days. In that state he married Miss Duedworth, whose birth had occurred near Lancaster, England, September 14, 1731, and who came to America with her parents when she was young. They took up their abode upon a fine old plantation on the Potomac river, about thirty miles above Washington, the present capital of this nation. Of the six children born to William Gordon and wife, William, Jr., and Sarah, twins, were born after the death of the father. The mother subsequently sold her plantation and in 1796 removed with her family to Kentucky. Her last years were spent at the home of her son William, near Metamora, her death taking place September 12, 1822, when she was in her ninety-second year.

The birth of William Gordon, Jr., the father of the subject of this article, occurred in Virginia, August 11, 1779, and when he was about seventeen years of age he accompanied his mother to the Blue-grass state. In 1803 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Kelley, an Englishman, who had come to America as an officer in the army commanded by General Cornwallis. Six years after their marriage the young couple mentioned went to Ohio, where they lived but one year, then coming to Franklin county. Arriving here in the latter part of 1810 or the spring of 1811, Mr. Gordon was the first person to buy land on Duck creek after the land had been surveyed. He was prominently identified with the early settlement of this section and was the owner of large estates during his prime. He passed to his reward September 9, i860, at his home near Metamora; and his wife, Elizabeth, died August 28, 1865, aged seventy-six years and three months. Thirteen children blessed their union, namely: William, Orville, Selina, Julia Ann, Eliza, Emeline, Milton B., Melvin H., Isabella, Leonidas, Angeline, Mahlon C. and Chilton T.

As previously stated, Mahlon C. Gordon is the only one of this large household now living. He was born on his father's farm near Metamora, February 10, 1826, and in his early manhood he owned a flouring-mill and a woolen mill below the town, and operated them successfully until 1858, when the mills were destroyed by fire. Then he removed to the village and started in business again, owning a flouring-mill here for several years. Finally, disposing of this property, he turned his attention to farming, and now lives upon and cultivates the old homestead of his wife's father, John McWhorter. The marriage of Mr. Gordon and Rebecca McWhorter was solemnized January 1, 1850, and for almost half a century they have pursued the journey of life together, loved and respected by all who know them.

 

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