GORDON, John Riley
Source: Indianapolis News Thursday 10 May 1888 p 5
John R. Gordon was born near Bainbridge, Putnam County, Indiana in 1848 and completed his collegiate career with the class of 1872 of Asbury University. Shortly after his graduation he was appointed principal of the public schools of Bainbridge and in 1875 was elected superintendent of the public schools of Putnam County, an office which he filled faithfully and well. At the close of his superintendence he began the study and practice of his chosen profession, the law, of which he has made a marked success. In 1882, he was elected to the State Legislature and has twice since been his own successor. In his political life, Mr. Gordon was a strong adherent to Democratic principles, and was considered one of the leading men of his party in Indiana. He was a very ardent supporter of Col. CC Matson in the race for the nomination of Governor of this state and was highly instrumental in his success. It was at the recent Democratic State convention that he contracted the cold which finally resulted in his death. At that time he was elected chairman of the Democratic State Central committees and was considered a man of unusual political ability as well as being a forcible speaker. In his social life he was agreeable, and his courteous manners made him many friends throughout the state, who will grieve to learn of his death. He leaves a wife and three children to mourn his untimely departure. The death of Mr. Gordon was a great surprise to his friends in Indianapolis, and the general expression from prominent Democrats was that the party in the state had sustained a severe loss (rest is mainly people speaking about him – Gov. Gray; Roscoe Conkling … others
Our great grandfather John Riley GORDON was born 23 June 1848, near Bainbridge (Putnam County), Indiana. He was one of seven children of James Smith GORDON and his second wife Ann (or Ada) B. DICKERSON. John also had three half-sisters from his father¹s first marriage to Sarah BLAKE.
John¹s father was born in Indiana Territory and his mother in Monroe County, Kentucky. His father was a farmer. John¹s grandfather James GORDON Sr. was among the first settlers of Putnam County, entering its borders in the early 1800s.
John Riley GORDON received his primary education principally at the Bainbridge Academy and graduated from DePauw University [then Indiana Asbury University] in 1872, with B. S. and M. S. degrees. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity. He received his Law Degree and was admitted to the bar on 31 May 1873. He also was a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, Free and Accepted Masons (Freemasons).
In August 1971, the town of Bainbridge purchased the Bainbridge Academy, and it became a public school. John R. GORDON became the first principal of the new school, and his brother Milroy GORDON was the intermediate grade teacher.
From 1872 to 1873, John R. GORDON was principal of the Bainbridge public schools. In 1873, he was elected assessor and real estate appraiser for his township, but before the expiration of his term he was chosen the Putnam County Superintendent of Schools in June 1873. In 1875, at the end of his term as superintendent he again was principal of the Bainbridge schools from 1875, until the spring of 1877, when he began his law practice. He also devoted some of his time to farming, a pursuit in which he was reared.
On 3 December 1874, John Riley GORDON at the age of 26, married Martha A. ³Mattie² DARNALL, age 22, in Putnam County, Indiana. There were three children born to their marriage:
* Benjamin Lowell born 26 August 1875, in Bainbridge, IN. Married Lulu Pearl EVANS on 4 December 1912. Died 12 May 1946, at age 70, in Sonora (Tuolumne Co. ), CA. Buried in Mountain Shadow Cemetery, Sonora.
* Mary H. born 1 23 February 1879, in Bainbridge, IN. Died in Indianapolis (Marion Co. ), IN, 27 June 1901, at age 22. Buried with parents in Forest Hill Cemetery, Greencastle, IN.
* Lucy Lee born 23 February 1884, in Greencastle?, IN. Married Perry P. Wingate after 1907. Died 20 December 1962, at age 78, in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Co. ), CA. Buried in Valhalla Memorial Park, Los Angeles.
In 1882, John Riley GORDON was elected a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from Putnam County. He was reelected in 1884 and again in 1886. At the Indiana State Democratic Convention in April 1888, just two weeks before his death, he was chosen Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee.
Tragically, John Riley GORDON¹S distinguished life was cut short when he died of pneumonia on 7 May 1888, at only 39 years of age. He died at home on East Washington Street. He left behind his beloved wife Mattie, 36 years old, and their three young children ages 12, 9, and 4 years old, as well as his parents James S. GORDON and Ann B. DICKERSON Gordon. Sadly, his mother was also to die in 1888, on 14 September, only four months after her son.
John Riley GORDON was buried in Lot 3, Block 3, Range 9, of Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle, Indiana. His obituary in the May 10, 1888, issue of The Greencastle Times newspaper reads, in part:
"Hon. J. R. Gordon died yesterday [sic] afternoon at his residence on East Washington street, at 1:15 o¹clock, of pneumonia. His illness began April 26, the date of the Democratic State convention at Indianapolis, where he contracted a severe cold which settled on [sic] his lungs from which he never rallied. He was conscious to the last but for twenty-four hours previous to his death had been gradually sinking. The funeral will occur tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o¹clock from the family residence where short services will be conducted by Elder O. P. Badger. Interment [sic] is Forest Hill. . . .
. . . Mr. Gordon was a good citizen and a model man. The Masonic Lodge and D. K. E. fraternity of which he was a member will have charge of the funeral services. The widow and relatives have the sympathy of the community in their bereavement. "
posted by Judy Gordon
Last Modified: March 11, 2016