My Genealogy Hound

John Harrison Gordon, a prominent merchant of Stonewall, was born in 1852, one mile north of Gordonsville, in Smith County. He is one of six living children of a family of ten born to Matthew A. L. and Lucy Lee (Ward) Gordon. Both parents were natives of Smith County. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in 1828. He was a prosperous farmer. The principal portion of his life was spent tilling the soil. In 1853 Matthew took his family to Mississippi, where he had purchased a farm in Leake County. He remained there until the close of the war, when he returned to Tennessee and bought a tract of land, a portion of his grandfather’s estate, where he died in 1876. The mother was born in 1830, and departed this life in 1879. The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools of his native county, remaining with his parents until his majority, when he went to California. For two and a half years he engaged in farming and trading in the San Joaquin Valley. At the expiration of that time he returned to his father’s place and carried on the same business. In 1878 he and his uncle, F. M. Ward, bought the mercantile stock of Perkins, Durham & Co. The firm of Ward & Gordon continued about three years, when J. A. Ward, a son, bought Mr. Gordon’s interest in the concern. During the following year he traded extensively, and made a prospecting tour to Arkansas. After his return he purchased some stock and F. M. Ward’s farm, which included the ferry and blacksmith shop. He also handles a great deal of tobacco, and with more success than the majority of traders. He is an enterprising, genial and well respected young business man, who by shrewdness and judicious management has accumulated considerable means, all since his return from California and by his own efforts. He is a member of the Methodist Church and a Democrat; gave his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876. In 1880 he wedded Julia Hatten, daughter of Squire Henry and Araminta Perkins. Mrs. Gordon was born about one mile north of Stonewall in 1862. Four children were born to this union, two of whom are living: Elsie Lee and Herschel P. Henry A., the second child, was born April 3, 1882; died May 2, same year. An infant, now deceased, was the last born. Mrs. Gordon is an estimable lady and consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church.