PIONEER HISTORY OF Robert Gordon (1853 – 1916)

1. PIONEER HISTORY OF
Robert Gordon (1853 – 1916)
Files of: Erma P. Gordon Anderson (additions by Joe Anderson)
Robert Gordon
Born: 14 March 1853, Sacriston, Wilton Gilbert, Durham, England.
Baptized: 1861
Died 21 October 1916 at Huntington, Emery, Utah
ROBERT GORDON BIOGRAPHY (b: 1853)
Robert Gordon was born 14 March, 1853, at Sacriston, Wilton
Gilbert, Durham, England. He was the third child of John and
Hannah Hudson Gordon. He was very young when his parents
joined the Mormon Church in England and came to the United
States in a sailing ship taking six weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
SACRISTON, ENGLAND

2. ROBERT GORDON BIRTH CIRTIFICATE
John Henry his family and his parents joined the LDS Church in England
Father, John Henry, his wife Hannah and 4 children {Frances Jane (b: 1848), Foster (b:1850) Robert (b:
1853) and John Henry (b:1855}) left England between 1855 and 1860 and crossed the Atlantic in a sailing
ship. It took them six weeks to cross.
They settled on a farm in Ohio, near where Columbus is now. They lived there awhile then joined
Captain Murdock's ox train at Florence, Nebraska and traveled to Utah.
INSERT: Father, John Henry Gordon, was a coal miner in England. It is interesting to note that coal
mining was a major industry in Ohio during the 1850’s 1860 and on to the present day. John Henry Gordon,
may have found employment in the Ohio coal mines.
1890 US Census
Over the kitchen table, it may be hard to remember dates from 30 year before.
According to 1890 Census,
Foster Gordon: Lists Immigration year: 1859
Robert Gordon: Lists Immigration year: 1863
Their brothers were born in SLC, Utah: Samuel (born 1861) and George (born 1863)
IMMIGRATION- RECORDS ARE CONTRIDICTORY OR NOT AVAILABLE
Family records say they were with the “Captain Murdock’s company”. Captain John Murdock was
captain of five wagon trains between 1861 and 1868. Since their son Samuel was born Oct 1861 in Salt
Lake City, Utah the family was with the 1861 Murdock wagon train which arrived in SLC, Utah 10 Sept.
1861.
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 John R. Murdock Company (1861)
http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-215,00.html
John Henry Gordon and his family are not listed, in the above record, as traveling with this Company. There
is not an official roster. The site above (the historical record) list about 156 individuals. The Company had
about 50 wagons and about 18 people were assigned to each wagon which equals 900 people. So, it is not
unusual that many families are not listed in the available records.

3. Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 John R. Murdock Company (1861)
John R. Murdock Company (1861)
Depart: SLC, Utah, 1 May 1861
Departure: Florence, Neb, 4 July 1861
Arrival Salt Lake Valley: Abt 10 September 1861
Company Information:
This company consisted mostly of Scandinavian Saints from the ship "Monarch of the Sea" when it
began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha).
NOTE: Ancestor Harriet Louisa Peacock’s sister, Emily Ellen Peacock & husband Thomas Smith, are listed
in the record as traveling with the 1861 Murdock Team.
Trail Excerpt: Murdock, John Riggs
In the year 1861 I [John R. Murdock] was called," he says, "to take charge of a Church train consisting
of fifty wagons and as many drivers. There were four yoke of oxen to each wagon. It was our mission to
go down to the Missouri river and bring
emigrants to Utah. After making our
preparations, we started (From SLC, Utah)
about the first of May, 1861. Grass was short;
consequently we had to use great care in
providing suitable food for our teams, and to
drive prudently until the grass improved.
Before leaving Salt Lake City we loaded up
with flour and other provisions to meet the
needs of the emigrants with whom we were to
return. These supplies we deposited at certain
points along the road, so that we could use
them on our return.
"It generally took about nine weeks to cross the plains. "Our first trip down," he says, "was without any
particular incident. We remained at the river a short time and then loaded the luggage of the emigrants
into our wagons. There were from sixteen to twenty persons, men, women, and children, assigned to each
wagon. Those who were old enough to walk were expected to do so the greater part of the way. They
would ride, occasionally, when the roads were good. I always appointed two men whose duty it was to
look after the passengers. It was certainly novel to see a train starting out with everything that could be
put into wagons and everything that could be tied to the outside, such as buckets, cans and all kinds of
cooking utensils. It reminded one of an old turkey with a brook of young ones keeping her company.
Generally there were about seven hundred passengers in one train. The organization was systematic and
complete. It consisted of a captain, an assistant, a chaplain, a quarter-master, hospital steward, a camp
guard, and a night guard for the stock. The chaplain took charge of the religious services, and we had
prayer night and morning. We also had a choir with its leader. The people were called together by means
of a bugle."
The experiences of the emigrants were educational as well as fraternal. These attachments resulted in
life-long friendships.

4. Continued: Robert Gordon http://www.co.summit.ut.us/history/coalville/coalville.html
The family first settled in the [Salt Lake] 10th Ward.
Robert’s Grandparents, Foster & Sarah Frances Gordon, came to Utah during 1863.
Then they all moved to Hoytsville. His father and grandfather were stone masons by trade and built a
flour mill in Coalville.
His Grandparents moved to Skull Valley, Utah as caretakers at the Park Ranch. However, on 22 Oct
1865, they were both murdered at their home on the Park Ranch.
Blackfoot, Idaho
Robert's father hauled freight and after settling his family
and establishing himself in Salt Lake he secured a good team
and wagon and started back across the plains by way of the
Oregon Trail. He was last heard from [in 1868] at Blackfoot,
Idaho. It is thought he was killed by Indians or other foul
means.
Robert, being next to the oldest son, had to help provide for
the mother and other six children. The hardships that this
family endured during pioneer times without the support of
their father is one that is hard to imagine. One thing is sure -
- they grew up on hard work.

5. Robert married Agnes Maria Catherine (Kate) Davis, 3 June 1870, near Pinoche, Lincoln County,
Nevada. She was the daughter of Catherine Kirby and was raised by her step father, James Bailey Davis.
Agnes Marie Kate Davis Birth: 3 Jun 1851, London, Middlesex, England
ST. JOHNS
They resided in St Johns, Tooele County, Utah. Their main occupation was burning of charcoal which he
and his brother, Foster, hauled into Salt Lake City and sold for use in the blacksmithing trade.
MILLCREEK
In 1879 they moved to Mill Creek, Salt Lake County, where he homesteaded 40 acres of land and built a
one room house of pine logs which had been hauled from the canyon above. They all helped clear the
land of the sagebrush and a few acres were planted. Robert earned some money to support his family by
hauling logs from the canyons to a sawmill. In the Fall of 1879, they moved back to St Johns where he
farmed and burned charcoal.
HUNTINGTON
In 1884 he moved his family to Huntington,
Emery County, [Utah] and took up 60 acres of
land just north of the town. Their first home in
Huntington was a dugout which they lived in for
a while.
He made his living farming and was a stockman.
He was a stockholder in the Co-op Store and on
the Board of Directors. He was a School Trustee,
Town Marshall 1906-1908, an Elder in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and
Sunday School Superintendent. He owned and
operated the Gordon Hotel in Huntington.

6. Agnes Marie Kate Davis Died; 29 Jun 1909, Huntington, Emery, Utah Burial: Jul 1909, Huntington,
Emery, Utah
Robert Gordon married Rowberry Mary Ann Brown on 7 Apr 1910 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Robert Gordon died 21 October 1916 at Huntington, buried on 23 October 1916 in the Huntington City
Cemetery.
Rowberry Mary Ann died: 12 Feb 1943
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Twelve children were born to Robert and Agnes.
1 The oldest, John William, was born 3 May 1871 and died that same year.
2 The second child, Robert James, was born 5 July 1872 at St Johns and married Gertrude Estell
Sherman on the 18th of October 1894. He died 29 July 1936 at Huntington.
3 Agnes Catherine was born 27 December 1875 at St Johns. She married Orlo Lionil Sherman 18
October 1894. She died 16 November 1937.
4 Joseph Henry was born 25 February 1878 at St Johns, married Augusta Johnson 22 October, 1897. He
died 25 August 1929.
5 Samuel Raymond was born 3 July 1880 at St Johns. He married Catherine Johnson 12 December 1906
and died 2 February 1948.
6 George Edward was born 10 August 1882 at St Johns and married Eliza Elizabeth Burgess 23
December 1901 and died 10 February 1949.
7 Hannah Francis was born 11 August 1884 at St Johns, married George A. Johnson 21 March 1902 and
died 8 February 1971.
8 Rose Ellen was born 28 October 1886 at Huntington, did not marry and died 11 November 1908.
9 Kate Hudson was born 21 February 1889 at Huntington. She married Alvin Eugene Leonard 4
February 1909 and died 25 November 1971.
10 Emily Jane was born 11 November 1890 at Huntington, married Lawrence W. Leonard 2 March 1908
and died 2 September 1953.
11 Ruth was born 8 August 1893 at Huntington. She married Maeser Dalley 29 June 1914. She lives in
Cedar City, Utah, the only child still living.
12 Clarence was born 21 June 1897 at Huntington. He married Velma Bailey 29 September 1915 and
died 6 August 1950.

7. Find A Grave - Robert Gordon http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28957033
Burial: Huntington City Cemetery , Huntington, Emery County, Utah, USA
Author Unknown
Your tombstone stands among the rest neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care. It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist. You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our heart contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled one hundred years ago.
Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.
I wonder as you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot and come to visit you.

8. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNS2-5D1
1880 Robert Gorden, "United States Census"
name :Robert Gorden
event place:Clover, Tooele, Utah, United States
gender:Male age:28 marital status :Married occupation :Laborer
ethnicity (standardized) :American relationship to head :Self
birthplace :England birthdate :1852
spouse's name :Agnes Gorden spouse's birthplace :England
father's name :father's birthplace :Canada mother's birthplace :England
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self Robert Gorden M 28 England
wife Agnes Gorden F 29 England
son Robert I. Gorden M 6 Utah, United States
daughterAgnes Gorden F 5 Utah, United States
son Joseph Gorden M 2 Utah, United States
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https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMRV-P4W
1900 Robert Gordon, "United States Census"
name: Robert Gordon
event place: ED 197 Cleveland, Huntington, Lawrence, Desert Lake Precincts Huntington town, Emery,
Utah, United States
birth date: Mar 1852 birthplace: England relationship to head of household: Head
father's birthplace: England mother's birthplace: England
race or color (standardized): White gender: Male marital status: Married
years married: 28 estimated marriage year: 1872 immigration year: 1863
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Robert Gordon M 48 England
wife Agnus Gordon F 48 England
son Samuel R. Gordon M 21 Utah
son George E. Gordon M 19 Utah
daughter Hannah Gordon F 17 Utah
daughter Rose Gordon F 14 Utah
daughter Katie Gordon F 11 Utah
daughter Emily Gordon F 10 Utah
daughter Ruth Gordon F 8 Utah
son Clarence Gordon M 4 Utah

9. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M5X3-QY6
1910 Robert Gordon, "United States Census"
Name: Robert Gordon
Event Place: Huntington, Emery, Utah, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 54
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1856
Birthplace: Scotland
Immigration Year: 1865
Father's Birthplace: Scotland
Mother's Birthplace: Scotland
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Robert Gordon M 54 Scotland
Wife Mary Ann Gordon F 50 England
Daughter Ruth Gordon F 18 Utah