OLIVER P. GORDON Oliver P. Gordon. Among the public spirited and successful farmers of Ottawa County the name of Mr. Gordon, of Crockery Township, stands foremost. For many years a resident of his present farm, he has succeeded in bringing it to a high state of cultivation, and has embellished it with a set of substantial buildings adapted to rural use. At the time of its purchase in 1861, the property contained eighty-eight acres of wild land, upon which scarcely a furrow had been turned, and the improvements now noticeable are the results of the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Gordon. In Clinton County, N.Y., in the township of Plattsburg, the subject of this biographical sketch was born July 13, 1826. His father, William Gordon, was born in Connecticut, and in early manhood enlisted as a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812. By occupation he was a farmer, and he also followed the trade of a carpenter, at which he met with fair success. A man of energy and enterprise, his death, which occurred in New York, when our subject was a lad of fourteen, was widely mourned, and it was felt that one of the most capable and honorable men of the locality had passed to his final reward. On his fathers side he was of English descent, while his mother was a Scotchwoman. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Annie Tramblief, was born in France and died in New York, after having borne her husband nine children. The third, in respect to age is the subject of this sketch. He was reared in Clinton County, N. Y., where in childhood he gained a rudimentary education in the common schools. Being obliged to assist in the support of the family, his attendance at school after he was ten years of age was limited to two months. On the 21st of August, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Cornelia E. Breau, who was born in Clinton County, N.Y., being the daughter of Peter and Esther Breau, natives respectively of France and England. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were the parents of eleven children, one of whom is deceased. They are, Willard E., Etta A., George, Belie, Harry, Frederick, Ella, Mabel, Richard, Grace and Flora. Richard is deceased. For a period of twelve years Mr. Gordon worked at the trade of a millwright in Clinton County, N.Y. In the fall of 1855 he came to Michigan and located at Lamont, where he resided for a time. About 1861 he purchased his present property, to the cultivation of which he has given his attention. He has succeeded in clearing the entire tract, with the exception of about six acres. The farm is located ten miles from Grand Haven and one and one-half miles southwest of the village of Nunica. It is through economy and industry that Mr. Gordon has achieved success as an agriculturist, and to these qualities, combined with energy, he owes his prosperity. A Republican in political affairs, Mr. Gordon has been identified with that party ever since its organization, and is one of its leaders in his community. His first Presidential ballot was cast in 1848. For a number of terms he has served as Deputy Sheriff, and has also been Highway Commissioner, filling those positions with ability and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003
URL: Return to Bios Index