Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 1040.
 
DANIEL GORDON, SR.

     is a retired business man residing at Keno, Klamath county, Oregon, who has
seen a great deal of life in the east and far west. He was born September 13,
1810, on the bank of the St. Lawrence river, St. Lawrence county, New York, the
son of John and Jerusha (Barnett) Gordon.  The parents were natives of Scotland,
the mother dying while our subject was quite young. The father lived to be over
one hundred years of age.  It was but a limited schooling received by the
subject of this sketch; but he improved his opportunities and by working around
mills and machinery became a most expert mechanic. He constructed wool carders,
spinning wheels, looms, etc., and becoming an expert millwright constructed saw
and grist mills. In 1829 he went to New Orleans and was in the employ of the
government for two years. Here he saw his first railroad and enjoyed his first
ride on the cars, going from the Crescent City to Fort Pike, distance of five
miles. In 1831 he was engaged in carpenter work in Buchanan county, Missouri,
and established a shop where he manufactured wagons and plows. Following a visit
to his old home in New York he went to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he became
acquainted with his future companion in life, and they were soon afterward
married. The name of the bride was Sarah Castle. Remaining there four years the
couple then removed to Buchanan county, Missouri. The spring of 1852 he sold out
his business, purchased several yoke of cattle, wagons, etc., and journeyed
across the plains with an immigrant train. Six months later they arrived at
Eureka, California. Here he engaged in dairying, and subsequently built a saw
mill costing $13,000. During the Modoc war he served as a volunteer citizen with
his three sons, fighting the Indians, and then although over sixty years of age,
saw some active service. It was in 1873 that our subject came to Klamath Falls,
and built a saw mill near where Keno now stands, the first one in that part of
the country, as was the mill at Yreka the first in that district. He now owns
one hundred and sixty-five acres of improved land; one-half farm land, the
balance timber.  He also owns valuable property in Klamath Falls. At the age of
ninety-four our subject is in fairly good health, except some inconvenience from
an injury by being thrown from a horse in 1902, and he is the oldest inhabitant
in Klamath county. Mrs. Gordon died in 1899 at the age of eighty years. Seven
children were born to them: Jane, widow of the late Newton Pratt; Mrs. Adeline
Sherman, deceased; Mrs. Mary Hamacker, deceased; John, deceased; Daniel, in
Klamath county; Alexander, deceased; and Newton, a former deputy sheriff of
Klamath county, but now an attorney of Yreka, California.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.