An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, A portrait of Mr. Gordon appears between pages 510 and 511 THOMAS W. GORDON, Clerk of King county, was born in Randboro, province of Quebec, Canada, August 22, 1862. His father, William Gordon, of Scotch-irish ancestry, emigrated to Canada at the age of fifteen years, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He married Eliza Hamilton, a native of Canada, and in later life returned to a farm where still resides, engaged in agricultural pursuits. Thomas W. was the fifth in the family of thirteen children. He remained with his parents until sixteen years of age, spending his days in labor and his nights in rest, enjoying no educational advantages. In 1878 he left home to gain self-support and by personal effort to gain some knowledge from books. Thus by economy and persevering industry he passed through the graded schools at Rochester, Vermont, the Vermont Methodist Seminary at Montpelier, and then entered the Stanstead Wesleyan College at Stanstead, Quebec, graduating therefrom in 1882. He then followed bookkeeping at Taunton, Massachusetts, for two years, when his health failed and he came to Glendive, Montana, and engaged in mercantile business. Opening a branch store at Medora, Dakota. Mr. Gordon became the manager, and while there was appointed by a committee of the citizens to draw up a petition and present it to the governor for the organization of Billings county, which desideratum was satisfactory accomplished with Medora as the county seat. Mr. Gordon was then offered an official position, which he declined, as that would interfere with his business. In August, 1884, he sold out and removed to Williston, continuing in mercantile life until December, 1885, when he went to Chicago and into the employ of the United States Express Company, remaining until July, 1889. He then came to Seattle, and engaged in the hotel business as manager of the Russ House. In 1890 he entered the office of the city water department as bookkeeper, and continued until the change of administration in March, 1892, when be retired, but was highly complimented for efficiency in the department and the accurate condition of his books. Mr. Gordon first entered politics in 1890, actively endorsing the principles of the Republican party. He was the nominee of his party in 1892 as Clerk of King county and the Superior Court, and was duly elected on the 8th of November, entering upon the duties of his office in January, 1893. Socially, Mr. Gordon affiliates with the Royal Arch Masons, and is Past Chancelor of Lake Lodge, No. 68, Knights of Pythias. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.