Boyle Gordon

As printed in 1882

B. GORDON.

Boyle Gordon is a native of Madison county, Kentucky, the home of many of our best citizens, and the native county of the parents or many more. There is scarcely a neighborhood in Boone but has representatives from this good old county, which gave so liberally of her best citizens to people Boone and other counties of Missouri. It seems strange that so many people could have left one county without in a great measure depopulating it. Visitors from that portion of Kentucky are forcibly impressed with the similarity of the people of Boone as compared with their own. The reason is obvious: Central Kentucky is virtually the parent of Boone county, and the resemblance is the natural result of a natural cause. Mr. Gordon was born December 8th, 1825, and came to Boone county in the fall of 1826. He remained in Columbia until 1840, when he returned to Kentucky, where he remained for three years attending school. He returned to Boone, and entered the old Columbia Seminary, finishing his education at the State University. At the age of twenty-five he commenced the study of law in the office of his father, John Boyle Gordon, then a prominent attorney at the Columbia bar. Was admitted to the practice of law when twenty-seven years of age, and followed the profession without intermission until he retired from practice in 1872. He was appointed assistant professor of law in the State University, which position he holds at this writing. Mr. Gordon was first married, in 1863, to Miss Susan Watson, of Kails county, Missouri. She did not survive their marriage but one year, dying in 1864 He was elected to the Legislature from Columbia district in 1864, serving two sessions. In 1875, Governor Hardin appointed him judge of the Boone county court, which office he declined. Mr Gordon has been quite successful in the practice of law. From 1856 to 1862, he was in partnership with General Guitar, the firm commanding all the practice they could well attend to. Jidy loth, 1867, Mr. Gordon was married to Ann Grentry, daughter of Col. Richard Gentry, who was killed in the Florida war. Hr. Gordon owns a nice farm one and one half miles southeast of Colambii on the Columbia and Ashland gravel road. The farm contains thm hundred acres well improved and pleasantly situated. During the war Mr. Gordon was a consistent Union man, but took no part in the struggle. Since the war he has voted the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, having united with that denomination more than forty years ago. Mr. Gordon has had two children by his second wife. His daughter Annie, died April 5th, 1879i His son Maishall, bom April 6th, 1869, is still living. The remains of the old Black mill, one of the first water mills ever erected in Boone county, is situated on Mr. Gordon's place. It was built as far back as 1839. It is situated on the Hinkson Croei[. Mr. Gordon has a fine collection of Indian pottery, arrow-heads and stone axes, and takes much interest in those relics. He is an affable gentleman, firm in his opinions and resolute in maintaining them.

As printed in History of Boone County, Missouri (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.