Wellington Gordon

As printed in 1882

WELLINGTON GORDON.

Wellington Gordon is the son of Hon. John B. and Sophia (Hawkins) Gordon, and was born in Columbia, Mo., January 31st, 1838. His father, John B., was boni in Milford, Madison county, Kentucky, and was educated principally at Transylvania University, of Lexington, Kentucky. He studied law in the office of W. H. Caperton, of the Richmond bar, and was admitted to practice, forming a most happy partnership with Col. John Speed Smith, one of Kentucky's ablest lawyers. After a few years of successful practice he married Miss Sophia Hawkins, daughter of Nicholas Hawkins, who had emigrated to Kentucky from Virginia some years before — 1826. The whole family of Gordons came to Columbia, Boone county, Missouri. Missouri, about this time, was receiving the best class of immigrants, and Boone county a very large proportion. Politics, being the legitimate, honored business of the most enlightened, soon called forth all the energies and talents of John, who carried the county for the Whigs, and was elected to represent Boone county in the Legislature for five successive terms, from 1830 to 1840. It is to the eloquence and energy of John B. Gordon that Columbia is indebted more than to any other man for the location of the State University at Columbia. In 1840 he returned to Kentucky, practicing his profession and lecturing on law to the young men of the State, who came to sit at hu feet, '' learning the law their fathers loved." Returning to Missouri, he retired from active practice, and devoted his time to the instruction of his children, who have since shown themselves worthy such a sire. He died February 13th, 1853, ( at the age of fifty-five years. He left a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Martha, the eldest daughter, married Judge Robert H. Clinkscales. Ida married Prof. Oren Root, Jr. Boyle, the oldest son, is now professor of law in the University. Emmett, Wellington, our subject, and Carey. Wellington was educated at the University, taking the full classical course of four years. When a boy he was deputy circuit clerk in the office of R. L. Todd for about fifteen months. Then he studied law in the office ot his brother Boyle, completing the course in 159, and opened aii office in Kansas City, where he remained until the spring of 1860. He then went to Carrollton and practiced his profession for about a year, when he returned to Columbia, and practiced in the office of Guitar & Gordon until 1865. In 1866 he was elected county attorney, and served until 1872, when he was endorsed by an election to the office of prosecuting attorney, which office he filled acceptably for two years. Since that time Mr. Gordon has devoted his time and talents to his lucrative practice in conjunction with his brother, C. H. Gordon. He was married December 13th, 1866, to Miss Laura Amonett, daughter of Judge James Amonett, formerly of Virginia. Mrs. Gordon, nee Amonett, was born in Louisiana, and at the age of thirteen removed to the city of Memphis, Teim., where she was living at the time of her marriage. Their union has been blessed with five children — Kate, Reverdy, Fleetwood, Ida and Mattie. Mr. Gordon has a fine residence in the northeastern part of Columbia. He is regarded as an able lawyer and a thorough gentleman.

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.