Frederick Gordon

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The successful career of Frederick GORDON, of Boonton, president of the Frederick GORDON Company, now retired from active business pursuits, is a fitting illustration of what can be accomplished by the exercise of ability, sagacity and perseverance, coupled with integrity of character. He is a lineal descendant of a Revolutionary ancestor, David GORDON, who served as a private in the Fifth Company of Foot, First New Jersey Regiment, from July 24, 1777, to January, 1783.

William GORDON, father of Frederick GORDON, was born at Middle Forge, Morris county, New Jersey, March 6, 1839, son of John Harvey and Mary Ann (FICHTER) GORDON, the former named born October 26, 1805, resided in Boonton for a time, and died in Montville, October 4, 1855. William GORDON became a mechanic and for forty years had charge of the water works for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, located between Easton and Hoboken, and when seventy years of age was pensioned by that company, the reward of faithful and meritorious service, and now ( 1913 ) resides in Boonton, having attained the age of seventy-four years. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife, who is seventy-one years old, attend the Methodist church. He married, June 27, 1860, Susan A. UNANGST, born September 14, 1843, daughter of John UNANGST, and four children were born to them:

Laura, January 16, 1862, wife of C. Byron DIXON;
Frederick, of whom further ;
Mary, born April 6, 1869, wife of Charles KINCAID:
Harry, born September 27, 1880, civil engineer, in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad.

Frederick GORDON was born in Boonton, New Jersey, March 3, 1864. He was a student in the common schools of Boonton until fourteen years of age, and then accepted a position as messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company at Scranton, Pennsylvania, remaining for eighteen months. He then returned to Boonton and for the following three and a half years acted as clerk in the grocery store conducted by Mr. PORTER, after which he engaged as fireman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, continuing in this capacity for four years. In 1887 he entered into partnership with his former employer, Mr. PORTER, proprietor of a general store in Boonton, dealing principally in fancy and staple groceries, and seven years later he purchased the interest of his partner and conducted it on his own account until 1899, when he formed a corporation, admitting his employees to membership, under the style of the "Fred GORDON Company." of which he was appointed president, which office he has since filled satisfactorily. The store, which is the most extensive and best patronized of its kind in Boonton, is well equipped with a high class of goods, consisting of the patronage of the residents of Boonton, also of the adjoining sections, their business having increased rapidly both in volume and importance. Mr. GORDON is a director of the Boonton National Bank, of which he is a charter member, and an active factor in every enterprise that has for its object the material welfare and prosperity of his native town. He is a member of the board of trade of Boonton, and was chairman of the committee of citizens who had the town separated from the township, also chairman of the committee who supervised the erection of the viaduct connecting Main street with Boonton Park, the cost of which was $84,000, of which sum the town of Boonton paid $9,000. He is a staunch advocate of Republican principles, but is independent of party affiliation, casting his vote for the candidate who in his opinion is best qualified for office. He is a member of Arcania Lodge, No.60, F. and A. M., of Boonton.

Mr. GORDON married, October 24, 1889, Anna TRIMBLE, a native of Dover, New Jersey, but who was reared in Boonton, daughter of James and Elizabeth (CURRY) TRIMBLE, natives of Scotland, both deceased, who were the parents of three other children as follows:

Matilda, wife of William W. SCOTT, attorney at Passaic, New Jersey;
Elizabeth J. ;
James.

James TRIMBLE (father) was a millwright by trade and was employed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. GORDON have children :

Newell, born September 26, 1890 : a graduate of Princeton College, class of 1913, and now teacher in chemistry in that institution and also pursuing a post- graduate course in chemistry.
Emily E., born January 24, 1901.
Alice, born December 26, 1902.

The family attends the Presbyterian church of Boonton, in which they are active workers, Mr. Gordon having served as elder for sixteen years and also as trustee.

This biography was transcribed by Marlene Laing.