Robert Gordon

ROBERT WILLIS GORDON was born in Ireland in March of 1865 to Thomas and Maria Gordon. The family came to America in 1873, and first appears in Camden City Directories in 1874. The 1874 City Directory shows Thomas Gordon having a liquor store at the southeast corner of Locust and Division Streets. By 1876 the Gordons had relocated to 807 South 2nd Street. This was the family home. Thomas Gordon operated a saloon and livery business out of 801–805 South 2nd Street. He also made political connections. Daughter Mary Ann married Samuel Bailey, the brother of Frank Bailey, in 1878. Bailey served on City Council in the 1880s, while Thomas Gordon served in 1886 as a Camden County freeholder from the Fifth Ward.

Robert Gordon was educated in Camden’s public schools. He followed his brother James Gordon and his brother-in-law Samuel Bailey and apprenticed as a printer at the West Jersey Printing House and in the office of the West Jersey Press. In 1888 he founded a job printing business, operating out of 801–805 South 2nd Street, which he ran successfully into 1894, then with brothers James and Thomas W. took over the family’s liquor and livery businesses. Samuel Bailey died suddenly of pneumonia in January of 1894. Thomas and Maria Gordon both passed early in 1895. James Gordon died in September of 1897 from injuries sustained when thrown to the cobblestone street from a hearse he was driving.

Robert Gordon married Emma Augusta Compton on February 7, 1900. The Census of 1900 shows Robert and Emma Gordon, brother Thomas, widowed sister Mary Ann Bailey and nieces Maria and Mary Bailey living at the home at 807 South 2nd Street. Census and City Directories indicate that Robert Gordon looked after the saloon while Thomas attended to the livery business. When Robert Gordon entered into politics, which saw him elected to City Council in 1904, newspapers of the day referred to him as being in the livery business, as saloonkeepers were often demonized in the years leading up to Prohibition.

Sadly, Thomas W. Gordon died at the age of 51 on April 26, 1912. Robert Gordon was extremely popular and was reelected to City Council five times. He contracted a severe cold on election night in November of 1914, which turned into pneumonia. Robert Gordon died on December 19, 1914, leaving a widow. There were no children.

Mrs. Emma Gordon ran the bar through 1919, until age, changes in the neighborhood, and the onset of prohibition gave her cause to move away and lease the business. Emma Gordon had moved back to 807 South 2nd Street by 1924 and lived there as late as 1927. By 1929 Jerome A. Mauro had both the home and the bar, operating the latter under a soft drink license.

Was a Prominent Member of City Council and Well-Known in Industrial and Lodge Circles

For years associated with his brother Robert in the livery business, Thomas W. Gordon died this morning at his home, 807 South Second Street, after a lingering illness with dropsy. He was 51 years old, and single. Mr. Gordon was one of the best known men in the Fifth Ward and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. Arrangements for the funeral will be announced tomorrow.

Throngs Jam Court House While Body Lies in State for Two Hours

LAST SAD RITES THIS AFTERNOON

Not since the memorable funeral of Chief of Police Foster ten years ago, has there been such a genuine public tribute paid an official of Camden as was in evidence last night at the bier of the lamented Fire Chief Worthington, and today at his funeral. It is hard to estimate the number of persons in a crowd, but from 7 until 9 o’clock last night there was a steady stream of men, women and children, two abreast, who passed from the main entrance, through the center corridor and beneath the illuminated rotunda, where the body lay, and thence out by the west corridor. There was never a stop, and it is estimated that at least 10,000 persons were there, perhaps more.

There could not have been a more ideal location for the repose of the casket containing the honored dead, and the great array of beautiful flowers than beneath the rotunda. It seemed to be a sacred shrine in itself where the citizenry dropped a tear for the lamented departed. The effulgence of the soft lights from above specially installed by Electrical Chief Kelly but lent to the scene and as the dark garbed escort of firemen, the active pall bearers, stood, on guard, the scene was unusually impressive. Chief Worthington, aside from the pallor that comes to the dead, looked as he did in life, for the thread had been snapped so quickly that it was while he was in his full vigor that the vital spark had taken its flight.

Public grief may be a mere ephemeral emotion, born of the moment and only to be succeeded by the acclaim of the newly arisen public idol, but last night’s encomiums seemed to come from hearts that overflowed with genuine and permanent sorrow over the untimely passing of so excellent a public servant. High in the clock tower of the City Hall the bell began tolling at 6:30 o’clock. At half-minute intervals its doleful strains went forth on the cold blustery east wind which had succeeded a day of spring sunshine. The bell and the screeching wind seemed to combine as a knell indicating the passing grief of the city.

It was the preliminaries to the marching of the funeral cortege from the stricken Chief’s home on Penn Street to the resting place at the Court House. There were forty policemen in dress uniform with Chief Gravenor at their head. There were twenty-six fire heads from Philadelphia, with Chief William Murphy in the van. There was the caisson on which was the black draped casket containing the body of he who all honored. There was the little red car in which Chief Worthington was wont to speed through the city at every alarm and there was his helmet and coat. There was Acting Chief Stockton and forty of the men who fought flames under the direction of he who lay so still. There was the family in cabs with curtains drawn, the members of City Council and the active pall bearers— Daniel Leach, Peter B. Carter, James White, William Patterson, Elmer Burkett, Samuel Harring.

President of City Council James E. Hewitt spoke of the work Chief Worthington had already accomplished, of his plans, of his value and worth to Camden. Chief Murphy responded in a fitting way.

Another was the design sent by the Electrical Bureau through Chief Kelly. The original fire box, No. 134, which was pulled on the night of the fire by Chief Worthington was enshrouded by roses, carnations and lilies. The honorary pallbearers were Mayor Ellis, Hon. David Baird, Frank F. Patterson, John W. Bell, General John A. Mather, Melbourne F. Middleton Jr., Harry R. Reed, Arthur L. Jones, Robert Gordon, David Jester, George Schneider, William Mills, J.O. Grear, William Hall, George L. Bender, and James E. Hewitt.

Very favorable is the report that came from Councilman Robert Gordon’s sick room this morning. It stated the popular official, who has been desperately ill with pneumonia, had taken a turn for the better and that those in attendance feel very hopeful of the future. For several days his condition had been such as to make the anxious members of his family feel apprehensive; and the fact that he has rallied now is a source of great gratification.

Councilman George Schneider, who was ill with typhoid fever, was reported to be in a favorable condition and his recovery is anticipated. Another official on the sick list, Sidewalk Inspector Richard J. Richardson, is still very ill with neuralgia of the heart, and Record Clerk “Lou” Lee of the Board of Health, who has developed a very excellent case of chickenpox, is getting along very nicely.

Popular Councilman From Fifth Ward Dies After Eight Weeks’ Illness

TEN YEARS IN CITY COUNCIL