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James Nelson Gordon

James Nelson Gordon

Male 1881 - 1940  (59 years)

 Set As Default Person    

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name James Nelson Gordon  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] 
    Born 20 Apr 1881  Caseville, Huron, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] 
    Gender Male 
    Race White  [2, 3, 9] 
    Reference Number 6670 
    Residence 1900  Huron, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Residence 1910  Fairhaven, Huron, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Residence Between 1917 and 1918  Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Age: 36 
    Residence 1920  Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 7] 
    Residence 1930  Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Residence 1935  Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Residence 1940  Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Age: 59; Marital Status: Divorced; Relation to Head of House: Head 
    Died 11 Nov 1940  Lake Michigan, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Died at sea
    Siblings 2 Siblings 
    Person ID I6670  FelsingFam
    Last Modified 16 Feb 2024 

    Father Stephen Gordon,   b. 3 Sep 1850, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jan 1926, Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Harriet Campbell,   b. 31 Dec 1851, Huron County, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Jul 1916, Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 29 Sep 1876  Bloomfield, Huron, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Photos
    gordon campbell    		gordon campbell
    Family ID F1642  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Virginia Franklin Caruthers,   b. Aug 1895, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1957, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 61 years) 
    Married 3 Jan 1916  Boone, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 13] 
    Children 
     1. Lucille Ester Gordon,   b. 6 Nov 1916, Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 2005  (Age < 88 years)  [natural]
    +2. Onnalee Ruth Gordon,   b. 21 Oct 1917, Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Apr 2005, Deford, Tuscola, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 87 years)  [natural]
    +3. Byron Allen Gordon,   b. 5 Oct 1918, Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jan 2009, Midland, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years)  [natural]
    +4. James Nelson Gordon, Jr.,   b. 13 Jul 1920, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Mar 2007, Grand Ledge, Eaton County, Michigan, United States of America Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years)  [natural]
     5. Ace Durwin Gordon,   b. 4 Apr 1922, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Dec 1992, Temple, Bell, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)  [natural]
    +6. Edward Grant Gordon,   b. 20 Feb 1924, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Jun 1977, Flint, Genesee, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 53 years)  [natural]
     7. Royal Carl Gordon,   b. 9 Jun 1925, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Aug 1983, Flint, Genesee, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years)  [natural]
    +8. Mildred Ethel Gordon,   b. 4 May 1929, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Aug 1993, Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 64 years)  [natural]
    +9. Robert Earl Gordon,   b. 2 Apr 1931, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Dec 1992  (Age 61 years)  [natural]
     10. Marshall D. Gordon,   b. 15 Nov 1933,   d. Bef 2005  (Age < 71 years)  [natural]
    +11. Melvin Dale Gordon,   b. 15 Nov 1933, Harrison, Clare, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jun 1975, Flint, Genesee, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)  [natural]
    Photos
    Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952    		Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952
    gordon crothers    		gordon crothers
    Last Modified 16 Feb 2024 
    Family ID F1888  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Cora Taylor,   b. 21 Sep 1889, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 4 Aug 1908  Essex, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 6] 
    Divorced 30 Oct 1913  Huron, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Children 
     1. Capitola E Gordon,   b. 18 Jun 1909, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jul 1977, San Diego, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)  [natural]
    Photos
    Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952    		Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952
    Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934    		Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934
    Database online.
    Last Modified 16 Feb 2024 
    Family ID F1889  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 20 Apr 1881 - Caseville, Huron, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1900 - Huron, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 4 Aug 1908 - Essex, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1910 - Fairhaven, Huron, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDivorced - 30 Oct 1913 - Huron, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 3 Jan 1916 - Boone, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Age: 36 - Between 1917 and 1918 - Clare, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1920 - Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1930 - Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1935 - Clare, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Age: 59; Marital Status: Divorced; Relation to Head of House: Head - 1940 - Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    1900 United States Federal Census    		1900 United States Federal Census
    Database online. Huron, Michigan, ED 8, roll T623 715, page 8A.
    gprdon,james,cora,capitoliaP2    		gprdon,james,cora,capitoliaP2
    1910 United States Federal Census    		1910 United States Federal Census
    gordon,james,cora,capitolia. Fairhaven, Huron, Michigan, ED , roll T624_649, part , page .
    Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952    		Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952
    1920 United States Federal Census    		1920 United States Federal Census
    Database online. Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, ED , roll , page , image 947.
    1930 United States Federal Census    		1930 United States Federal Census
    Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Greenwood, Clare, Michigan; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .
    gordon family    		gordon family
    16 Apr 1957 Children of James Nelson Gordon Front L to R: Lucille, Onnalee, Mildred Back L to R: Melvin, Marshall, Bob, Roy, Ed, Ace, Jim, Byron Photo provided by Bianne Gordon Martonosi
    Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934    		Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934
    Database online.
    U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918    		U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
    Registration State: Michigan; Registration County: Clare; Roll: 1675133
    1940 United States Federal Census    		1940 United States Federal Census
    Year: 1940; Census Place: Greenwood, Clare, Michigan; Roll: T627_1742; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 18-8
    Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952    		Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952
    B_gordon_james09201881right    		B_gordon_james09201881right
    B_gordon_james09201881left    		B_gordon_james09201881left
    gordon james thumb    		gordon james thumb
    Date:2/10/2018 18:02:42
    davock    		davock
    Great Lakes freighter, William B. Davock. photo from mlive.com March 11, 2015.
    The_Ludington_Daily_News_Tue__Nov_12__1940_page1    		The_Ludington_Daily_News_Tue__Nov_12__1940_page1
    Ludington Daily News-12 Nov 1940. page1
    gordon james obit    		gordon james obit
    James Nelson Gordon Obituary provided by Bianne Gordon Martonosi
    great storms 1    		great storms 1
    http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/apx/presentations/Great_Storms_woNotes.pdf
    rudder    		rudder
    Underwater photo of broken rudder of the William B. Davock--photo on mlive.com March 11, 2015
    davock memorial    		davock memorial
    findagrave.com Lakeview Cemetery Luddington, Michigan Complete crew of the SS William B. Davock were lost during a storm in Lake Michigan. 3 unknown seamen buried here. William B. Davock The William B. Davock was a steel steamer built 1907 by Great lakes Engineering Works in St. Clair, MI. She was 420' in length and 52' wide with a tonnage…
    great storms 2    		great storms 2
    http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/apx/presentations/Great_Storms_woNotes.pdf
    gordon bianne    		gordon bianne
    Monument to lost crew of the S.S. William B. Davock in Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington, Michigan. Bianne Gordon Martonosi in background.
    The_Ludington_Daily_News_Wed__Nov_13__1940_page1    		The_Ludington_Daily_News_Wed__Nov_13__1940_page1
    Ludington Daily News-13 Nov 1940
    davock crew list    		davock crew list
    Ludington Daily News-13 Nov 1940. page 3
    gordon james nelson    		gordon james nelson
    James Nelson Gordon photo provided by Bianne Gordon Martonosi
    gordon james n ss card app 1940    		gordon james n ss card app 1940
    Date:10/24/2017 18:51:31
    gordon crothers    		gordon crothers

  • Notes 
    • BIRTH: 20 Apr 1881 in Caseville, Michigan.

      PARENTS: Stephen Gordon and Harriet Campbell

      MARRIAGE: Cora Taylor 4 Aug 1908 in Essex, Ontario, Canada. They had one child, a daughter, Capitola. They divorced 30 Oct 1913.
      second 3 Jan 1916 he married Virgina Caruthers in Boone, Missouri. They had 11 children. They divoced on 13 May 1940 in Clare, Michigan.

      OCCUPATION: James listed his occupation as barber on his 1908 marriage record. Various census and other records list his occupation as farmer. On 11 Nov 1940 he was employed as a deck hand on the 420 foot Great Lakes freighter, SS William B. Davock. It was on this date that a major storm on Lake Michigan with winds of up to 80 mph (referred to as The Armistice Day blizzard) sunk the SS WIlliam B Davock off Pentwater, Michigan with the loss of all lives (either 32 or 33) on board.

      DEATH: 11 Nov 1940

      BURIAL: Died at sea. Body not recovered.

      THE SS WILLIAM B DAVOCK:
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      The SS William B. Davock was a lake freighter that was constructed in 1907 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, at their St. Clair, MI facility for the Vulcan Steamship Co. (R.H. Pigott, Mgr.). She was operated by Vulcan Steamship from 1907 to 1915 in The Great Lakes coal, iron ore, grain and stone trades. In 1915 the ship came under the management of The Interlake Steamship Co. (Pickands Mather & Co., Mgrs.). While laid up for the winter (1922-23) in Fairport, Ohio, she was reconstructed and updated, this work lead to a tonnage change in the amount of 4220 gross - 2671 net. The Davock resumed its traditional trade pattern of coal carried to upper lakes ports from Lake Erie and iron ore from Lake Superior ports to the steel mills of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.
      This routine was permanently disrupted on November 11, 1940 as a ferocious storm swept the lakes late on that Monday afternoon. Considered to be the worst storm to that point on Lake Michigan it saw 75 mph winds and rain turning to snow. Several vessels transiting Lake Michigan were caught with little warning. The Davock making her way down the lake with coal for Chicago was presumably overwhelmed at the height of the storm succumbing to the intense wind and waves, and slipping to her final resting place ~200 feet below the surface five miles out from Little Sable Point between Ludington, Michigan and Pentwater, Michigan. None of the 32 (some sources cite 33) hands survived. In total the storm took two vessels and their entire crews (Davock, and Kinsman Steamer Anna C. Minch). Several other vessels were damaged, or ran aground trying to escape the storm's fury. Overall estimates state 59 sailors were lost in what would be the worst maritime disaster on the Great Lakes since the Great Storm of 1913.
      Early in 2015, Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Holland, MI announced the results of a 2014 survey of the wreck which revealed the cause of the William B. Davock's loss was a broken rudder, which jammed against the propeller breaking off one or more blades, rendering the vessel without steering or propulsion. This allowed the boat to fall into the trough of the waves, where it was swamped and perhaps capsized before sinking. It sank in more than 200 feet of water, taking all hands with it. Diver Jeff Vos captured the only video images of the wreck showing the damaged rudder and propeller.[1]
      The Davock today
      The sunken hull of the Davock was discovered in May 1972, capsized in over 200 feet (60m) of water, off Little Sable Point Light, not far from the wreck of the SS Anna C. Minch, which went down in the same storm. The light is located south of Pentwater, Michigan.[2]
      References
      1.Champion, Brandon (March 11, 2015). "Shipwreck explorers solve 75-year-old mystery surrounding William B. Davock freighter sunk in Lake Michigan". Muskegon Chronicle. Muskegon, Michigan. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
      2.Dwight Boyer (1974). Strange Adventures of the Great Lakes. LOC #74-7771.

      The wreckage of the Davock was found in May of 1972 by John Steele, Kent Bellrichard and Bill Cohrs. She lies upside-down with coal strewn about and her rudder hard to port.
      The following is the text from a Michigan Historical marker in Pentwater:
      “The most disastrous day in the history of Lake Michigan shipping was Armistice (now Veterans) Day, November 11, 1940. With seventy-five-mile-per-hour winds and twenty-foot waves, a raging storm destroyed three ships and claimed the lives of fifty-nine seamen. Two freighters sank with all hands lost, and a third, the Novadoc, ran aground with the loss of two crew members. Bodies washed ashore throughout the day. As night fell, a heavy snow storm arrived. Rescue efforts by the Coast Guard and local citizens continued for three days after the storm. Three Pentwater fishermen were later recognized by the local community and the Canadian government for their bravery in rescuing seventeen sailors from the Novadoc.” These fishermen, aboard the Three Brothers, ventured out to rescue the men when even the official search and rescue agencies would not.
      Early in 2015, Michigan Shipwreck Research Association announced the results of a 2014 survey of the wreck which revealed the cause of the Davock loss was a broken rudder, which jammed against the propeller breaking off one or more blades, rendering the vessel without steering or propulsion. This allowed the boat to fall into the rough of the waves, where it was swamped and perhaps capsized before sinking. It sank in more than 200 feet of water, taking all hands with it. Diver Jeff Vos captured the only video images of the wreck showing the damaged rudder and propeller.

  • Sources 
    1. [S679] Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
      Record for James N Gordon
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=MI-Divorces&h=6273801&indiv=try
      Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952      		 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952


    2. [S559] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2015;).
      Record for James Gordon
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=Numident&h=11302249&indiv=try

    3. [S155] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;), Registration State: Michigan; Registration County: Clare; Roll: 1675133.
      Record for Jim Nelson Gordon
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WW1draft&h=30491146&indiv=try
      U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918      		 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
      Registration State: Michigan; Registration County: Clare; Roll: 1675133


    4. [S445] Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
      Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952      		 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952


    5. [S21] 1930 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;), Database online. Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, ED 8, roll 975, page , image 1000.0.
      Record for James Gordon
      1930 United States Federal Census      		 1930 United States Federal Census
      Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Greenwood, Clare, Michigan; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .


    6. [S218] Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934, Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Database online.
      Record for James N Gordon
      Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934      		 Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934
      Database online.


    7. [S22] 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;), Database online. Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, ED , roll , page , image 947.
      Record for James N Gordon
      1920 United States Federal Census      		 1920 United States Federal Census
      Database online. Greenwood, Clare, Michigan, ED , roll , page , image 947.


    8. [S23] 1910 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;), gordon,james,cora,capitolia. Fairhaven, Huron, Michigan, ED , roll T624_649, part , page .
      Record for James Gordon
      gprdon,james,cora,capitoliaP2      		 gprdon,james,cora,capitoliaP2
      1910 United States Federal Census      		 1910 United States Federal Census
      gordon,james,cora,capitolia. Fairhaven, Huron, Michigan, ED , roll T624_649, part , page .


    9. [S33] 1940 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Year: 1940; Census Place: Greenwood, Clare, Michigan; Roll: T627_1742; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 18-8.
      Record for James Gordon
      http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1940usfedcen&h=82338027&indiv=try
      1940 United States Federal Census      		 1940 United States Federal Census
      Year: 1940; Census Place: Greenwood, Clare, Michigan; Roll: T627_1742; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 18-8


    10. [S91] Huron County, Michigan Birth Ledger, vol2.p256.
      Apr 20, 1881 James Gordon male white born caseville parents Stephen & Harriet Gordon of Caseville born Michigan laborer both born Michigan fth occ laborer DOR Aug 25, 1882
      B_gordon_james09201881right      		 B_gordon_james09201881right
      B_gordon_james09201881left      		 B_gordon_james09201881left


    11. [S5] 1900 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;), Database online. Huron, Michigan, ED 8, roll T623 715, page 8A.
      Record for Stephen Gorden
      1900 United States Federal Census      		 1900 United States Federal Census
      Database online. Huron, Michigan, ED 8, roll T623 715, page 8A.


    12. [S80] Michigan Marriages, Stephen Gordon/Harriet Campbell.
      gordon campbell      		 gordon campbell


    13. [S95] Boone Missouri Marriage Records, James Gordon/Virginia Crothers.
      gordon crothers      		 gordon crothers



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