BIO-SAWYERS
SURNAMES: TAILOR, COX, NOSOVA, WEAVER,
A young man who has made a success of horticulture who also served his
country in the Spanish-American War is Harry B. Gordon, a native son of
Sonoma County, born at Healdsburg, September 27, 1877'; his father,
Eugene Gordon was also born there. Grandfather Andrew J. Gordon
was born in Missouri and crossed the plains in 1846 a member of the
Donner party until the train divided and he came with those who took
the old trail and came safely and in due time to California.
Andrew J. Gordon followed farming near Healdsburg, locating on Dry
Creek and owned a large farm on the Russian River bottoms, now very
valuable hop lands, but he sold it in early days and moved to Anderson
Valley, Mendocino County, and engaged in stockraising; later he removed
to Texas where he became a large landowner and resided until his
death. The father, Eugene Gordon, was also a stockman in Anderson
Valley until he removed to Texas, where he followed the same business
until his death. The mother of our subject was Laura Tailor; she
was born in Illinois and came to California with her parents, who
located Kelseyville, Lake County, Cal., where she grew to
womanhood. Some years after her husband's death, Mrs. Laura
Gordon married Jacob M. Cox, a prominent rancher and official of Santa
Clara County, a union that proved very happy until Mr. Cox was summoned
by death. She now makes her home in Oakland.
Harry V Gordon is an only child and was reared in Texas from the age of
three until twelve. In 1890 he came to San Jose with his
step-father,
Jacob M. Cox, who is represented
on another page in this history. Harry V Gordon attended school
at the Alameda Hester school and during these years he took up
horticulture under Mr. Cox, who owned an orchard as well as being the
deputy county assessor, so after his school days were over he took
charge of the Cox ranch. On the breaking out of the
Spanish-American War, he enlisted at San Francisco July 6, 1898, in
Battery I., Third W. S. Artillery, being stationed at the Presidio,
until he was honorably discharged March 23, 1899. He signified
his willingness to go East as a range finder in the U. S. Army, so he
was sent East and was attached to the range finding department,
Battery M, Fifth U S Artillery, serving at Fort Wadsworth, Staten
Island, until his discharge March 23, 1902. During his stay in
New York City he became acquainted with his future wife, Miss Barbara
Nosova, who was born in Prague, Bohemia, a daughter of Francis and
Marie Nosova. The father passed away in his native land and the
mother brought the children to New York City where she still makes her
home. Mrs. Gordon was educated in the schools of Prague and when
she came to the United States she resided in New York City until her
marriage to Mr. Gordon, on June 16, 1901. On his discharge,
Mr. Gordon brought his wife to his ranch in Santa Clara County, which
is a portion of the old William Cox ranch. He has been successful
in raising fruit and now owns thirty-four acres devoted to growing
prunes. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have three children; Alma Marie, a
graduate of San Jose high school is the wife of Ralph E. Weaver,
residing in Evergreen; Camille Clifford is attending the Los Gatos high
school; and Jackson Milan. Mr. Gordon was made a Mason in Liberty
Lodge No. 299 F. & A. M., at Santa Clara.