This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: GORDON, WINGARD, THOMPSON, HART Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kFB.2ACE/4174 Message Board Post: It is a fact worthy of note that the agriculturalists of any community who conduct the best and most profitable farm are those who have the best interests of their community at heart and take the most active in the upbuilding and development of the section in which they reside, and this is true of the farmers of Kent County. In this class of men in Nelson Township is found William J. Gordon, who has always been in the leading ranks of any movement likely to prove of benefit to his locality, and who is the owner and operator of a handsome tract of land which he has made profitable by his industry and intelligent application of modern methods of agricultural work. Mr. Gordon was born in County Dundas, Ontario, Canada, May 21, 1864, son of William Gordon. As the name would suggest, the family is of Scotch origin, William Gordon having been born in Scotland, from which country he emigrated in young manhood to Canada. Embarking in the mercantile business, he was engaged therein s! uccessfully for a period of thirty-six years, during which time he built up a reputation for fairness, integrity and honorable dealing that was on a par with his standing as man of sound business judgment, industry and foresight. He was married in Canada to Martha Wingard, who came from an old and honored Pennsylvania family of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch, a daughter of Peter Wingard, who was a life-long farmer. Of this union were born the following children: Isabel, Alice, Sarah, Ida, Anna, Alma, Martha and William J. The youngest child and only of his parents, William J. Gordon received his education in the district schools of County Dundas, Canada, and was a young man when he came to Michigan, where, for a short time, he served as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of Cody & Moore, and for other concerns. He was thus engaged until the time of his marriage, when he transferred his activities to farming, and this industry has since received his attention and been the med! ium through which he has worked out his success. He is at this time the owner of a well-cultivated property, located in Nelson township, where he has model buildings, splendid equipment, and improvements of a modern character, all installed by himself and all illustrating the industry and energy which have combined to make his work a success. He has made a study of his vocation in all its departments and keeps fully abreast to the changes which are constantly being made in methods and procedure, and when new movements have been found practicable is one of the first to adopt them. As has been noted, he takes an active part in the movements in his community and has been a friend of the institutions of Nelson Township, where he served for several years as a member of the board of school directors. Politically he is a Democrat, and is fraternally well known and popular, belonging to Cedar Springs Lodge No. 213, F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias, and the Order of the Eastern Sta! r, to the last named of which the members of his family all belong. His eldest son also belongs to the Masonic Lodge. Mr. Gordon married Anna J., daughter of Horton Thompson, a farmer of the Solon Center community of Kent County, and of this union there have been born four children: Lillian, who is the wife of Fred Hart, a farmer of Nelson Township, and has an infant child, Fay; Fay Thomas, in Company 120, Field Artillery, Battery B, Thirty-second division National Guard; Maud, a teacher in the schools of Kent County, now in charge of District No. 1, and Raymond, assisting his father on the homestead.