Ollin Gordon

    Barring a brief two years time in which he was engaged with his father in the grocery business, Ollin Gordon has, during his entire active career of something more than twenty years, been identified with the enterprise in which he is now occupied -the furniture and house furnishing business. In April, 1895, Mr. Gordon established himself in Gas City, opening a small shop in association with Mr. J. E. Ward at the corner of Second and Main Streets. Since that time his advance in the commercial circles of the city has been rapid and today he ahs a leading position among the most prominent and prosperous business men of the community: Shrewd, careful and conservative in all his business dealings, he has conducted his affairs in a manner conducive to the best results, and his standing in the city today is one that he has undeniably earned, and of which he may well be proud.

    Ollin Gordon was born in Grant County, Mills Township, August 8, 1869, and he is the son of Seth and Sarah (Jay) Gordon. Seth Gordon was a native son of Henry County, Indiana, born there in the year 1831 on the 14th day of July. He was for years engaged in farming in grant County, later interesting himself actively in the grocery business, and was connected with a prosperous grocery business in Gas City, Grant County, until a short time before his death, on his sixty-seventh birthday anniversary, in 1898. The mother was born on what is now the Infirmary Farm in Mills Township, on January 23, 1843, and she is now living in the home of her son, Ollin Gordon of this review. She and her husband were both birthright Quaker and both had served as elders and overseers in the church for many years. The mother is yet active in the work of the church, and still continues an influence for good in her community. Mrs. Gordon was a daughter of James and Lydia (Hollingsworth) Jay, early settlers in Grant County, whither they came from their native State, South Carolina, in early life. they were of the old pioneer stock of the county and they lived in a time when primitive civilization was at its height in grant County. In about the year 1807 they settled in Vermillion County, Ohio, there residing until they settled in Grant County. They, too, were birthright Quakers and passed their lives in the church of their fathers.

    Ollin Gordon is the youngest child but one of his parents,  and he is today the sole surviving member. The other died young, and he alone was left to cheer them in their declining years, his mother making her present home with him.

    Mr. Gordon had his education in the district schools, such as were provided in his boyhood in Grant County, and when the Marion Normal College was opened he became one of the first students enrolled there, graduating form its Commercial Department among the first with the Class of 1892. Since that time Mr. Gordon has been steadily engaged in business.

    The first enterprise with which Mr. Gordon identified himself was his fathers grocery business, as has been stated already. For two years he continued with the elder Gordon, and while he was a deal of assistance to his father, it is also true that he acquired much in the way of practical knowledge of business management that stood him in excellent stead in the years of his earlier private business experience.

    It was in 1895 that Mr. Gordon became established in the house furnishing business with J. E. Ward. The two were practically without capital, but they were young and courageous, possessing a deal of energy and ambition, and fortified with Mr. Gordon's business training, both in college and in his father's establishment, they were better equipped than many who start in with more of money at their command and less of these other assets. After a year of business activity, Mr. Gordon bought out his associate, Mr. Ward, and since that time has operated independently. He remained at the old stand on Second and Main streets for a year, then moved to one room in the Peele building on Main Street. Here he has continued, and from time to time additions of one room have been made to the place, as the business expanded and demanded more space for its proper management. Mr. Gordon has not hesitated to branch out whenever he saw an opportunity for it, and he has from first to last carried on an advertising campaign that has resulted in a continued growth of the business, making necessary additions to floor space, warehouse room and all the appurtenances necessary in the conduct of a thriving furniture and house furnishing enterprise. In the past six years his advancement has been particularly rapid and substantial, and his place today devotes one entire room to carpets and rugs, on to upholstered goods, one to china and other household wares, and another in which staples in house furnishings are to be found in plenty. He carries a fine class of goods, his trade being of a conservative and discriminating character, and his place is considered the acme of completeness in his special line in Gas City. The place itself is a building of two stories, with sixty-six by seventy foot frontage, all of which is occupied by the business. An overflow wareroom also adds to the floor space required by the business, this being located at the corner of First and Main Streets.

    As a business man, it will not be gainsaid that Mr. Gordon has been a very successful man. His progress has been steady and consistent with the most conservative and business like advancement so that he is properly regarded as one of the safe and altogether reliable business men of the city.

    Mr. Gordon was married in Jonesboro, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Eaton, a native daughter of State of Illinois, where she was reared and educated. Her parents are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have no children of their own, but hey have an adopted son, C. Frederick, born April 5, 1910.

    As members of the Friends Church of Jonesboro, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have carried on the church relations of their parents and grandparents, and they are among the most useful and active people in that church today.

    A Republican in his politics, Mr. Gordon has served his fellow men well in Gas City, for ten years having been a member of the City Council. He is a citizen of splendid type and has borne his full share of the civic burdens of the community in all the years of his residence here. He is a member of the Gas City Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all chairs in the local order, while he has also represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the Order.

Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.