Elmer Ellsworth Gordon (1871 - 1953)

Elmer Ellsworth Gordon was born on Jul 29, 1871 in Ryot (Oak Shade or Six Roads), West St. Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the son of Lorenzo Madden and Margaret (Adams) Gordon. Elmer was the oldest of eleven children.

Elmer grew up on a farm near his grandparents and many cousins and family members. In 1881 his grandfather Jeremiah Gordon died, and in the mid 1880s the Gordons moved to Johnstown, Cambria County.

In 1896 Elmer moved with his parents and most of his siblings to Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio. He helped his father manage a farm.

Sadly, on February 1, 1893 Clarence's baby brother Daniel died at the age of 3. 

On December 31, 1897 he married Nellie A. Sadler in Portage County. Nellie was born on September 24, 1874 in Ohio. Nellie had a son named John O. "Jack" Harris, who was probably born out of wedlock.

Nellie and Elmer had two children whose names were: Helen M. (Gordon) Crise and Bruce M. Gordon.

Sadly, Nellie died at their home in Streetsboro on March 1, 1904 at the age of 29, leaving Elmer with small children to raise.

Elmer's first cousin Charles A. Adams introduced Elmer to his sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Wolfe, whom Elmer May have known as a small boy in Bedford County.  Evidently, they hit it off, for they were married on February 14, 1906, Valentine's Day. Mary Ellen was born on April 29, 1875 in Fishertown, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Richard and Margaret Ann (Croyle) Wolf.

They resided in Streetsboro, where Mary Ellen helped him raise Helen and Bruce. It is not known what happened to Jack. Elmer and Mary Ellen had one child together: Veron W. (Gordon) Biggar, who was born on February 1, 1907.

In addition to being a farmer, Elmer was a Portage County Commissioner for a few years.

On April 9, 1934, his son Bruce died in Charity Hospital Cleveland following a mastoid operation. He was 34 and unmarried. He had been employed as superintendent of the Winterbottom Construction Company of Cleveland.

Elmer and Mary Ellen resided in Streetsboro until her death on June 2, 1950 at age 75. Her death ended a marriage of 44 years.

Elmer moved to Aurora, Portage County to live at the home of his married daughter Veron, who was an elementary school teacher. He died two years after his wife's death on March 31, 1953 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 81. He was survived by two daughters. None of his children had any children.

Elmer is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Twinsburg, Summit County, Ohio.