"JACK' GORDON IS DEAD
Death came suddenly to John F. Gordon, familiarly known to all as 'Jack' Gordon, about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The end came while he was sitting on the walk at his home in the west part of town, and life was extinct when he was found by members of the family. Mr. Gordon had been in failing health for several years, but was able to be up and around and was down town in the morning on the day of his death. He realized that he was in a critical condition and had mentioned on many occasions that he thought the end was near. He had been suffering from a complication of disorders, but heart disease was the immediate cause of death.
John F. Gordon was a son of James and Jane Gordon, well known pioneer citizens of the Kickapoo neighborhood. The family came here in 1843 from Champaign county, Ohio, the trip being made in nine days in a wagon, this being considered good time for such a trip in those days. They settled on section 4 in Oran township. They had a family of ten children, six of whom are yet living: Wallace, Walter and William, of Kansas; Mrs. M. A. Forrest, Mrs. M. J. Boosinger and Mrs. J. A. Kelly, of Atlanta. John F. was but two years of age when he came here and with the exception of the past few years, which he lived in Washington county, Iowa, his entire life has been passed in this vicinity. He enlisted in Co. B. 2d Illinois Cavalry, in 1861, and served in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and minor engagements. He was honorable discharged from the service in August, 1862. In 1864 he was married to Miss Christena Coffman, who, with three sons, Frank, James and Burt, survive, five children having died before the father passed away. Mr. Gordon was a member of Atlanta Post, No. 326, G.A.R. and also of the Mutual Aid and Workmen fraternal societies.
The funeral will be held today (Friday) at 2:30 at the Blue Grass church, near which so many years of his life were passed. The funeral party will leave the residence in Atlanta promptly at 1:30 p.m. Burial at Blue Grass cemetery."
The next day's paper mentioned that, while the weather was horrendous the day of the funeral, he still had a large number of people who attended the funeral services. I should also point out that the obit is wrong in that he did marry Margaret B. Coffman. Margaret's parents name's were John W. and Christena Coffman, though.
As I said, I don't know what happened to Margaret. Perhaps she was remarried, but I check up to the 1908 marriage index and found nothing. She is not buried in the cemeteries in Logan county, either. Perhaps she went to Iowa again, too.


John Foley Gordon married Marguerite Christena Coffman on 25 August 1864 in Logan Co., IL.


Private, Company B, 2nd Illinois, Cavalry