Alvin Bruce Gordon's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. His closest known living relatives are descendants of his siblings.
He was born in Webster City, in central Iowa in 1862. His mother, Rachel Smith, was born in 1833 in the part of Virginia that later became Harrison County, West Virginia in 1861. Alvin's father, Simon Gordon, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. Simon & Rachel were married in Harrison County, Virginia in 1854. They lived in Virginia until 1855, moved briefly to Ohio, then settled in Iowa in 1856, and later lived in Kansas..
Their children included: Luther Dewayne (born in 1855), Orlando B. (1857), Oscar B. (1859), Alvin (1862), Anna Francis "Fanny" (1866), and Virginia Belle "Virgy" (1869). Luther who was born in Ohio, but all the other children were born in Iowa.
At the time of the 1860 census (before Alvin was born), his parents and brothers were living in Burlington, Iowa where his father was a plasterer.
In the 1870 census, Alvin, his parents and siblings were listed in Boone, Hamilton County, Iowa where his father was farming. Alvin was 8 years old, attending school with his older brothers. In October 1871 the family lost their crops and farm buildings to a prairie fire, but their house was saved.
During the census of 1880, Alvin (18) was an honor roll student, attending school in Monroe, Anderson County, Kansas where he was living with his parents and younger sisters. Alvin's father was still farming. Alvin reportedly completed 3 years of college. In 1882 Alvin attended the Anderson County Normal Institute (teacher training school) and became a 2nd grade teacher in Garnett, Kansas. He did not stay long in Kansas. He and his brothers Oscar and Luther migrated to the west coast, either together or separately.
By 1885 his brother Oscar had moved to the Pacific Northwest. First he lived in northeastern Oregon in 1885 and soon moved to the Seattle area. His first son (born in Oregon) was named Alvin William Gordon. This seems to indicate Oscar & Alvin were close.
At least by 1888 Alvin was also in the northwest. He was living in Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon (northwest of Portland). In 1889 he was teaching at Sunnyside School along the lower Nehalem River. In 1897 he was teaching at Pettyjohn School near Salem, Oregon.
Alvin's brother Luther Gordon was living in California at least by the early 1890s.
Back in Kansas Alvin's mother died in 1896 and his father quickly remarried. Simon and his new wife, Sarah Elizabeth were living in Anderson County, Kansas in 1900. Alvin's father died of cancer on 3/9/1909.
Alvin was single all his life. At the time of the 1910 census he was an inmate at the County Poor Farm and Hospital in Sonoma County, California. It is not known why he was at that facility, but he may have been in that part of California because that is where his brother Luther lived. During the 1920 census, he was no longer in the poor farm, but was still in the same general area in California. He was lodging in a large rooming house in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. He was a common laborer willing to do any kind of carpentry. It's not clear if he was actually employed or not.
Alvin's brother Oscar (67) died of a stroke in northwestern coastal Washington on 2/21/1922. He was buried at Redmens Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington. He was survived by his 2 sons Alvin William Gordon and Frederick Duane Gordon. Of Oscar's two sons only Alvin had children. They were: Douglas, Warren, and Donald Gordon, and Clara (Gordon) Bennett, and Phyllis (Gordon) Dolman.
By the time of the 1930 census, Alvin (68) was living alone again in Clatskanie, Oregon northwest of Portland. He was a self-employed gardener. He owned his modest home. During the 1940 census, he was still living in Clatskanie, but at 78 he was unable to work.
It is not known how much contact and/or support Alvin may have had from his 2 brothers who living on the west coast, but he lost his brother Oscar in 1922 and Luther in 1939. Luther was living in California at least by the early 1890s. He married Mabel who died in 1908 at the age of 40 in San Francisco. He soon married Isabel Dennis. Luther never had children with either wife. He died in California in 1939 and was buried at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Alameda County, California.
In 1946 Alvin was living in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon near Portland. On 9/24/1946 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was diagnosed with psychosis with arteriosclerosis. After being a patient at the institution 6 months he died at OSH of pneumonia on 3/27/1947. He was 84 years old. The only sibling to have survived him was his sister Virginia Belle (Gordon) Stilwell.
Virginia died in 1968 and was buried in Kansas. She and her husband Richard Stilwell had three daughters: Pearl, Frances Marion and Ethel Belle.
Alvin's sister Anna Frances married 1883 Hershel Cloud in 1883. They had two children Ethel (Cloud) Bartley and Wayne Cloud. Anna died in 1942 in Colorado.
Alvin's brother Orlando married Amanda Frazier in 1881 and they had 5 children including his daughter Lola (Gordon) Gavin Miller, and sons Harry, William, Arthur and Hershel Gordon. Orlando has not been found in documents after 1915.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Webster City, in central Iowa in 1862. His mother, Rachel Smith, was born in 1833 in the part of Virginia that later became Harrison County, West Virginia in 1861. Alvin's father, Simon Gordon, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. Simon & Rachel were married in Harrison County, Virginia in 1854. They lived in Virginia until 1855, moved briefly to Ohio, then settled in Iowa in 1856, and later lived in Kansas..
Their children included: Luther Dewayne (born in 1855), Orlando B. (1857), Oscar B. (1859), Alvin (1862), Anna Francis "Fanny" (1866), and Virginia Belle "Virgy" (1869). Luther who was born in Ohio, but all the other children were born in Iowa.
At the time of the 1860 census (before Alvin was born), his parents and brothers were living in Burlington, Iowa where his father was a plasterer.
In the 1870 census, Alvin, his parents and siblings were listed in Boone, Hamilton County, Iowa where his father was farming. Alvin was 8 years old, attending school with his older brothers. In October 1871 the family lost their crops and farm buildings to a prairie fire, but their house was saved.
During the census of 1880, Alvin (18) was an honor roll student, attending school in Monroe, Anderson County, Kansas where he was living with his parents and younger sisters. Alvin's father was still farming. Alvin reportedly completed 3 years of college. In 1882 Alvin attended the Anderson County Normal Institute (teacher training school) and became a 2nd grade teacher in Garnett, Kansas. He did not stay long in Kansas. He and his brothers Oscar and Luther migrated to the west coast, either together or separately.
By 1885 his brother Oscar had moved to the Pacific Northwest. First he lived in northeastern Oregon in 1885 and soon moved to the Seattle area. His first son (born in Oregon) was named Alvin William Gordon. This seems to indicate Oscar & Alvin were close.
At least by 1888 Alvin was also in the northwest. He was living in Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon (northwest of Portland). In 1889 he was teaching at Sunnyside School along the lower Nehalem River. In 1897 he was teaching at Pettyjohn School near Salem, Oregon.
Alvin's brother Luther Gordon was living in California at least by the early 1890s.
Back in Kansas Alvin's mother died in 1896 and his father quickly remarried. Simon and his new wife, Sarah Elizabeth were living in Anderson County, Kansas in 1900. Alvin's father died of cancer on 3/9/1909.
Alvin was single all his life. At the time of the 1910 census he was an inmate at the County Poor Farm and Hospital in Sonoma County, California. It is not known why he was at that facility, but he may have been in that part of California because that is where his brother Luther lived. During the 1920 census, he was no longer in the poor farm, but was still in the same general area in California. He was lodging in a large rooming house in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. He was a common laborer willing to do any kind of carpentry. It's not clear if he was actually employed or not.
Alvin's brother Oscar (67) died of a stroke in northwestern coastal Washington on 2/21/1922. He was buried at Redmens Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington. He was survived by his 2 sons Alvin William Gordon and Frederick Duane Gordon. Of Oscar's two sons only Alvin had children. They were: Douglas, Warren, and Donald Gordon, and Clara (Gordon) Bennett, and Phyllis (Gordon) Dolman.
By the time of the 1930 census, Alvin (68) was living alone again in Clatskanie, Oregon northwest of Portland. He was a self-employed gardener. He owned his modest home. During the 1940 census, he was still living in Clatskanie, but at 78 he was unable to work.
It is not known how much contact and/or support Alvin may have had from his 2 brothers who living on the west coast, but he lost his brother Oscar in 1922 and Luther in 1939. Luther was living in California at least by the early 1890s. He married Mabel who died in 1908 at the age of 40 in San Francisco. He soon married Isabel Dennis. Luther never had children with either wife. He died in California in 1939 and was buried at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Alameda County, California.
In 1946 Alvin was living in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon near Portland. On 9/24/1946 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was diagnosed with psychosis with arteriosclerosis. After being a patient at the institution 6 months he died at OSH of pneumonia on 3/27/1947. He was 84 years old. The only sibling to have survived him was his sister Virginia Belle (Gordon) Stilwell.
Virginia died in 1968 and was buried in Kansas. She and her husband Richard Stilwell had three daughters: Pearl, Frances Marion and Ethel Belle.
Alvin's sister Anna Frances married 1883 Hershel Cloud in 1883. They had two children Ethel (Cloud) Bartley and Wayne Cloud. Anna died in 1942 in Colorado.
Alvin's brother Orlando married Amanda Frazier in 1881 and they had 5 children including his daughter Lola (Gordon) Gavin Miller, and sons Harry, William, Arthur and Hershel Gordon. Orlando has not been found in documents after 1915.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Alvin Bruce Gordon's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. His closest known living relatives are descendants of his siblings.
He was born in Webster City, in central Iowa in 1862. His mother, Rachel Smith, was born in 1833 in the part of Virginia that later became Harrison County, West Virginia in 1861. Alvin's father, Simon Gordon, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. Simon & Rachel were married in Harrison County, Virginia in 1854. They lived in Virginia until 1855, moved briefly to Ohio, then settled in Iowa in 1856, and later lived in Kansas..
Their children included: Luther Dewayne (born in 1855), Orlando B. (1857), Oscar B. (1859), Alvin (1862), Anna Francis "Fanny" (1866), and Virginia Belle "Virgy" (1869). Luther who was born in Ohio, but all the other children were born in Iowa.
At the time of the 1860 census (before Alvin was born), his parents and brothers were living in Burlington, Iowa where his father was a plasterer.
In the 1870 census, Alvin, his parents and siblings were listed in Boone, Hamilton County, Iowa where his father was farming. Alvin was 8 years old, attending school with his older brothers. In October 1871 the family lost their crops and farm buildings to a prairie fire, but their house was saved.
During the census of 1880, Alvin (18) was an honor roll student, attending school in Monroe, Anderson County, Kansas where he was living with his parents and younger sisters. Alvin's father was still farming. Alvin reportedly completed 3 years of college. In 1882 Alvin attended the Anderson County Normal Institute (teacher training school) and became a 2nd grade teacher in Garnett, Kansas. He did not stay long in Kansas. He and his brothers Oscar and Luther migrated to the west coast, either together or separately.
By 1885 his brother Oscar had moved to the Pacific Northwest. First he lived in northeastern Oregon in 1885 and soon moved to the Seattle area. His first son (born in Oregon) was named Alvin William Gordon. This seems to indicate Oscar & Alvin were close.
At least by 1888 Alvin was also in the northwest. He was living in Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon (northwest of Portland). In 1889 he was teaching at Sunnyside School along the lower Nehalem River. In 1897 he was teaching at Pettyjohn School near Salem, Oregon.
Alvin's brother Luther Gordon was living in California at least by the early 1890s.
Back in Kansas Alvin's mother died in 1896 and his father quickly remarried. Simon and his new wife, Sarah Elizabeth were living in Anderson County, Kansas in 1900. Alvin's father died of cancer on 3/9/1909.
Alvin was single all his life. At the time of the 1910 census he was an inmate at the County Poor Farm and Hospital in Sonoma County, California. It is not known why he was at that facility, but he may have been in that part of California because that is where his brother Luther lived. During the 1920 census, he was no longer in the poor farm, but was still in the same general area in California. He was lodging in a large rooming house in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. He was a common laborer willing to do any kind of carpentry. It's not clear if he was actually employed or not.
Alvin's brother Oscar (67) died of a stroke in northwestern coastal Washington on 2/21/1922. He was buried at Redmens Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington. He was survived by his 2 sons Alvin William Gordon and Frederick Duane Gordon. Of Oscar's two sons only Alvin had children. They were: Douglas, Warren, and Donald Gordon, and Clara (Gordon) Bennett, and Phyllis (Gordon) Dolman.
By the time of the 1930 census, Alvin (68) was living alone again in Clatskanie, Oregon northwest of Portland. He was a self-employed gardener. He owned his modest home. During the 1940 census, he was still living in Clatskanie, but at 78 he was unable to work.
It is not known how much contact and/or support Alvin may have had from his 2 brothers who living on the west coast, but he lost his brother Oscar in 1922 and Luther in 1939. Luther was living in California at least by the early 1890s. He married Mabel who died in 1908 at the age of 40 in San Francisco. He soon married Isabel Dennis. Luther never had children with either wife. He died in California in 1939 and was buried at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Alameda County, California.
In 1946 Alvin was living in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon near Portland. On 9/24/1946 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was diagnosed with psychosis with arteriosclerosis. After being a patient at the institution 6 months he died at OSH of pneumonia on 3/27/1947. He was 84 years old. The only sibling to have survived him was his sister Virginia Belle (Gordon) Stilwell.
Virginia died in 1968 and was buried in Kansas. She and her husband Richard Stilwell had three daughters: Pearl, Frances Marion and Ethel Belle.
Alvin's sister Anna Frances married 1883 Hershel Cloud in 1883. They had two children Ethel (Cloud) Bartley and Wayne Cloud. Anna died in 1942 in Colorado.
Alvin's brother Orlando married Amanda Frazier in 1881 and they had 5 children including his daughter Lola (Gordon) Gavin Miller, and sons Harry, William, Arthur and Hershel Gordon. Orlando has not been found in documents after 1915.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
He was born in Webster City, in central Iowa in 1862. His mother, Rachel Smith, was born in 1833 in the part of Virginia that later became Harrison County, West Virginia in 1861. Alvin's father, Simon Gordon, was born in Pennsylvania in 1832. Simon & Rachel were married in Harrison County, Virginia in 1854. They lived in Virginia until 1855, moved briefly to Ohio, then settled in Iowa in 1856, and later lived in Kansas..
Their children included: Luther Dewayne (born in 1855), Orlando B. (1857), Oscar B. (1859), Alvin (1862), Anna Francis "Fanny" (1866), and Virginia Belle "Virgy" (1869). Luther who was born in Ohio, but all the other children were born in Iowa.
At the time of the 1860 census (before Alvin was born), his parents and brothers were living in Burlington, Iowa where his father was a plasterer.
In the 1870 census, Alvin, his parents and siblings were listed in Boone, Hamilton County, Iowa where his father was farming. Alvin was 8 years old, attending school with his older brothers. In October 1871 the family lost their crops and farm buildings to a prairie fire, but their house was saved.
During the census of 1880, Alvin (18) was an honor roll student, attending school in Monroe, Anderson County, Kansas where he was living with his parents and younger sisters. Alvin's father was still farming. Alvin reportedly completed 3 years of college. In 1882 Alvin attended the Anderson County Normal Institute (teacher training school) and became a 2nd grade teacher in Garnett, Kansas. He did not stay long in Kansas. He and his brothers Oscar and Luther migrated to the west coast, either together or separately.
By 1885 his brother Oscar had moved to the Pacific Northwest. First he lived in northeastern Oregon in 1885 and soon moved to the Seattle area. His first son (born in Oregon) was named Alvin William Gordon. This seems to indicate Oscar & Alvin were close.
At least by 1888 Alvin was also in the northwest. He was living in Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon (northwest of Portland). In 1889 he was teaching at Sunnyside School along the lower Nehalem River. In 1897 he was teaching at Pettyjohn School near Salem, Oregon.
Alvin's brother Luther Gordon was living in California at least by the early 1890s.
Back in Kansas Alvin's mother died in 1896 and his father quickly remarried. Simon and his new wife, Sarah Elizabeth were living in Anderson County, Kansas in 1900. Alvin's father died of cancer on 3/9/1909.
Alvin was single all his life. At the time of the 1910 census he was an inmate at the County Poor Farm and Hospital in Sonoma County, California. It is not known why he was at that facility, but he may have been in that part of California because that is where his brother Luther lived. During the 1920 census, he was no longer in the poor farm, but was still in the same general area in California. He was lodging in a large rooming house in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. He was a common laborer willing to do any kind of carpentry. It's not clear if he was actually employed or not.
Alvin's brother Oscar (67) died of a stroke in northwestern coastal Washington on 2/21/1922. He was buried at Redmens Cemetery in Port Townsend, Washington. He was survived by his 2 sons Alvin William Gordon and Frederick Duane Gordon. Of Oscar's two sons only Alvin had children. They were: Douglas, Warren, and Donald Gordon, and Clara (Gordon) Bennett, and Phyllis (Gordon) Dolman.
By the time of the 1930 census, Alvin (68) was living alone again in Clatskanie, Oregon northwest of Portland. He was a self-employed gardener. He owned his modest home. During the 1940 census, he was still living in Clatskanie, but at 78 he was unable to work.
It is not known how much contact and/or support Alvin may have had from his 2 brothers who living on the west coast, but he lost his brother Oscar in 1922 and Luther in 1939. Luther was living in California at least by the early 1890s. He married Mabel who died in 1908 at the age of 40 in San Francisco. He soon married Isabel Dennis. Luther never had children with either wife. He died in California in 1939 and was buried at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Alameda County, California.
In 1946 Alvin was living in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon near Portland. On 9/24/1946 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was diagnosed with psychosis with arteriosclerosis. After being a patient at the institution 6 months he died at OSH of pneumonia on 3/27/1947. He was 84 years old. The only sibling to have survived him was his sister Virginia Belle (Gordon) Stilwell.
Virginia died in 1968 and was buried in Kansas. She and her husband Richard Stilwell had three daughters: Pearl, Frances Marion and Ethel Belle.
Alvin's sister Anna Frances married 1883 Hershel Cloud in 1883. They had two children Ethel (Cloud) Bartley and Wayne Cloud. Anna died in 1942 in Colorado.
Alvin's brother Orlando married Amanda Frazier in 1881 and they had 5 children including his daughter Lola (Gordon) Gavin Miller, and sons Harry, William, Arthur and Hershel Gordon. Orlando has not been found in documents after 1915.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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