Gordon, John S.

Flourished: Shelby County, Illinois

John S. Gordon was a merchant, minister, bank director, landowner, and early settler of Shelby County, Illinois. Gordon arrived in Shelby County as early as 1830. He opened one of the first mercantile establishments in Shelbyville. In 1835, he served as a director of the Vandalia branch of the State Bank of Illinois, and he also was among the Shelby County residents to urge the Illinois General Assembly to build a railroad from the Illinois and Michican Canal to the Ohio River. In addition, he purchased 200 acres of public land near Shelbyville. In 1836, Gordon acquired another 500 acres of public land. In 1839 and 1840, he purchased 240 acres south of Shelbyville in what would become Holland Township. In 1842, he received appointment as assignee for Shelby County under provisions of the Bankruptcy Act of 1841. He served as pastor of the Bethany Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois (Philadelphia, PA: Brink & McDonough, 1881), 146, 152; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 23 May 1835, 3:5; 31 October 1835, 2:4; 11 March 1842, 2:4; U.S. Census Office, Fifth Census of the United States (1830), Shelby County, IL, 132; Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, Shelby County, 145:66, 146:69, 817:85, 87, 818:1, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL.