Los Angeles County

Biographies

 

 

 

FREDERIC VERNON GORDON

 

 

GORDON, FREDERIC VERNON, Oil Investments, Los Angeles, California, is a native of Missouri, being born in Montgomery City, on May 23, 1875.  He is the son of B. F. Gordon and Margaret A. Gordon.  He was married to Mary Smith Langdon at Bakersfield California, February 20, 1902.  There were two children, Ruth Langdon and Margaret E. Gordon, the latter deceased.

            Mr. Gordon moved to Los Angeles when he was eight years of age.  He was educated in the public schools of that city, starting on his business career there.

            He entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, in July, 1891, beginning in the capacity of Assistant Operator and Ticket Agent, at River Stations, Los Angeles, and continued as such for over a year.  In 1892 he was advanced to Clerk of the Freight Depot, at that station.  He was retained in this position until 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war.

            Mr. Gordon enlisted with the First Company, Volunteer Signal Corps in June, 1898, at Los Angeles.  Scarcely a month had passed from the date of his enlistment when he was advanced to the position of Corporal, July 1, 1898.  In December, 1898, he was given the rank of Sergeant.  He was detailed on several military expeditions into the interior of the Philippine Islands against the natives and took part in a number of engagements, among which were the following:

            Manila, August 13, 1898; Laloma Church, February 5 and 6, 1899; Caloocan, February 10, Tuluhan, March 25; Polo, March 26, and Meyecanaghan on the same date; Marloa on the date following; Bocave and Guiguinto on March 29; Mololos, March 31; Calumpit on April 25; Santa Thomas, May 4, and San Fernando on the 5th of May, 1899.

            Mr. Gordon was on duty under General MacArthur during his Philippine campaign.  After the close of the war with the natives, he was mustered out in July 1899.  He took an active part in military affairs for a brief time following and was given the rank of Sergeant in December, 1898.

            On returning to California after the war, Mr. Gordon spent a short period in Los Angeles, November 1899, then went to Bakersfield, California, with the Santa Fe Railroad as a night operator.  He was advanced to Cashier and was next made Assistant Agent.

            He remained with the Santa Fe until 1902, when he returned to Los Angeles, and engaged in the oil business.  His first work in that line was in charge of a large organization operating in the west side oil fields of Bakersfield until 1907, when he resigned to enter the oil business for himself.

            Mr. Gordon is one of the large oil land owners of the state, being interested in much of the choicest oil property of the California oil fields.

            He is a Director and Assistant Secretary of the Thirty-two Oil Co., holds the same position with the Western Crude Oil Co., is a Director and Secretary of the Hale-McLeod Oil Co., of the Four Investment Co. and holds Directorship in the Regal Oil. Co.

            Mr. Gordon is a member of the Union League Club, of Los Angeles and San Francisco, of the Sierra Madre Club, Gamut Club, of the Annandale Country Club and the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

           

 

Transcribed By:   Michele Y. Larsen on 28 November 2011.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I,  Page 860, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.  1913.

© 2011 Michele Y. Larsen.

 

 

 

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