San
Joaquin County
Biographies
ELMER E. GORDON
The pioneer plastering contractor of
Stockton, Elmer E. Gordon, has built up the same reputation for fine work as
his father, who was known throughout this district in the early days for his excellent
workmanship in the building up of Stockton and the outlying towns. He was born in Calaveras County, July 8,
1868, his parents being Aaron and Eliza J. (Anderson) Gordon, the former a
native of Ohio now deceased; while Mrs. Gordon, who was born in Indiana in
November, 1835, is still living.
Aaron Gordon brought his wife and
three children to California via the Isthmus in February, 1868. His wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Anderson, resided in Calaveras County, but he soon located in Stockton, where
he followed the business of brick and plastering contracting, and he was one of
the pioneers in this line. He was a
factor in the development of Oakdale and Lodi, building many of the structures
there, and in Stockton, among many others, did the brick work at the County
Hospital and the plastering of the Franklin, Jefferson and Weber schools and
the “What Cheer” House. He was widely
known to the earlier residents of San Joaquin County and built up a reputation
for fair dealing and honest work that is still well remembered. Many of the buildings which he erected in
those early days are still standing. He
was a veteran of the Civil War and served in Company A,
Eighty-third Illinois Regiment, and was a charter member of Stockton Post, G.
A. R. Public-spirited and interested in
the upbuilding of the neighborhood’s best interests, he served as a school
trustee of the Homestead district. Mrs.
Gordon’s father, Josiah Anderson, came to California in 1849 and mined with
success. He returned East with bags of
gold, paid off his debts and returned to San Joaquin County with his family,
spending his last days in Stockton. Four
children are living of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Gordon; Virgil R., Elmer
E., Mrs. Emma G. Matteson, and Mrs. D. C. Loos.
Elmer E. Gordon went to school in
Stockton and learned the trades of bricklayer, cement worker and plasterer
under his father, working with him in different parts of the county until his
death. In recent years he has
specialized in plastering contracting and his work can be found on many of the
finest buildings of Stockton, among them the Stockton Savings & Loan Bank
building, the San Joaquin Valley Bank, now the Bank of Italy, the San Joaquin
Building, Elks Building, Sciots Hall, Gall Building, Gianelli Building,
additions to the Smith & Lang Building, St. Agnes Academy, the beautiful
home of Frederick K. Rindge, one of the finest mansions in the Valley, Oakdale
Church, many schoolhouses outside of Stockton and a large number of residences
in the city. He is a member of the
Builders Exchange.
In Stockton, on July 8, 1905, Mr.
Gordon was married to Miss Maude Frodsham, a native daughter, born in San
Francisco, and they make their home at 1622 South Sutter Street, Stockton,
where they own a comfortable bungalow.
Mrs. Gordon is the daughter of Edward E. and Mary E. (Frodsham)
Frodsham, who were born in England and came to California across the
plains. Mr. Frodsham was a miller in San
Francisco, coming to Stockton in 1894, and there he died; his wife had preceded
him in 1880. The
youngest of eight children, three now living, Mrs. Gordon was educated in the
schools of San Francisco.
Grandfather William A. Frodsham was a watchmaker, as were his ancestors,
who were celebrated chronometer manufacturers.
After his father’s death, Mr. Gordon gave up his contracting work for
some time and traveled as a colporteur for the International Bible Students
Association, distributing religious literature in Nevada and over a large
territory in California, but in 1915 he again engaged in contracting.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1475. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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