Chester was the son of Cecil George Gordon and Zillah Cole, who married on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1890. They had nine children together—Earl (May 1893), Dennis McKinley (12 Aug 1896), Cecil (9 Jun 1900), Chester (3 Nov 1902), Harry Eugene (3 Aug 1909), and four unidentified children who were born and died between 1891 and 1910, two of them before 1900.
I found Chester's parents and older siblings on the 1900 Census, living in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Cecil Gordon, aged 29, was earning a living as a day laborer. Zilla, aged 27, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. There with their parents were Earl, aged 7, and Dennis, aged 3. For some reason, son Cecil, born on 9 Jun 1900, didn't show up on this record, taken on 19 Jun 1900. I did find a note from the family in the Plymouth Republican in May 1908 thanks friends and neighbors for their support and understanding during the illness and death of their "darling".
Chester first appeared with his family on the 1910 Census, living on Sycamore St. in Plymouth. Chester (C.G. on the record), aged 40, was noted as a cement worker doing foundations. Zillah, aged 38, reported that she had had nine children, five of them still living. There with their parents were Earl, aged 16 and working as a helper in Plymouth's basket factory, Dennis, aged 13, Cecil, aged 9, Chester, aged 7, and Harry, aged 7 months.
Living next door to Chester's family was neighbor Charles Fruits and his 14-year-old son Omer. Charles also had a daughter named Reathel who was about four and a half years old. Charles'wife/Reathel's mother died a day after giving birth to Reathel and baby Reathel went to live with an aunt and uncle, but they were only about twenty minutes away so Reathel would most-certainly have visited her father and brother, and likely played with Chester.
A year or two after that census, Chester's parents separated and later divorced. After they separated, Zillah and the boys went to Michigan. I found them on the 1920 Census living on Lafayette St. in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan. Zillah, aged 48, was head of household and noted as still married. Earl, aged 27, was working as a toolmaker in an auto factory, like Ford Motor Company. Dennis, aged 23, was working as a painter in an auto factory. Also there were Cecil, aged 19, Chester, aged 17, and Harry, aged 10.
Zillah and Chester ended up back in Indiana, and Chester reconnected with Reathel Fruits. They married and appeared together on the 1930 Census, living at 700 W. Garro St. in Plymouth. Chester, aged 27, was working as a basket maker at Plymouth's basket factory. Reathel, aged 24, was working as a web maker at the basket factory. Two years later, the couple welcomed daughter Marilyn on 24 Oct 1932, followed by son Charles on 14 Nov 1937.
The four of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still at their Garro St. address in Plymouth. Chester, aged 37, was employed as a "groundman" for a gas and electric company. Reathel, aged 34, was home with Marilyn, aged 7, and Charles, aged 2.
Reathel died on 26 Nov 1951, nine days after her 46th birthday. Chester eventually remarried, wedding Ruth Mertz Bonney. He died on 20 June 1981 at age 78.
I found Chester's parents and older siblings on the 1900 Census, living in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Cecil Gordon, aged 29, was earning a living as a day laborer. Zilla, aged 27, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. There with their parents were Earl, aged 7, and Dennis, aged 3. For some reason, son Cecil, born on 9 Jun 1900, didn't show up on this record, taken on 19 Jun 1900. I did find a note from the family in the Plymouth Republican in May 1908 thanks friends and neighbors for their support and understanding during the illness and death of their "darling".
Chester first appeared with his family on the 1910 Census, living on Sycamore St. in Plymouth. Chester (C.G. on the record), aged 40, was noted as a cement worker doing foundations. Zillah, aged 38, reported that she had had nine children, five of them still living. There with their parents were Earl, aged 16 and working as a helper in Plymouth's basket factory, Dennis, aged 13, Cecil, aged 9, Chester, aged 7, and Harry, aged 7 months.
Living next door to Chester's family was neighbor Charles Fruits and his 14-year-old son Omer. Charles also had a daughter named Reathel who was about four and a half years old. Charles'wife/Reathel's mother died a day after giving birth to Reathel and baby Reathel went to live with an aunt and uncle, but they were only about twenty minutes away so Reathel would most-certainly have visited her father and brother, and likely played with Chester.
A year or two after that census, Chester's parents separated and later divorced. After they separated, Zillah and the boys went to Michigan. I found them on the 1920 Census living on Lafayette St. in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan. Zillah, aged 48, was head of household and noted as still married. Earl, aged 27, was working as a toolmaker in an auto factory, like Ford Motor Company. Dennis, aged 23, was working as a painter in an auto factory. Also there were Cecil, aged 19, Chester, aged 17, and Harry, aged 10.
Zillah and Chester ended up back in Indiana, and Chester reconnected with Reathel Fruits. They married and appeared together on the 1930 Census, living at 700 W. Garro St. in Plymouth. Chester, aged 27, was working as a basket maker at Plymouth's basket factory. Reathel, aged 24, was working as a web maker at the basket factory. Two years later, the couple welcomed daughter Marilyn on 24 Oct 1932, followed by son Charles on 14 Nov 1937.
The four of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still at their Garro St. address in Plymouth. Chester, aged 37, was employed as a "groundman" for a gas and electric company. Reathel, aged 34, was home with Marilyn, aged 7, and Charles, aged 2.
Reathel died on 26 Nov 1951, nine days after her 46th birthday. Chester eventually remarried, wedding Ruth Mertz Bonney. He died on 20 June 1981 at age 78.
Chester was the son of Cecil George Gordon and Zillah Cole, who married on Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1890. They had nine children together—Earl (May 1893), Dennis McKinley (12 Aug 1896), Cecil (9 Jun 1900), Chester (3 Nov 1902), Harry Eugene (3 Aug 1909), and four unidentified children who were born and died between 1891 and 1910, two of them before 1900.
I found Chester's parents and older siblings on the 1900 Census, living in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Cecil Gordon, aged 29, was earning a living as a day laborer. Zilla, aged 27, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. There with their parents were Earl, aged 7, and Dennis, aged 3. For some reason, son Cecil, born on 9 Jun 1900, didn't show up on this record, taken on 19 Jun 1900. I did find a note from the family in the Plymouth Republican in May 1908 thanks friends and neighbors for their support and understanding during the illness and death of their "darling".
Chester first appeared with his family on the 1910 Census, living on Sycamore St. in Plymouth. Chester (C.G. on the record), aged 40, was noted as a cement worker doing foundations. Zillah, aged 38, reported that she had had nine children, five of them still living. There with their parents were Earl, aged 16 and working as a helper in Plymouth's basket factory, Dennis, aged 13, Cecil, aged 9, Chester, aged 7, and Harry, aged 7 months.
Living next door to Chester's family was neighbor Charles Fruits and his 14-year-old son Omer. Charles also had a daughter named Reathel who was about four and a half years old. Charles'wife/Reathel's mother died a day after giving birth to Reathel and baby Reathel went to live with an aunt and uncle, but they were only about twenty minutes away so Reathel would most-certainly have visited her father and brother, and likely played with Chester.
A year or two after that census, Chester's parents separated and later divorced. After they separated, Zillah and the boys went to Michigan. I found them on the 1920 Census living on Lafayette St. in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan. Zillah, aged 48, was head of household and noted as still married. Earl, aged 27, was working as a toolmaker in an auto factory, like Ford Motor Company. Dennis, aged 23, was working as a painter in an auto factory. Also there were Cecil, aged 19, Chester, aged 17, and Harry, aged 10.
Zillah and Chester ended up back in Indiana, and Chester reconnected with Reathel Fruits. They married and appeared together on the 1930 Census, living at 700 W. Garro St. in Plymouth. Chester, aged 27, was working as a basket maker at Plymouth's basket factory. Reathel, aged 24, was working as a web maker at the basket factory. Two years later, the couple welcomed daughter Marilyn on 24 Oct 1932, followed by son Charles on 14 Nov 1937.
The four of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still at their Garro St. address in Plymouth. Chester, aged 37, was employed as a "groundman" for a gas and electric company. Reathel, aged 34, was home with Marilyn, aged 7, and Charles, aged 2.
Reathel died on 26 Nov 1951, nine days after her 46th birthday. Chester eventually remarried, wedding Ruth Mertz Bonney. He died on 20 June 1981 at age 78.
I found Chester's parents and older siblings on the 1900 Census, living in Plymouth, Marshall Co., Indiana. Cecil Gordon, aged 29, was earning a living as a day laborer. Zilla, aged 27, reported that she had had five children, but that only three had survived to that census. There with their parents were Earl, aged 7, and Dennis, aged 3. For some reason, son Cecil, born on 9 Jun 1900, didn't show up on this record, taken on 19 Jun 1900. I did find a note from the family in the Plymouth Republican in May 1908 thanks friends and neighbors for their support and understanding during the illness and death of their "darling".
Chester first appeared with his family on the 1910 Census, living on Sycamore St. in Plymouth. Chester (C.G. on the record), aged 40, was noted as a cement worker doing foundations. Zillah, aged 38, reported that she had had nine children, five of them still living. There with their parents were Earl, aged 16 and working as a helper in Plymouth's basket factory, Dennis, aged 13, Cecil, aged 9, Chester, aged 7, and Harry, aged 7 months.
Living next door to Chester's family was neighbor Charles Fruits and his 14-year-old son Omer. Charles also had a daughter named Reathel who was about four and a half years old. Charles'wife/Reathel's mother died a day after giving birth to Reathel and baby Reathel went to live with an aunt and uncle, but they were only about twenty minutes away so Reathel would most-certainly have visited her father and brother, and likely played with Chester.
A year or two after that census, Chester's parents separated and later divorced. After they separated, Zillah and the boys went to Michigan. I found them on the 1920 Census living on Lafayette St. in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan. Zillah, aged 48, was head of household and noted as still married. Earl, aged 27, was working as a toolmaker in an auto factory, like Ford Motor Company. Dennis, aged 23, was working as a painter in an auto factory. Also there were Cecil, aged 19, Chester, aged 17, and Harry, aged 10.
Zillah and Chester ended up back in Indiana, and Chester reconnected with Reathel Fruits. They married and appeared together on the 1930 Census, living at 700 W. Garro St. in Plymouth. Chester, aged 27, was working as a basket maker at Plymouth's basket factory. Reathel, aged 24, was working as a web maker at the basket factory. Two years later, the couple welcomed daughter Marilyn on 24 Oct 1932, followed by son Charles on 14 Nov 1937.
The four of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still at their Garro St. address in Plymouth. Chester, aged 37, was employed as a "groundman" for a gas and electric company. Reathel, aged 34, was home with Marilyn, aged 7, and Charles, aged 2.
Reathel died on 26 Nov 1951, nine days after her 46th birthday. Chester eventually remarried, wedding Ruth Mertz Bonney. He died on 20 June 1981 at age 78.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
