JOHN GORDON, who came to Tioga between the years 1800 and 1803, was a native of Scotland, either of Edinburgh or its near vicinity, born in the month of March 1761. While attending school he was seized by a British press gang, with three of his mates, forced into the English service, and brought to this country at an early age. At the age of 17 (as appears by a discharge paper still existing, and in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Ambrose Millard), he was a private in Captain Robert Scott's company of His Majesty's 53rd regiment of foot, and in consequence "of being of a consumptive and weakly constitution, that rendered him unfit for service, and, at his own request, having provided another man in his room," was discharged from the service December 24th 1779, probably at Whitehall, N.Y. It appears that he attended school for a while in this country, and by association with Indians acquired such a knowledge of the Indian tongue as enabled him to act as an interpreter for a Mr. McKenzie, who was employed by the government to explore some portion of the Indian territory, and was in his service some two years. He married Sarah Rathbone, sister of Major William Rathbone and first cousin of Mrs. Dr. Willard, at Sheffield, Mass.; subsequently removed to Berkshire County, Mass.; thence to Chenango County, N.Y., where he occupied a farm near the present city of Binghamton, given to his wife Sarah by her father Daniel Rathbone. He came to Tioga at the period named, and purchased subsequently of the proprietor of the Charles Marshall tract quite a body of land, which was subsequently sold by him and divided into three farms; the north part he sold to Dr. Simeon Power, the south part to his step-son John Main, and at a later period, either 1816 or 1817, the center and remaining part to Roland Hall. At the same date he purchased of William Willard Jr. 24 acres on the west side of the Cove, including what is now known as the Colonel Johnston place, with some portion of the Gordon purchase sold off. The house in which he lived on the farm was a double log house, and kept as a tavern or wayside inn. On his new purchase he built a story-and-a-half frame and clapboard dwelling, with large chimney and fireplace and cellar underneath, the characteristic style of that time as previously described. In connection with the improvement and cultivation of this little farm he carried on a small tannery, probably the same one subsequently purchased and carried on by Levi and Joseph W. Guernsey, on the site of Bartholomew Kelly's house. Mr. Gordon died the 18th day of April 1821, and was buried in the Bentley burying ground. His widow died at Mainesburg, this county, in 1854. The children of John Gordon were: Edwin, who married Lucy Power, and moved to a place near Michigan City, Indiana, about 1840, but is now dead, the widow still living; Marcia, who died November 8th 1810, aged 20 years, and was buried in the Bentley graveyard; Groves, who married a Miss Lincoln, and had children Byron and Mary; Mary, widow of Ambrose Millard, now living at Elmira, probably not far from 88 years of age; Brittania, wife of Dr. Pliny Power, who died at Detroit, November 15th 1881, and is buried there in Elmwood cemetery; and three other children dying early in life. Captain Groves Gordon had charge of the third company 129th regiment 9th division of Pennsylvania militia, and officiated in that capacity in the years 1826 and 1827. He remained at the old homestead up to 1840, when he moved to Cuba, Allegany County, N.Y., where he died (History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 1883).