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Your connection with Scotland in the 1700s, and with pioneers in South Australia in the late 1800s
Jessie & Alexander GORDON - family tree & stories
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 1879 - 1937 (57 years)
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| Name |
Ronald Erskine Gower GORDON |
| Born |
27 Nov 1879 |
Dry Plains via Strathalbyn, SA, Australia  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Notes for biography |
BIOGRAPHY: From page 45 of 'The Gordons' by Nathalie & Colin Semmler. This can be seen with Stories on the left of the home page.
Ron was born at Strathalbyn on 27.11.1879, where his father, Alexander, was probably working as a butcher.
As an adult Ron worked on farms in the district until he married Eva Rachel Read in the Congregation Manse at Loxton, S.A. Soon after this they moved to Wilroy, about 120 km east of Geraldton, Western Australia. Ron built a mud hut for the family home. They were living their first child, Yvonne, was born. Some time later they moved Tenindewa (about 80 km East of Geraldton) where Ron share-farmed for a Mr Rumbelow. There were swamps in the area which supported much flora and fauna. Ron took a keen interest in this and shared his knowledge with Yvonne.
Ron and Eva were keen tennis players and travelled for many miles on the back of a truck to participate in games. During one match he slipped and hit a post, breaking several ribs.
In 1936 the family returned to South Australia and lived for a time with a Mrs Kennett at Walkerville in Adelaide. Ron worked in Kyancutta. At this time their second daughter, Shylie, was born. [research: Was this naming associated with Ron's cousin, Shylie Blue?].
Soon afterwards the family moved to Middleton (S.A.) where Ron worked on a property owned by Don McLeod. It was here that Ron was badly injured when gored by a bull. He was saved when a dog attacked the bull, allowing Ron to roll under the fence.
The family remained at Middleton, renting a house near the Middleton Mill, from Colonel Lovell. Ron continued doing farm work, as well as working as a builder on the Goolwa Barrages where became very ill with pneumonia. One of farms on which he worked was a dairy farm owned by Misses Alison and Min McLeod.
Ron enjoyed singing and entertained with solos and duets at country concerts.
In 1943 Ron, Eva and Shylie moved to Inman Valley (about 20 km West of Victor Harbour) where Ron worked for a Mr Harvey. Yvonne remained at Victor Harbour where she boarded and attended High School.
The next move was to Adelaide where they lived with Ron's sister, Jessie Gordon, at "Fawley" in Collingswood. Ron's health no longer enabled him to do heavy work. Here he did light work and tended the garden.
Eva cared for both Ron and Jessie in their declining years. Ron died at "Fawley" in 1960. He is buried with Eva in the Evergreen Cemetery, Enfield, Adelaide.
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| Died |
9 Sep 1937 |
Dry Plains, SA, Australia |
- Check whether he died on 31 Jul 1960 rather than 9th Sept 1937?
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| Buried |
Evergreen Cemetery, Enfield, Adelaide, SA |
| Person ID |
I107 |
Alexander & Jessie |
| Last Modified |
26 Apr 2018 |
| Father |
Alexander (jnr) GORDON, b. 4 Apr 1852, Larbert, Stirling, Scotland, UK , d. 21 Apr 1925, Wxx Laurences Private Hospital, Wakefield St, Hindmarsh West, Adelaide (Age 73 years) |
| Mother |
Annie SALTMARSH, b. 28 Oct 1853, Bugle Ranges via Hahndorf, SA, Australia , d. 4 Nov 1932 (Age 79 years) |
| Married |
31 Mar 1875 |
Christian Chapel, Groote St, Adelaide, SA, Australia |
- They might have been married in 1876 rather than 1875.
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| Children |
As well as their own 11 children, they also raised Alexander Duff Gordon whose mother died in an accident soon after he was born and his father, Coningsby, went to America. Baby Alexander was Alexander's and Annie's first grandchild - he was born in 1902, just 8 years after their youngest child |
| Residence |
Annie and Alexander farmed around the Strathalbyn district. They lived at 'Watulunga'. |
| Wedding |
Wedding : Alexander and Annie were married on 31st March 1875 at the Christian Chapel in Grote St, Adelaide.
The witnesses on the marriage certificate were Mary McGREGOR of Alma, Henry SALTMARSH of Lake Plains, and Robert D LAWRIE of Alma.
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| Family ID |
F36 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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