Urias Gordon, a retired farmer of Jefferson Township, is a Virginian, born January 25, 1830, being the second of eight children born to John T. and Elizabeth (Berry) Gordon, also Virginians, who immigrated to Ohio in 1835, where they spent three years, and then came to Missouri and settled on a tract of land on Moreau Creek, in Cole County. The father set diligently to work to make a home for his family, and added to his original purchase until he became the owner of about 700 acres of land, and previous to his death had put in a tillable condition nearly 300 acres of wild land. His wife's death followed his by a few years. Urias Gordon's advantages for receiving an education were quite limited, owing to the fact that the management of his father's large farm fell on his shoulders while he was still quite young. At the age of nineteen years he went to California with an uncle, John O. Gordon, to dig gold, their caravan consisting of about twenty wagons, and their destination being reached at the end of four months. He was engaged in mining and store-keeping in California for about two years, and did quite well financially. On his return home he lived with his father three years, and during this time was married to Miss Catherine Gordon. Shortly after he bought a tract of land, consisting of 360 acres, in Cole County, on which farm some slight improvements had been made. He has about 150 acres of fine bottom land cleared and under cultivation, on which is a good frame residence, orchard and barns. His land produces about twenty-five bushels of wheat and forty bushels of corn to the acre. He has raised a great deal of stock, and always takes pains to keep a good grade. In 1882 he and family moved to Sedalia, but becoming tired of the town they returned to their farm the next year, where they have since resided. In l886 their house with its entire contents was destroyed by fire. and Mr. Gordon then built a handsome brick residence, in which he is now residing. He has given land to each of his children, and sold the homestead to his son-in-law, John St. Clair, a native of Boone County. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and she and Mr. Gordon became the parents of eleven children, five of whom are living: Enos, who is married and lives in Cole County; Charles, also married; Burns, Leona, wife of Alexander Monahan, residing in Cole County, and Elizabeth, wife of John St. Clair. Mr. Gordon's uncle, John C. Gordon, was a prominent man in his time, and for thirty years was warden of the State's prison at Jefferson City. He afterward settled in the State of California, where he was also appointed prison warden, and where he died.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).