PIONEER HISTORY OF

Frances Jane Gordon (1848 – 1915) Files of: Erma P. Gordon Anderson (additions by Joe Anderson)

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Frances Jane Gordon

Born: 12 Dec 1848, Castle-Eden, Durham, England

Baptized: 21 Apr 1853

Died: 12 Jul 1915, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Castle Eden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a

short distance to the south of Peterlee, Wingate, the A19 and Castle

Eden Dene. Was a coal mining town at the time they lived in Castle

Eden.

Castle Eden Dene is a dene in County Durham, south of Peterlee and

north of Castle Eden. It is a National Nature Reserve which cuts

through the magnesian limestone of east Durham from Wingate down

to the coast between Horden and Blackhall. It is rich in flora and

fauna including the rare Durham Argus butterfly and stands of

ancient Yew trees. Castle Eden Dene is the largest area of semi-

natural woodland in north-east England, renowned for yew trees. The

tangled landscape is a survivor of the wildwood that once covered

most of Britain.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/SGJP-MWN

"England and Wales Census, 1851," Frances Gordon, England

name: Frances Gordon, age: 2, gender: Female, birthplace: Castle Eden, Durham

relationship to head of household: Daughter, record type: Household

Father, John Henry Gordon, worked as a pitman “coalminer” in Castle Eden.

Castle Eden, England 1886

Church of England Parishes, Castle Eden St. James, Location: Durham County

http://www.interment.net/data/eng/durham/castleden/stjames.htm

John Henry his family and his parents joined the LDS Church in England

Father, John Henry, his wife Hannah and 4 children {Frances Jane (b: 1848), Foster (b:1850) Robert (b:

1853) and John Henry (b:1855}) left England between 1855 and 1860 and crossed the Atlantic in a sailing

ship. It took them six weeks to cross.

They settled on a farm in Ohio, near where Columbus is now. They lived there awhile then joined

Captain Murdock's ox train at Florence, Nebraska and traveled to Utah which arrived in SLC, Utah 10

Sept. 1861.

INSERT: Father, John Henry Gordon, was a coal miner in England. It is interesting to note that coal

mining was a major industry in Ohio during the 1850’s 1860 and on to the present day. John Henry Gordon,

may have found employment in the Ohio coal mines.

1890 US Census

Over the kitchen table, it may be hard to remember dates from 30 year before.

According to 1890 Census,

Foster Gordon: Lists Immigration year: 1859

Robert Gordon: Lists Immigration year: 1863

Their brothers were born in SLC, Utah: Samuel (born 1861) and George (born 1863)

IMMIGRATION- RECORDS ARE CONTRIDICTORY OR NOT AVAILABLE

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 John R. Murdock Company (1861) http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-215,00.html

John Henry Gordon and his family are not listed, in the above record, as traveling with this Company.

There is not an official roster. The site above (the historical record) list about 156 individuals. The Company

had about 50 wagons and about 18 people were assigned to each wagon which equals 900 people. So, it is not

unusual that many families are not listed in the available records.

John R. Murdock Company (1861)

Depart: SLC, Utah, 1 May 1861

Departure: Florence, Neb, 4 July 1861

Arrival Salt Lake Valley: Abt 10 September 1861

Company Information:

This company consisted mostly of Scandinavian Saints from the ship "Monarch of the Sea" when it

began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha).

NOTE: Ancestor Harriet Louisa Peacock’s sister, Emily Ellen Peacock & husband Thomas Smith, are listed

in the record as traveling with the 1861 Murdock Team.

Trail Excerpt: Murdock, John Riggs

In the year 1861 I [John R. Murdock] was called," he says, "to take charge of a Church train consisting

of fifty wagons and as many drivers. There

were four yoke of oxen to each wagon. It was

our mission to go down to the Missouri river

and bring emigrants to Utah. After making

our preparations, we started (From SLC,

Utah) about the first of May, 1861. Grass was

short; consequently we had to use great care

in providing suitable food for our teams, and

to drive prudently until the grass improved.

Before leaving Salt Lake City we loaded up

with flour and other provisions to meet the

needs of the emigrants with whom we were to

return. These supplies we deposited at

certain points along the road, so that we

could use them on our return.

"It generally took about nine weeks to cross the plains. "Our first trip down," he says, "was without any

particular incident. We remained at the river a short time and then loaded the luggage of the emigrants

into our wagons. There were from sixteen to twenty persons, men, women, and children, assigned to each

wagon. Those who were old enough to walk were expected to do so the greater part of the way. They

would ride, occasionally, when the roads were good. I always appointed two men whose duty it was to

look after the passengers. It was certainly novel to see a train starting out with everything that could be

put into wagons and everything that could be tied to the outside, such as buckets, cans and all kinds of

cooking utensils. It reminded one of an old turkey with a brook of young ones keeping her company.

Generally there were about seven hundred passengers in one train. The organization was systematic and

complete. It consisted of a captain, an assistant, a chaplain, a quarter-master, hospital steward, a camp

guard, and a night guard for the stock. The chaplain took charge of the religious services, and we had

prayer night and morning. We also had a choir with its leader. The people were called together by means

of a bugle." The experiences of the emigrants were educational as well as fraternal. These attachments

resulted in life-long friendships.

Continued: Frances Gordon The family first settled in the [Salt Lake City] 10th Ward. Frances Jane’s Grandparents, Foster & Sarah

Frances Gordon, came to Utah during 1863. Then they all moved to Hoytsville. Her father and

grandfather were stone masons by trade and built a flour mill in Coalville.

http://www.co.summit.ut.us/history/coalville/coalville.html

The family then located at Clover, Rush Valley, Tooele Co., Utah

Her Grandparents moved to Skull Valley, Utah as caretakers at aranch. However, on 22 Oct 1865, they

were both murdered at their home on the Park Ranch.

Frances Jane’s father hauled freight and after settling his family and establishing himself in Salt Lake he

secured a good team and wagon and started back across the plains by way of the Oregon Trail. He was

last heard from [in 1868] at Blackfoot, Idaho. It is thought he was killed by Indians or other foul means.

Frances Jane Gordon Married: Richard Green, about 1863. The Green family lived very close by the

Gordon Family in Clover, Utah. They had no children. Richard Green died 1870 of drowning in Bear

River in Idaho. He is buried at St. John, Tooele, Utah.

Frances Jane Gordon married William Mills, 1870-71. They had 5 children.

Foster Born: 23 Feb 1872 at Clover Creek, Tooele, Utah

William A. Jr. Born: 17 Sep 1873 at Clover Creek, Tooele, Utah

John Born: 11 Aug 1875 at Clover Creek, Tooele, Utah

Louis Mathias Jr. Born: 7 Sep 1877 at Clover Creek, Tooele, Utah

Frances (Frank) James Born: 1 Feb 1890 at Stockton, Tooele, Utah

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNS2-BK3

1880 William Mills, "United States Census" Name:William Mills Event Place:Clover, Tooele, Utah, United tates

Gender:MaleAge:32Marital Status:MarriedOccupation:Laborer

Race (Original):W Ethnicity:American Relationship to Head of Household: Self

Birthplace:Utah, United StatesBirth Date:1848

Spouse's Name:Fannie Mills Spouse's Birthplace:Utah, United States

Father's Birthplace:England:Mother's Birthplace:England

Household Gender Age Birthplace

Self William Mills M 32 Utah, United States

Wife Fannie Mills F 30 Utah, United States ? (Frances)

Son Foster Mills M 8 Utah, United States

Son Wm A. Mills M 6 Utah, United States

Son John Mills M 4 Utah, United States

Son Mathew Mills M 2 Utah, United States

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https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMRR-73D

1900 William Milles, "United States Census” Name: William Milles, Event Place: ED 148 Stockton Precinct, Tooele, Utah, United States

Birth Date: Jul 1840 Birthplace: New York Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Father's Birthplace: Ireland, Mother's Birthplace: Ireland

Race: White, Gender: Male, Marital Status: Married, Years Married: 32, Marriage Year (Estimated): 1868

Household Gender Age Birthplace

Head William Milles M 60 New York

Wife Francis J. Milles F 54 Pennsylvania ?

Son William Milles M 28 Utah

Son Francis J. Milles M 10 Utah

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https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M5X8-PJP

1910 William Mills, "United States Census, 1910" Name:William Mills Event Place:Stockton, Tooele, Utah, United StatesDistrict:178Gender:Male Age:68

Marital Status:Married Race:White Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Birth Year (Estimated):1842 Birthplace:New York

Father's Birthplace:IrelandMother's Birthplace:Ireland

Household Gender Age Birthplace

Head William Mills M 68 New York

Wife Frances J Mills F 64 Scotland ?

Son William F Mills M 37 Utah

Son Francis Mills M 20 Utah

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http://cemeteries.utah.gov/burials/execute/viewburial?id=1006570&cemeteryid=TL2800

Burial Information: MILLS, WILLIAM

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1915 Frances Jane Mills, "Utah, Deaths and Burials" Name: Frances Jane Mills Gender: Female

Burial Place: Tooele, Utah Death Date: 12 Jul 1915 Death Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Age: 67 Birth Date: 19 Dec 1847 Birthplace: Scotland

Race: White Marital Status: Widowed

Father's Name: John Gordon Father's Birthplace: Scotland

Mother's Name: Unknown Mother's Birthplace: Scotland

William Mills Born* 1841, Utah; Died 18 Feb 1915 and is buried at Tooele Cemetery, Tooele, Utah

* Per 1880 Census

Frances Jane Died: 12 July 1915, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah and was buried at Tooele Cemetery,

Tooele, Utah

Birth: 7/18/1841 Death: 2/18/1915 Burial: 2/21/1915

Place of Birth: NEW YORK

Place of Death: Grave Location: Tooele City Cemetery , 8-035-10

Source: Comments:

Relatives: O'CONNOR, MARY (Mother) MILLS, JOHN (Father)

GORDON, FRANCES JANE (Spouse)

Your tombstone stands neglected and alone.

The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone.

It reaches out to all who care. It is too late to mourn.

You did not know that I exist. You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.

Our heart contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled one hundred years ago.

Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.

I wonder as you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew

That someday I would find this spot and come to visit you. Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97465

Frances Jane Gordon Mills Birth: Dec. 19, 1847,

Death: Jul. 12, 1915

Burial: Tooele City Cemetery , Tooele, Tooele Co., Utah, USA

Plot: 8-35-2

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28905636

Richard C Green Memorial# 28905636 Burial: Saint John Cemetery , Rush Valley, Tooele County, Utah, USA

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97464

William Mills Birth: Jul. 18, 1841 - Death: Feb. 18, 1915

Burial: Tooele City Cemetery , Tooele, Tooele County, Utah, USA

Plot: 8-35-1

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SON

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=98931

Foster Mills Burial: Tooele City Cemetery, Tooele, Tooele County, Utah, USA

Plot: 5-23-1

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SON

William Mills Burial: Tooele City Cemetery, Tooele, Tooele County, Utah, USA

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SON:

John Mills

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8G2-K9S

John Mills, "Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1937"

Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 19 Nov 1900 Event Place: Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Age: 25 Birth Year (Estimated): 1875

Spouse's Name: Stella R. Mcbride

Spouse's Age: 24 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1876

Find A Grave

https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=KN8J-GJX

SON: John Mills

Birth 11 August 1875, Clover Creek, Tooele, Utah, United States

Death 13 September 1952, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Burial: Paso Robles District Cemetery, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA

Plot: 127 36

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SON

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=97469

Lewis Matthew Mills Burial: Tooele City Cemetery, Tooele, Tooele County, Utah, USA

Plot: 8-35-8

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SON

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=%2097466

Francis James Mills Burial: Tooele City Cemetery, Tooele, Tooele County, Utah, USA

Plot: 8-35-3