The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 565-566
Wyoming
HON. JOHN C. GORDON, M. D. A well-known figure in
medical circles of Wyoming County, Dr. John C. Gordon has
the mine practice of the Miller Pocahontas Coal Company
at Corinne, and has also the responsibility of a large general
clientele. In addition to being active as a medical and
surgical practitioner he is taking an active and prominent
part in civic affairs, and at the present time is discharging
the duties connected with the office of mayor. He is able
both as a physician and an executive, and has done much to
make Corinne a model coal camp.
Doctor Gordon was born at Lafayette, Montgomery
County, Virginia, on his father's farm, April 9, 1887, and
is a son of Joseph Thomas and Ella (Francis) Gordon.
Joseph T. Gordon was a very successful truck gardener and
an authority on agricultural subjects, more particularly
matters pertaining to watermelons. He was preparing a
series of articles on watermelon culture at the time of
his early death, in 1902, when he was only forty-eight years
of age. He sold the product from his farm at Roanoke,
Christianburg, Blacksburg and in the coal fields, and was
widely known as a man of integrity and fair dealing.
An advanced thinker, he was deeply interested in educational
affairs and always supported the public schools. His
religious connection was with the Baptist Church, while
Mrs. Gordon, who died in 1905, at thirty-eight years of
age, was a Methodist. They were the parents of three
sons and three daughters: Frank, who is a telegraph operator
in the employ of the Virginian Railroad Company, at El-
lett, Virginia: Doctor Joseph, who is a dental practitioner
at Kingsport, Tennessee; Pearl, the wife of D. C. Horsley,
in the United States Secret Service at Oakland, California;
Grace, who is married and living at Birmingham, Alabama;
Lillian, who died at the age, of thirty-two years, as the
wife of W. W. Gardner, of Lafayette, Virginia; and Dr.
John C.
John C. Gordon was a lad of fifteen years, with a public
school education, at the time of his father's death, when
he began to work to assist in the support of his mother
and sisters. Being desirous of further educational ad-
vantages, he attended high school part of the time and
worked hard to pay his way, being a member of an
engineering corps on the Virginian Railroad and a cross
engineer in the coal fields of Kentucky. Thus he secured
the means whereby he was able to enter Bell-Montgomery
Academy at Nashville, Tennessee, and in 1908 commenced
the study of medicine at the University of Tennessee, Nash-
ville, from which institution he was graduated as a member
of the class of 1912, receiving the degree of Doctor of
Medicine. At that time he located at Keystone, McDowell
County, West Virginia, taking up a mine practice, but
after two years removed to Fort Pierce, on the east coast
of Florida. After three years he removed to Chattanooga,
Tennessee, where he spent one year, going then to Mullens,
West Virginia, where he remained until 1921, the time of
his advent at Corinne. Doctor Gordon recognizes and
practices the highest ethics of his honored profession, and
those unable to pay a fee receive his professional services
free of charge. During the World war he acted as surgeon
for the Wyoming County Draft Board. Doctor Gordon is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has
been active in religious work for the past fifteen years. He
is a Master Mason at Graham, Virginia, belongs to the
Chapter at Princeton, West Virginia, and the Commandery
at Mount Hope, this state, and holds membership in the
Mystic Shrine at Charleston. As mayor of Corinne he has
effected many needed municipal improvements and has
discharged the duties of his office in a conscientious and
highly efficient manner.
Doctor Gordon married on his birthday, April 9, 1919,
Miss Ruth Barnett, daughter of G. A. Barnett, of Lynch-
burg, Virginia, and to this union there has been born one
daughter, Virginia Clifton.
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Submitted by:
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 23, 2000
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