1. 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
2. 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)
3. 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
4. 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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5. 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)
6. 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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7. 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
