Name/Title
Gordon family: Charles L. and Karen (Klomseth) Gordon, 1875 settlers in Bingham Township, Traill County, Dakota TerritoryEntry/Object ID
2024.522.1Description
This family history file contains information about the life of Charles L. and Karen (Klomseth) Gordon. Charles L (Chas) Gordon was born on 15 March 1849 to parents Hans Larson Gordon (photo, left) and Kjerste Gordon in Ringsaker, Hedemarken County, Norway. This information is provided on page 64 in "Traill County History (Yesteryears in Traill), Vol I" (below). Other information was kindly provided by Traci (Gordon) Petersen, great granddaughter of Chas Gordon's brother, Lars Gordon. Traci (Gordon) Petersen also provided the website link "www.orneveien.org" where comprehensive family history information is available on Gordon families, such as Chas Gordon, by clicking on "The Scandinavians" under a "Genealogy" heading, and then on "Gordon". This Gordon website provides family trees, maps, cemetery photos, Gordon reunion news and photos, newsletters, and other information (also see Catalogit family history entry 2024-523.1).
As described on page 64 in Yesteryears, in 1860, Chas came to America with his parents and siblings They first settled in La Crosse County, WI. In 1871, they moved to new lands available in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and the Dakota Territory. As they travelled through Becker County, Minnesota, Chas L. Gordon married Miss Karen Klomseth. They continued on and Chas, his father Hans, and brothers Lars and Andrew, settled on claims along the March River near what became the town of Shelly, Minnesota. These claims were later disrupted by a survey for a new railroad, so Chas and Lars Gordon moved west across the Red River and took claims in Traill County, DT.
As shown in an 1892 Atlas plat map for N. Caledonia (below), Chas L. Gordon took three claims of land in N. Caledonia Township, which later became Bingham Township. Chas Gordon had land in Sections 14, 16 and 22. The homestead was located in Section 14 along the Red River.
As shown on a 1892 Atlas map for the City of Hillsboro, we also know from 1910 Traill County tax records that Chas L. Gordon also owned Hillsboro town Lot 3 in Block 1 of the Sergeants Addition (see map, below). However, in 1910 there is no record of Chas Gordon being assessed for personal property in the City of Hillsboro, indicating that he resided with his family on their farmland in N Caledonia (Bingham) Township, not in the City of Hillsboro.
Chas and Karen Gordon had a toral of 14 children, as shown in a descendant's chart (below).
In the 1880 US Census for N Caledonia (later Bingham) Township (below), Chas Gordon's occupation was recorded as "Farmer". Chas and Karen (Christina) Gordon are listed with four children: Kate (age 8), Henry (4), Albert (3), and Clarence (1). Chas Gordon's brother, Martin Gordon, age 16, is also listed with them, as well as "Hire help" Lotti Olson", age 16.
In the 1900 US Census (below), Chas and Karen (Christina) were residing in the City of Hillsboro. Their house was number 5 on Fourth Street, the same address as given for Chas Gordon's brother Lars Gordon in 1900. Chas Grodon's occupation was recorded as "janitor, preacher". in 1900, six children were listed with Chas and Christina: Albert, Clarence, Malla (Mollie), Hulda, Charles and Bennett (Bennie).
By the 1910 US Census for Bingham Township (below), Chas and Karen (Christina) Gordon were listed with three children: Hulda, Charley, and Bennett, and three grandsons, Fred, Ernest and Joseph Peerson, children of Chas and Karen's daughter Mollie (see descendants' chart).
In the 1920 for Bingham Township (below), Chas, age 71, and Karen (Christina), age 72, were recorded in the household of their son, Charles Noah Gordon, age 34 (see descendants' chart). Also in the household were Hulda, age 36, and Bennett, 31. Three nephews of Charles N. Gordon, were also in the household: Fred, Ernest and Joseph Peerson, children of Mollie Gordon Peerson, as noted above.
In the 1930 for Bingham Township (below), Chas, age 81, and Karen (Christina), age 82, were recorded in the household of their grandson, Ernest Peerson, who apparently was renting their farmland. Chas and Christina's daughter, Hulda (age 48), and sons, Clarence (51) and Bennett (41) were also in the household.
Christina Prestegaarde Klomseth Gordon, passed away, age 84, on 6 June 1932 at home in Bingham Township, and she was interred in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Bingham Township (US Find-a-Grave monument, below). About six months later, Charles 'Chas' L. Gordon passed away, age 83, on 20 January 1933 in St. Micheals Hospital in Grand Forks (ND Death Certif.). He was also interred in the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Bingham Township (US Find-a-Grave monument, below).Acquisition
Accession
2024.522Source or Donor
Traci (Gordon) Petersen
