S. Anna Gordon

Early life

S. Anna Gordon was born in Charlemont, Massachusetts, on January 9, 1832. On her father's side she was a descendant of John Steele Sr (1591-1665), who established the town, now city, of Hartford, Connecticut. Among the distinguished persons in her family lineage was Noah Webster, the son of Noah Webster Sr. and Mercy Steele, a descendant of Governor William Bradford of Plymouth Colony. On her mother's side she is a descendant of William Ward, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, many of whose descendants won historic distinction as military men and statesmen.

When Gordon was young, her parents moved to New York, where she was reared and took the first year of a college course of study, which was afterwards completed in Illinois.

Gordon graduated in 1889 with honors from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago.

Career

Before marrying, S. Anna Gordon had charge of the ladies' department in Rock River Seminary, and subsequently the same position was twice tendered her in Ripon College (Wisconsin). She was offered the posistion of principal of the newly formed State Normal school of Wisconsin. She attended teachers' institutes, wherever held throughout the State, for the purpose of agitating the subject of a normal school, until the desire became an object accomplished.

After her marriage Gordon immediately commenced the study of medicine with her husband, attended a partial course of lectures, and was called upon by the people to assist him in an overburdening practice.

In 1859 and i860 the Gordons were connected with the Smithsonian Institution, taking meteorological notes and making collections for the same.

Gordon filled an engagement of one year as associate editor on the Central Wisconsin, and then joined her husband in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was stationed most of the time during the Civil War.

In Louisville Gordon gave considerable time to the study of art, the remaining time being devoted to the relief of the suffering soldiers around her. Situated near her husband's headquarters at one time was a camp of homeless southern refugees, overtaken by the smallpox. They could find no physician to serve them. Gordon's husband was prohibited both by want of time and the exposures it would bring to the soldiers. She learned of their pitiful condition and at once went to their relief and fought the scourge until it vanished.

Gordon served her husband as hospital officer in different capacities as unavoidable circumstances created vacancies not readily supplied.

Gordon was a weekly contributor to the literary columns of the Louisville Sunday Journal during the war. She has been a member of the Dante Society of America since its organization, and in 1882 and 1883 was State editor for the Missouri Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the Chicago Signal.

During a residence in Denver, Colorado, Gordon was the first person to suggest the demand for the newsboys' home there, which she had the opportunity of aiding in establishing. She was also assistant superintendent of Chinese work in that city for some time.

Gordon was the author of: Music of Waters, Missing Gems, Pebbles, Camping in Colorado with Suggestions to Gold Seekers, Tourists and Invalids (1879, The Author's Publishing Company, 1st edition, 1882, W B Smith & Co., New York, 2nd edition), and several papers and poems that have entered into other collections. Camping in Colorado descrived her and her family's adventures as they camped in the Rocky Mountains near Denver: "At the gates of the park we discovered an open cabin. It was built of unhewn logs, and covered with earth. The windows were gone, and the paths that once led to it were overgrown with bramble. We learned that this had been the home of Mountain Jim, who, during his life, had been known as trapper, hunter, fishman, and more. The desolate cabin still serves as a monument to his memory; and it is pointed out to strangers, the thrilling of this strange life and tragic death are related; all of which have become historically associated with the park" --S. Anna Gordon.

In medicine Gordon was a homceopathist.

Personal life

S. Anna Gordon married in 1858, W. A. Gordon, M. D., of Wausau, Wisconsin. After the Civil War they moved to Hannibal, Missouri.