Gustav Gordon

GORDON, GOTHOMPSON, SUNDERMEYER, HELLAND, KITTELSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/24/2010 at 05:43:18

GUSTAV GORDON

Gustav Gordon, cashier of the State Bank of Thompson, claims Wisconsin as his native state, his birth occurring in Primrose township, Dane county, on the llth of October, 1869, and he is a son of Knute and Bertha (Gothompson) Gordon. The father was born in Norway but was only a year old when brought to this country, and the mother was born in Albany, Wisconsin. After reaching manhood Knute Gordon followed fanning in Wisconsin until 1881, when he removed to North Dakota, and there purchased land which he operated for seven years. In 1889 he became a resident of Palo Alto county, Iowa, where he also owned land and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1893, when he was only forty-seven years of age. His widow is now a resident of Thompson, Iowa, and has attained the age of sixty-eight years. To this worthy couple were born fourteen children, of whom the following are still living: Gustav, of this review; Mrs. W. C. Sundermeyer, of Rake, Iowa; Sever B., engaged in the real estate business in Madelia, Minnesota; Carl, a farmer of Palo Alto county, Iowa; Mrs. A. E. Helland, of Rake; Anna and Marie, who are living with their mother, the latter a teacher in the Thompson schools; and Henry, who is attending Luther College at Decorah, Iowa.

Gustav Gordon accompanied his parents on their removal to North Dakota and the greater part of his education was acquired in the schools of Mayville, that state. Later he took a business course at the Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, Iowa, and then accepted a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Emmetsburg, Iowa, where he remained for five years. For three years he was cashier of their branch bank at Cylinder, Iowa, and in 1911 came to Thompson, Winnebago county, and purchased an interest in the State Bank of Thompson, of which he has since been cashier. The bank is today one of the most solid and prosperous financial institutions of this section of the state, its deposits now amounting to one hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars. The capital is thirty thousand dollars and there is a surplus of eight thousand dollars. The officers are B. J. Thompson, president; J. O. Osmundson, vice president; Gustav Gordon, cashier; and H. W. Nelson, assistant cashier, all good reliable business men. Besides his interest in the bank Mr. Gordon is a stockholder and director in the Town Mutual Telephone Company and a stockholder and treasurer of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company.

In June, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gordon and Miss Clara Kittleson, and to them have been born four children, namely: Verna, born September 21, 1909; Vivian, born in September, 1912; Ruth, born in July, 1914; and Ruby, who was born March 21, 1917, and died five days later.

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are members of the Lutheran church and he is an ardent republican in politics, taking an active and commendable interest in public affairs. He has efficiently served as a member of the town council and has also been treasurer of the independent school district. He occupies an enviable position in business circles, being a man of good executive ability and thoroughly reliable in all transactions.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 248-249.