Columbia in Maury County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Capt. John Gordon
B. July 15, 1763 – D. 1819
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 24, 2022
1. Capt. John Gordon Marker
Born near Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1763, John Gordon settled in Nashville about 1782. On the frontier, Gordon made a name for himself as an Indian fighter. He was commissioned by Territorial Governor William Blount as a militia captain in 1793. Gordon served with distinction during the famous Nickajack Expedition, and won the praise of his commanding officers. As Tennessee neared statehood, he became a Justice of the Peace for Davidson County in 1795 and the first postmaster of Nashville in 1796.By 1802, Gordon had made an agreement with the Chickasaw Indians allowing him to operate a trading post and ferry on the Duck River. He would eventually receive six hundred forty acres near the ferry from the State of Tennessee. Between the years of 1808 and 1812, he transitioned his family from Nashville to life on the Natchez Trace.
John Gordon was not home for long, though. In 1812, he left his family at their Duck River homestead and marched with Andrew Jackson against the Red Stick Indians. Gordon commanded a company of “spies,” or scouts. Information obtained directly by Gordon was used by Andrew Jackson to capture Pensacola,
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 24, 2022
2. Capt. John Gordon Marker
this page online
While he was gone, his wife saw to it that construction began on a brick two-story home near their ferry. He wrote at least one letter home to Dolley instructing her where to place windows in 1818. The home was completed the same year. The home (pictured to the right) was one of the most elegant structures on the frontier.
Gordon would only live in the home for a few months. He died in June 1819 of pneumonia. Originally buried near their home on the Natchez Trace, John and Dolley Gordon now rest under the two box tombs located straight ahead.
Erected by Rose Hill Cemetery.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce • War of 1812 • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is July 15, 1763.
Location. 35° 36.265′ N, 87° 1.722′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Tennessee, in Maury County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Cemetery Street and South Glade Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is in Block M of Rose Hill Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 219 Cemetery St, Columbia TN 38401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nathan Vaught (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. Joseph A. Irvine
National Park Service (public domain)
3. The Gordon House
The Federal-style house was built on a modified hall-and-parlor plan, with Gordon specifying the placement of three downstairs windows during construction. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also see . . . Gordon House: A Home on the Natchez Trace. The brick home of Captain John Gordon and his family, built in 1818, was one of the more impressive homes in the area. It was a landmark for travelers of the Old Trace, letting them know that soon they would be in Nashville, Tennessee, where simple human comforts could be found after weeks of walking on a well-traveled but rustic trail. (National Park Service) (Submitted on April 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 26, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
