Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/363

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Bulloch and Miss Olive Skelton in "Gor- dons Under Arms," a biographical cyclo- pedia of Gordons who have borne arms throughout the world, contributing a large part of the American section. Me delivered the annual address before the West Virginia State Bar Association, at Martinsburg, Jan- uary 5, 1900, on "The Citizens and the Re- public," and an address on "Judge William McLaughlin." before the visitors, faculty and students of Washington and Lee Uni- versity, in June, 1903. He has made many other addresses on various occasions.

Mr. Gordon has composed and read the following memorial and dedicatory poems on the several occasions named : "The Gar- den of Death," at the unveiling of the monu- ment to the Confederate dead in Thornrose Cemetery, .Staunton, Virginia, September 25, 1888; "Roses of Memory," before the Pickett-Buchanan Camp of Confederate Veterans at Norfolk, Virginia, on Memorial Day, June 19, 1890; "Pro Monumento Super Milites Interemptos," at the unveiling of the monument to the private soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy at Richmond, Virginia, May 30, 1894; "The Fostering Mother," at the dedication of the new buildings at the University of Virginia. October 27. 1895; "Mosby's Men," at the seventh annual re- union of the survivors of the Forty-third Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, at Fairfax Courthouse. Virginia. September 11. igoo; "Vital Lampada ; A Song for a Centenary Year," before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of William and Mary College, February 19, 1901 ; "The Stonewall Brigade," at the re- union of the Stonewall Brigade at Staun- ton, October 16, 1901 ; "The Head Master," at the presentation of a portrait of Captain William Gordon McCabe to the University of \'irginia, by his "Old Boys;" and "New Market: A Threnody," at the dedication, June 23, 1903, of Sir Moses Ezekiel's monu- ment at Lexington, Virginia, to the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute who fell in the battle of New Market.

Mr. Gordon was the originator of the agitation for the creation of the office of president of the University of Virginia, hav- ing, in June, 1897, while a member of the board of visitors of that institution, first oflfered a resolution for the appointment of a special committee of the board to inquire into and report upon the expediency of creating such an office. As chairman of this special committee. Air. Gordon drafted and

filed a majority report, recommending the establishment of the office of president. This report met with the approval of the majority of the visitors, but action on it was in- definitely postponed owing to the antag- onism which the proposition aroused in many directions. The seed was sown, how- ever, and a few years later the office was created, and Dr. Edwin A. Alderman ap- pointed. It may be further mentioned that it was upon the motion of Mr. Gordon that the inscription was placed over the portico of the academic building of the university : "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free," a text from the Gospel of St. John, which has since come to be recognized as the motto that best illustrates the spirit of the university. In June, 1906, the College of William and Mary, Virginia, conferred on Mr. Gordon the honorary de- gree of Doctor of Laws.

Mr. Gordon married, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, Virginia, October 17, 18S3. Maria Breckinridge Catlett, eldest daughter of Nathaniel Pendleton and Eliza- beth (Breckinridge) Catlett, and of this union there were born five children, viz. : Margaret Douglas, Mary Daniel, James Lindsay, Armistead Churchill and George Loyall.

In 1901 Mr. Gordon was invited by a written request of almost one thousand of the citizens of Augusta county and Staun- ton to become their candidate to represent the county and city in the state convention then called to assemble in Richmond, to make a new constitution for the common- wealth. This complimentary request, how- ever, was declined by him for personal rea- sons. Mr. Gordon's biography has appeared in each consecutive volume of "Who's \\'ho in America" since the publication of the first \'olume.

George Gibson Worsham. George Gibson Worsham. of Richmond, is a son of John Henry and Alary Bell (Pilcher) Worsham. who had children: i. Bell, married S. Ed- ward Bates, Jr., and had daughters, Mil- dred and Mary. 2. Jessie, died in infancy. 3. George Gibson, of further mention. 4. Natalie, wife of W. \\'irt Henry, and mother of John W. Henry. George Gibson Worsham is a grandson of Richard and Clark R. (God- din) Worsham. the latter a sister of Welling- ton Goddin. Mr. Worsham's father, John H. Worsham, was a Confederate soldier, having