Arthur Harold Gordon (1901 to 1973) & Ruth Polly Wardle (1904 – 1989)

1. Arthur Harold Gordon (1901 to 1973) &
Ruth Polly Wardle (1904 – 1989)
Arthur Harold Gordon
Born: 18 Nov. 1901 at Mercur, Toole Co., Utah
Died: 31 August 1973 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
Burial: South Jordan, Salt Lake Co.,, Utah
Arthur Harold Gordon is the first of ten children of Samuel Arthur Gordon (1879 – 1938) and
Harriet Louisa Meikle (1879 – 1943)
MARRIED: 30 September 1921 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
Ruth Polly Wardle
Born: 4 April 1904 at West Jordan, Salt Lake Co., Utah
Died: 9 December 1989 at Murray City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
Burial: South Jordan, Salt Lake Co.,, Utah
Ruth Polly Wardle is the seventh of eight children of Isaac Wardle (1869 – 1921) and Emily Elizabeth
Egbert (1869 – 1956).
Arthur Harold Gordon born 18 November 1901, at Mercur, Utah, a mining
town south and west of the point of the mountain. At the age of six-months
the town caught fire and burned down, because of this the family moved to
Smithfield, Utah, the hometown of Harold's mother.
http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/mercur.html
Back To Utah Historical Sites - Mercur,

2. His father homesteaded a dry farm south and east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Here, many happy days were
spent helping his father work on the farm, Fishing in the creek, and taking long rides into Idaho Falls for
supplies. His first schooling was at home by his father, then at Taylor Idaho where he became the janitor.
Harold was baptized in the Taylor Creek.
Later he attended schools at Smithfield and Logan, giving the Valedictorian address at the A.C.
graduation exercised. He was very active both in school and church work.
On September 10, 1920 he was ordained as Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He
met his future wife on August 22, 1920 and the following year on September 30, 1921, took his lovely
bride, Ruth Wardle, to the Salt Lake Temple where Joseph Fielding Smith performed the ceremony.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8GR-VKM
He worked in the office of Grant Reality Company, going to Sacramento, California in 1924. He started
in the construction line of work, he worked on the Boulder Dam and many other great jobs in California,
Nevada, Idaho, and Utah In 1928 he helped build the first lodge and cabins in Grand Canyon He than
went to Zion's Canyon to help build the Mount Carmel highway, and tunnel. He has worked on many
ward chapels. schools, hospitals, stores, and the Welfare Square. His last work was helping remodel the
interior of the Salt Lake Temple.
In November of 1956 we received our mission call, leaving Salt Lake City on December 30 for the South
Pacific Islands, we arrived at Tonga via the Hawaiian and Fiji Islands. The first chapel dedication was in
March, 1957 in Nuku'alofa District, Tonga. We lived in a cabin a short distance from the Liohona
College. Harold worked on the new class rooms and dining area.
On March 27, 1957 we were transferred to the Island of American Samoa. Our home was some what
different. We were the fifth couple to arrive and our first night was spent out on the ever growing grass
as a mattress made of gunny sacks and wrapping paper for our bedding, because our trunks were still on
the ship, headed for New Zealand. We had to build our own cabin and furniture. Harold helped to build
several chapels and worked on the college on this Island. The Second dedication we attended was May 19,
1957 at Nu'uuliBranch, Mapusaga District, American Samoa Our friendships and associations with the
Polynesians have been most faith promoting and valuable---our testimonies have grown and we have
many dear and lovely memories.

3. Harold was injured on March 17, 1942 in an accident at the small arms plant construction on Redwood
Road west of Salt Lake City. His right hip was crushed and a severe head injury was sustained. He is at
present in a rest home completely paralyzed on the right side and unable to speak because of a stroke he
suffered on July 26 1970, this was caused by a tumor started by this accident in 1942. His name is kept in
the temple at all times by his family.
He is the father of six children, two girls and two boys have returned
to our heavenly father We have two lovely daughters and their fine
husbands, we are proud to own as sons. Eight of our nine
grandchildren are living and we now have nine great grandchildren.
Harold has lived a good life-- has filled three Stake Missions besides
the foreign mission, has been president of his Elders, Seventies, and
High Priest 's quorums. He has been active in Civic affairs and in the
Carpenter's Union serving in many offices and offering much
consolation to the bereaved widowed of the members. When serving
as Vice President of the union he wrote articles each month for the
bulletin.
"On the Level" and in closing I would like to quote from one he
wrote in November of 1966. " It seems to me that we just get out of
one revolution into another. A series of crises in which we take
farewell of the past and meet the future with courage and power
based on the eternal principle of faith in ourselves, in God our
Father, and in each other. I think the greatest power on earth is the
power of love. Who am I to pass judgment on my fellowmen? I
cannot forget that when life has knocked me to my knees, well then,
this position is in which to pray isn't it? On our knees, that's where I
learned the hard way. As a people, as a nation we have much to be thankful for."
His family and close friends hope and pray that the good Lord will bless and release him from this
present illness in the Lord's own due time. Harold Gordon was released from this life on 31 Aug 1973 &
his wife, Polly Ruth Wardle Gordon on 9 Dec. 1989.
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MARRIAGE
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8GR-VKM
Arthur Harold Gordon, "Utah, Marriages, 1887-1966"
groom's name: Arthur Harold Gordon
groom's birth date: 18 Nov 1901 groom's birthplace: Mercur, Utah groom's age: 19
bride's name: Polly Ruth Wardle
bride's birth date: 04 Apr 1904 bride's birthplace: W. Jordan bride's age: 17
marriage date: 30 Sep 1921 marriage place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
groom's father's name: Sam A. Gordon groom's mother's name: Mary H. Mickle
bride's father's name: Isaac Wardle bride's mother's name: Emily E. Egpert
groom’s race: White groom's marital status: Single
bride's race: White bride's marital status: Single

4. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLHV-69K
1910 Harold Gordon in household of Samuel A Gordon, "United States Census"
Name: Harold Gordon
Event Place: Taylor, Bingham, Idaho, United States
Gender: Male, Age: 8, Marital Status: Single
Birth Year (Estimated): 1902, Birthplace: Utah
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8P8-8N7?treeref=KWCN-YR8
1920 Arthur H Gordon in household of Samuel A Gordon “United States Census”
Name: Arthur H Gordon
Event Place: Precinct 9, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
Gender: Male, Age: 18, Marital Status: Single
Birth Year (Estimated): 1902, Birthplace:, Utah
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8PX-JGV
1920 Arthur H Gordon in household of Edwin C Leonhardy, "United States Census ??
Event Place: Rains, Carbon, Utah, United States
Name: Arthur H Gordon Residence:, Carbon, Utah
Estimated Birth Year: 1902 Age: 18 Birthplace: Utah
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH6K-Z3Z?treeref=KWCN-YR8
1930 Harold Gordon in household of Edgar W Julian “United States Census”
Event Place: Park City, Summit, Utah, United States
Name: Harold Gordon
Gender: Male , Age: 28, Marital Status: Single , Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Boarder
Birth Year (Estimated): 1902, Birthplace: Utah
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VT4J-6BH
1940 Arthur Gordon, "United States Census"
name: Arthur Gordon
event place: Ward 2, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Precinct, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
gender: Male age: 38 marital status: Married race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (standardized): Head
birthplace: Utah estimated birth year: 1902 residence in 1935: Same House
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Arthur Gordon M 38 Utah
wife Ruth W Gordon F 36 Utah
daughter Virginia Gordon F 12 Arizona

5. Arthur Harold Gordon - 1901 to 1973
Mother: Harriet L. Meikle Gordon 1906 1924
1901
1920-30 1938 1967

6. Ruth Polly Wardle – 1904 to 1989
1958 1973
Arthur Harold Gordon - 1901 to 1973
Ruth Polly Wardle – 1904 to 1989

7. Your tombstone stands neglected and alone.
The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who care. It is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist. You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our heart contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled so many years ago.
Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.
I wonder as you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot and come to visit you.
Author Unknown

8. FIND A GRAVE
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28520423
Arthur Harold Gordon
Birth: Nov. 18, 1901
Death: Aug. 31, 1973
Burial: South Jordan Cemetery South Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah
Married: 30 September 1921 at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
FIND A GRAVE
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28520364
Polly Ruth W. Gordon
Birth: Apr. 4, 1904
Death: Dec. 9, 1989
Burial: South Jordan Cemetery South Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah