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388 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
of Mr. Dorrance was to take part prairie and part timber, but the survey 
whichsoon followed made it all timber. In ayear he had ten acres ready 
for cultivation. About 1857 he planted an orchard of 900 apple trees, 
among which were six Duchess of Oldenburgh. For that one act in the 
life of Mr. Dorrance, his memory should be perpetuated by a grateful peo- 
ple, for it was from one of those six Duchess that the Peerless apple tree 
sprang. The winter of 1872-73 to all but the six Duchess, some of 
which still live. 
() There are but few people in this state who have spent so much time and 
money to grow apples as Mr. Dorrance did, and although his losses in the 
cause of horticulture were heavy, still he never gave up. He lived and 
died a tree missionary; and it may truly be said of him, that the world is 
the better for his having lived. He died on the farm he had redeemed 
from the wilderness, November 11, 1882. 
Mr. Dorrance took an active part in our January meeting of 1868. His 
remarks were listened to with much interest, and his success gave much 
encouragement to all present. 
“JT shall one day stand by the water cold, 
_ And list for the sound of the boatman’s oar: 
I shall watch for a gleam of the flapping sail, 
I shall hear the boat as it gains the strand; 
I shall pass from sight with the boatman pale. 
To the better shore of the spirit land; 
I shall know the loved who have gone before. 
O. F. BRAND. 
CHARLES WILLIAM GORDON. 
' DIED AT LONG LAKE, MINN., SEPT. 27, 1891. 
Chas. W. Gordon was of Scotch-English ancestry and born at Spice 
Land, Indiana July 2, 1830. When but 9 years of age, his father died. 
At 17 he was apprenticed toacabinet maker with whom he worked three. 
years. April 15th, 1852 he was married to Miss Klizabeth Stubbs. In 1856 
he came to Minnesota. April 13, 1864 he enlisted in Co. F, 11th Minn. , 
Inft. Discharged June 26, 1865. Was a charter member of Gordon 
Granger Post at Long Lake and commander of the post at the time of 
his death, Sept. 27, 1891. He was buried at Long Lake with G.A. R. — 
honors by his.post assisted by J.B. Wakefield Post. After years of extreme 
suffering, his first wife died in 1884. By her he was the father of six chil- — ‘ 
dren, four of whom survive him, viz., Mrs. M. A. Lockwood, Mrs. Dia- 
dama Carr, Mrs. Sybil Caleman and Mrs. Ester I. Gray. In December,1887 
he was married to the widow of Alonzo Coleman,her maiden name having 
been Drusilla Allen, a lady of sterling worth, whosurvives him. Forafew _ 
brief years: she was in every true sense the parece of his joys and his 
SOTTOWS. 
As recorded by Mr. Gordon on page 188 of our report for 1891, he began. 
in earnest to grow apples in 1865, and,although a poor man during all the | 
past years, his faith never failed, and the beautiful young orchard of 700 — 
bearing trees, which he left as evidence of his faith, is probably the best 
in Hennepin County. He joined our society in January,1891, and was at 
once recognized as a valuable member, with whom in sadness we part. 
After long years of arduous toil in battling against adverse circumstan- 
ces, he had just reached a period where he would soon reap a rich harvest 
Ane 
Se,* 
