Henry Gordon

Henry Gordon (June 19, 1816 – 1898) was a preacher and church planter who took over Pipestone Baptist Church in 1848 after the founding Pastor R. G. Davis became ill and was no longer able to serve. He also united the Baptist Church of Georgetown and founded Looney Springs (now called Campbell Hill), and the Illinois Association of Free Communion Baptists. Early life Henry Gordon was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to George and Nancy Gordon of the Cumberland Valley Gordons. Both of his parents were of Scottish descent, having immigrated to the United States in 1697. His grandfather was actually born during the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Gordon grew up along the Meramec River in Missouri where his father had built and operated a gristmill. At 19 years old, Henry married a young woman by the name of Rebecca Young and received a of land from his father, which he sold not too long after, moving to southern Illinois just outside Georgetown to a town called Short’s Prairie (now called Steeleville). Illinois Shortly after moving to Short’s Prairie, Gordon united the Baptist church of Georgetown and was ordained by the Missionary Baptist Church. However, he soon realized that he was not educated enough to preach the gospel and moved his family to Alton, Illinois, where he attended Shurtleff Theological College.