Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Erie Cemetery History Project


George Fadden (1847-1935)
Geneva (Gordon) Fadden (1851-1918)

George Hobart Fadden was born Dec. 8, 1847, on a farm near Clarenceville, Quebec, Canada, the son of Ira and Lucinda (Patterson) Fadden. Being the oldest of twelve children, he left home at the age of 17 to be on his own.

After a few years working as a carpenter in Massachusetts and Vermont, he returned to Canada. He later went to Sterling, IL, where he worked building the dam. In the fall of 1868, he came to Erie and was engaged in railroad construction for six years. He then joined William Guthrie in the butchering and livestock business. After four years he carried on the business by himself and continued for ten years. In 1885 he turned his attention to farming.

Geneva Gordon was born Oct. 18, 1852, in Rushford, Allegany County, NY, the daughter of Lorenzo and Orissa (Rawson) Gordon. She and her family moved to Erie in 1854. She was married to Mr. Fadden on Sept. 22, 1875.

Mr. Fadden farmed his father-in-law's home place within the Erie village limits. (This property is located at the intersection of Main Street and the BNSF railroad tracks.) He established the Rock River Dairy, delivering milk to townspeople in a milk wagon with a team of horses.

Mr. Fadden and R.T. James owned a skating rink at the corner of Main Street and 9th Avenue in Erie. It burned in the fire of 1897. It was at this location that he built a fine home when he left the farm in 1904.

Always active in community affairs, he was one of the original stockholders and directors of the First National Bank of Erie. He was a member of the Erie Masonic Lodge. For 10 years he was a school director. He served on the Erie Village Board for 13 years and was president for several years.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fadden. A son, Lester Gordon, married Christina Michelson of Clinton. They lived on the family farm their entire lives. A daughter, Mabel Clare, married Fred R. Bleitz. A daughter, Hazel Belle, married Glenn Hazard.

Geneva Fadden died on May 29, 1918. Mr. Fadden married Mrs. Ida Keller of Portland, OR, on Nov. 10, 1919. Mr. Fadden died Aug. 12, 1935.

(Information from Audrey Cocking)