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)