Samuel Gordon was born at Greene Co., PA in 1814 the tenth child born to John and Nancy {Rinehart) Gordon.  Samuel married Dorothy "Dolly" Wells about 1833, they came with other Gordons from Greene Co., PA to OH in 1834 settling in Rehoboth, Clayton Twp which in 1836 was in Muskingum County.  The boundry line between Perry and Muskingum Counties was redrawn April 7, 1837 making Clayton Twp a part of Perry County.

 Jonathan and Elizabeth (Gardner) Hatcher appeared in the 1840 Federal Census, page 61 for Rehoboth Town, Perry Co., OH with a son and a daughter both under five years of age.
On the same census, page 62 Samuel and Dolly appear with two sons and one daughter under the age of five years of age.

Samuel and Polly appeared in the 1840 Federal Census for Rehoboth Town, Perry Co., OH with two sons and one daughter under the age of five years of age; living close by  Jonathan and Elizabeth (Gardner) Hatcher with a son and a daughter both under five years of age and two persons between 20 and 30 years of age(presumably one  was Dolly).

Beginning with the 1850  Federal Census, much more information about people is shown than on previous census enumerations in that the given names of all  persons are  noted:

Samuel appears  as 35 years of age and an innkeeper. He gives the value of his real estate at $7000, a sizable sum in those days. The family at that time then consisted of: Josephus 16, Harriet 13, John Brice 12, Elizabeth 9, Mary E. 7, Margaret 5, and Rebecca 6 months. All of the children were attending school except Rebecca, all were born in OH.  The seven tenants of the inn are listed by name and occupation.

On the 1860 Federal Census Samuel appears as landlord and Dorothy as landlady. Their real estate was valued at $4000 and personal property at $1000.   Josephus, Hannah, Harriet and Elizabeth were not listed. John B. age 20 is attending school, the other children weren't indicated as going to school. Rebecca is not listed, perhaps she had died, but Samuel E. age 8 is now shown. No doubt an oversight by the census taker.

                              From the History of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Ohio we note:

Josephus Gordon, Post Office, Rehoboth, farmer and stock raiser b. Perry Co. 1835: Son of  Samuel and Dorothy (Wells) Gordon who emigrated here from Greene Co., PA about 1834. They are of German and Irish parentage * The subject of the sketch was married in 1859 to Miss Harriet J.Kelly. They are the parents of ten children, viz: John E. Samuel C., George V., Mary E, Emma W., Maggie K., Joe M., Paul, Earl, James, deceased.
 

Maplewood-New Lexington Cemetery

Samuel Gordon died 1892
Dorothy (Dolly) Wells) Gordon wife of Samuel died 1893
Josephus Gordon died December 7, 1917
Harriet J.Gordon , 1841-1902, wife of Josephus Gordon
John Brice Gordon September 24, 1911
Margaret A. (Kelly) Gordon ,1835-1875, wife of John Brice Gordon
Donald H. Gordon,1903-190S, grandson of Josephus Gordon
Earl Gordon 1881-1945, son of Josephus
James Gordon December,1871.

*There was considerable disagreement within the family regarding their origin. For more, refer to the book, The Gordons of Greene County Pennsylvania , excerpts in Generation VII Chapter 3 for more on this subject.

Not only did the Gordons disagree on their national origin, but also about their faith.  Some were professing Catholics some Lutheran some Methodist.  Ellen Gordon Dye, a Gordon researcher, shares this account. about  their religion..

"The story goes like this. The Gordons had settled  in Greene County, PA. They were a Catholic Family.  In time the Methodists came to the  area and some of the Gordons  converted .If you go to Greene Co. and find your way to GORDON HILL outside Waynesberg, you will find the Gordon property well marked, at least part of it.,  it's a stone throw from the "old homestead". The Methodist missionaries had a good foothold, and in fact, on  GORDON HILL stands a Methodist Church erected on Gordon property, donated to the Methodists..  "Uncle Billy" ** apparently said something like "That's it! Anyone who wants to remain Catholic come with me to Ohio where there is a Catholic settlement in Somerset, Perry County.  " So a large number of Gordons left Green County and settled in the Somerset area. St. Joseph Priory was established there and the seminary for the Dominican Priests was housed there. The Dominican Sisters Novitiate and School was also there. It later moved to Columbus  (St .Mary of the Springs) .You can see why the area whieh is quite hilly became known as "Piety Hill" .There were a lot of Gordons who went to Ohio that may or may not be from Greene Co.,PA."

** Uncle Billy (William Gordon) in 1830, came to Ohio bringing a number of family members, includin Sam Gordon, with him and settled near Somerset.

It seems that there was no escaping the Methodists.The Gardners were among the first settlers in Clayton Twp., Perry County.   George Gardner became a member of the M.E.Church in 1804. He became ordained in 1812 and organized at Rehoboth, perhaps one of the oldest Methodist Episcopal Churches.  It was  located on the New Lexington Road ;  he had a circuit ministry which included churches in New Lexington, Uniontown and Somerset. Ref. to Gen VI-2.

There is more to the story about the religion of the Gordons.  Our ancestor, Elizabeth Gordon, was raised and married in the Methodist church in Somerset, Perry County.