A very useful man in the story of Sheridan county, the pioneer pilot that led the Hoosier colony beyond the great sand hills into the high plains region -- the fertile, healthful land in which we abide.

The original town of Gordon was a mile east of the present fair grounds. The first general store in Gordon was established by Tom Glover. He started in a small shanty in the old town, and later built the frame store at the comer of Alain and Second streets, in new Gordon. This building still stands, and is the property of Mr. Joyce.

Shattuck & Holmes put in the first hardware store at Gordon, and George Hiller had a store there before the railroad came.

The freight was hauled from Valentine, and it gave the settlers a little work, but it was mostly in exchange for groceries, provisions and clothing.

Another store was opened up some distance northwest of Gordon, almost three miles directly north of the present site of Clinton. This store was openedin 1884, at the comer of sections 27, 28, 33, 34, in township 33, range 43. Two miles north of this store was Phil Mosser's blacksmith shop, which was established in 1885. It was in section 22. A year later, or a little less, a postoffice was established here.

A sod school house was built at the southeast corner of section 16, in this neighborbood, in 1885.

Bruce Hewitt, the present county treasurer, was one of the pioneers in this section. His claim was the southwest quarter of five, while his brother's was in the northeast of ten and his father had a tree claim in section eleven.