Laura de Force Gordon

Background

Laura de Force was born on August 17, 1838, in North East, Erie County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Abram and Katy (Allen) De Force.

Education

Although largely self-educated, Laura gave evidence early in the life of literary and oratorical ability, appearing as a lecturer when only fifteen years of age.

Career

Mrs. Gordon accompanied her husband, a captain in the 3rd Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry, to the South, living for some time in New Orleans.

After the war, they crossed the plains in a wagon train to White Plains, Nevada, where Mrs. Gordon was the first white woman. They soon removed to California and in 1870 settled in Lodi, then Mokelumne.

Having divorced with her husband, she had not long remained idle. She arrived in the state and, at first, she edited a woman’s department in the Narrow Gauge, a short-lived, semi-weekly published in Stockton, California.

The same year, 1873, she began her career as a publisher, issuing, on September 22, the first number of a semi-literary newspaper, the Stockton Weekly Leader. This venture met with such success that she was encouraged to attempt the publication of a daily paper and on May 1, 1874, there appeared the Daily Leader of Stockton.

Since a woman editor at that time was a novelty, the paper received much notice in the state and its able editing brought it respect and patronage. It supported the Democratic party, the success of which, in 1875, induced Mrs. Gordon to move the paper to Sacramento, where after a short time she sold it.

In 1878, while attending the meetings of the state legislature as a reporter, Mrs. Gordon was active in securing the passage of a bill permitting women to practice law in the state. The same year, the legislature founded the Hastings College of Law as a part of the state university.

Mrs. Gordon and another woman student applied for admission but were refused. They took the matter to the courts and were granted admission, ensuring the right of women to register as students in the educational institutions of the state thereafter.

Not only was Mrs. Gordon one of the first two women to be admitted to the bar in California (1879), but she was also one of the first two to be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States on February 3, 1887.

In addition to her legal work, she carried on an active campaign for woman’s suffrage, speaking and writing tirelessly in its favor all of her life.

She was the author of a guide book, The Great Geysers of California and How to Reach Them (1877), but has no other volumes to her credit.

The last years of her life were devoted to farming in San Joaquin County, California.

She died, after a short illness, of bronchial pneumonia, the result of a cold contracted on a pleasure trip.

Achievements

• Mrs. Gordon was active in securing the passage of a bill permitting women to practice law in the state. She was also one of the first two women to be admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. She carried on an active campaign for woman’s suffrage. She was the author of a guide book, The Great Geysers of California and How to Reach Them.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Great Geysers of California and How to Reach Them (1877)

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "The first attempt to awaken the public mind to the question of suffrage for woman [in Claifornia] was a lecture given by Laura De Force Gordon in Platt's Hall, San Francisco, February 19, 1868. .. As journalists and printers, women have met with encouraging success. The most prominent among them is Laura DeForce Gordon, who began the publication of the Daily Leader at Stockton in 1873, continued afterward at Oakland as the Daily Democrat, until 1878. "

Connections

In 1862, Laura was married to Dr. Charles H. Gordon, a native of Scotland, who served as a captain in the 3rd Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry, assigned to duty in the Department of the Gulf. Ten years later, Mrs. Gordon was divorced from her husband.

Having no children, she adopted a nephew.

Father:

Abram DeForce

27 May 1803 - 4 June 1883

Mother:

Catherine Allen DeForce

27 October 1804 - 27 December 1883

Brother:

J. Porter DeForce

27 March 1841 - 10 December 1885

Sister:

Gertie DeForce Cluff

3 June 1834 - 8 January 1909

husband:

Dr. Charles H. Gordon