Mr. Jacob Gordh

    Mr. Jacob Michael Gordh was born in Side, Oviken, Jamtland, Sweden on September 29, 1885.  When Jacob was a teenager, Jacob Gordh - taken in the 1920's he delivered mail by horse drawn carriage in Sweden.  When Jacob was 19 years old he emigrated to the United States and arrived November 5, 1904 at the age of 19.  Jacob moved to Oakland California with his Aunt in 1906.  Mr. Gordh was baptized on December 31, 1906 at the Oakland Swedish Baptist Church.   At the Oakland church, he met a girl a beautiful girl named Edith Mattson.  Jacob moved to Portland in 1911 and went to work on a dam near Estacada.  Then Jacob returned to Oakland, California and married Edith Mattson on June 29, 1912.  They arrived in Portland on July 18, 1912 and established their home.  They attended the First Swedish Baptist Church on NW 15th and Hoyt Street.  He was received into the church membership by letter on December 12, 1912.  Jacob Gordh received his citizenship to the USA in 1913.  He was a self-taught architect and contractor, and was involved in the construction of houses, schools, a fire station and projects at Lake Retreat.  His favorite projects were the building of churches.  Mr. Gordh helped build Temple Baptist Church in 1927 and was pleased that he convinced the architect to change the Clackamas Street elevation by recessing the large windows and adding the columns and peaked roofline, rather than having a straight, flush wall and roof line.   He built schools in Grande Ronde, Carver, Forest Grove and a fire station in Willamette.  He was also helped build the addition to Temple that was erected in 1962.         
    Mr. Gordh was a 64 year member of Temple Baptist Church.  He directed the male chorus and Sunday School Orchestra, sang in the church choir and organized and directed the string band in which played mandolin.  He served as a deacon and for 12 years was secretary of the church keeping minutes in Swedish before the church switched to English in 1936.  Jacob and Edith had two daughters, Ruth Marian Gordh Nelson and Alice Helen Gordh Roylance.  They also had two sons, E. Stanley Gordh and DonaldJacob and Edith Gordh - probably taken on there 50th wedding anniversary in 1962 Allan Gordh.  A fifth child, Florence died as an infant in 1918.  They had nine grandchildren and four great-children.   Mr. Gordh died at the age of 90 on June 1, 1976.
    Mr. Jacob Gordh is mentioned in the historical account of Bethel Baptist Church in St. Johns.  

Edith Cecelia Mattson

  Edith Mattson was born in Manistique, Michigan on January 6, 1893.  Edith came to Oakland, California with her parents on March 17, 1901.  She was baptized in Oakland Swedish Baptist Church on April 28, 1901.  She married Jacob Michael Gordh on June 29, 1929 and moved to Portland on July 18, 1912.  Edith died on November 9, 1986.

    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 
        Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 
            Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 
                Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  
                    Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.  
                        Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.     
Romans 12:10-15 

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