Esther Gordon Frame

Esther Ellen Frame ( Gordon; July 10, 1840 – June 11, 1920) was an American minister and evangelist. She was a minister of the Society of Friends church for over 40 years, The Reminiscences of Nathan T. Frame and Esther G. Frame (Cleveland, Ohio, The Britton Printing Co., 1907), served as an outline of their work covering the period of 1868 through 1906.

Early life and education Esther Ellen Gordon was born in Washington, Indiana on July 10, 1840. Her father was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and his ancestors came from the Scottish Highlands about the year 1720, and were Scotch-Irish. They were descendants of the Clan Gordon, who, for many years, intermarried only with the Clan Douglas. Grandfather Gordon was educated for a Scotch Presbyterian minister, but left that denomination and joined the Baptists, because there were no Scotch Presbyterians where he was teaching school, for he was one of the first educators, and taught a number of years in Warren County, Ohio and Montgomery County, Ohio, and also in the State of Indiana. Grandmother Gordon was a McGary and came from the Northern part of Ireland, and General Grant was a descendant of Grandmother Gordon's sister. Grandfather McGary preached until he was ninety years old. In early life, her father resided in Centerville, Indiana, and there studied law. From Centerville he removed to Thorntown, Indiana, and in 1854, represented Boone County in the Indiana Legislature. In 1856, he went to Salem, Iowa, and was there admitted to the bar as a lawyer.

Deborah Mendenhall, Esther Frame's mother, was born in New Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina. Her people were inclined to the learned professions.

When Esther was four years old, the family went from Wayne County, Indiana, to Salem, Iowa. While there, she attended her first school-a private school for young children. Later, she attended a Seminary where Reuben Dorland, a Friend, was principal. From Salem, Iowa, the family removed to Boone County, Indiana. There she attended for a time a private school taught by a Presbyterian minister's wife. Then, from choice, she attended Friends school, from Thorntown. When the Methodists built their Academy in Thorntown, Esther's parents thought best that she should go there. She also joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. She attended Blue River Seminary in the southern part of Indiana, her brother, Luther Gordon, being the principal of this school. Esther's father was then a member of the Indiana State Legislature.

Personal life Beginning in 1880, she made her home in Jamestown, Ohio.

Selected works

The Reminiscences of Nathan T. Frame and Esther G. Frame (1907) (Text)