James Gordon McPherson (1869 - 1936)

Born 11 Feb 1869 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Husband of Minnie Lee (Wynne) Dixon — married 2 Nov 1897 in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States

Husband of Dolly (Taylor) McPherson — married Oct 1923 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Died 9 Apr 1936 at age 67 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

James McPherson is a part of US Black heritage.

Rev. James McPherson served with the unknown during the Spanish-American War.
Service Started: unknown
Unit(s): unknown
Service Ended: unknown

Evangelist and faith healer

J. Gordon McPherson was born in 1869 in New Orleans to Michael and Rosa McPherson. He died there in 1936.^[1][2]

In the 1870 census James was in New Orleans Ward 3, Orleans, Louisiana.^[3]

He enlisted in the US Army in New Orleans and went to Utah with his regiment before shipping out to Cuba. James fought with his regiment in the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He also was one of the soldiers who helped care for soldiers infected with yellow fever. Despite this service, upon his return to Utah he still had to fight for the right to vote.

He married Minnie Wynne on November 2, 1897 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.^[4] Minnie filed for divorce in 1900 in Utah.^[5] For a brief time he was the city dog-catcher. James was selected as a juror for a murder trial but was dismissed because fellow jurors refused to serve with an African-American.

In 1901 he was ordained as a minister in Tacoma, Washington, USA.^[6]

By 1905 he was in Sacramento, where he was pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church.

He married Della Thomas in 1907.

In the 1910 census J Gordon (age 41), Clergyman, was the married head of household in Spokane Ward 1, Spokane, Washington, United States.^[7]

He married Dolly Taylor in October 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.^[8]

In the 1930 census James (age 61), Minister, was the married head of household at 2314 N Rocheblave, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ 'Black Billy Sunday Dies in New Orleans': "Newspapers.com"
   El Paso Times, (El Paso, Texas) Fri, Apr 10, 1936, page 2
   Newspapers Clip: 33872498 (accessed 16 December 2023)
2. ↑ Death: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Death Records Index, 1804-1949"
   Louisiana State Archives; Baton Rouge, LA; Orleans Death Indices 1929-1936; Volume Number: 208; Page number: 1283
   Ancestry Record 6606 #561888 (accessed 16 December 2023)
   Reverend J Gordan McPherson death 9 Apr 1936 (age 67) in Orleans, Lousiana, USA.
3. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 3, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: M593_520; Page: 467A
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #26094997 (accessed 17 December 2023)
   James Macpherson in New Orleans Ward 3, Orleans, Louisiana. Born in Louisiana.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Utah, U.S., Select County Marriages, 1887-1937"
   Original data: Utah, County Marriages, 1887-1937. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 429057
   Ancestry Record 60198 #998894 (accessed 17 December 2023)
   James G Mcpherson (28) marriage to Minnie L. Wynne on 2 Nov 1897 in Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
5. ↑ Woes of M'Phersons: "Newspapers.com"
   The Salt Lake Tribune, (Salt Lake City, Utah) Fri, Jun 8, 1900, page 5
   Newspapers Clip: 136927289 (accessed 16 December 2023).
6. ↑ "How Evangelist J. Gordon McPherson, Often Called the ‘Black Billy Sunday,’ Drew Blacks and Whites Together in 1920s Gulfport," https://blackchristiannews.com/2022/02/how-evangelist-j-gordon-mcpherson-often-called-the-black-billy-sunday-drew-blacks-and-whites-together-in-1920s-gulfport/
7. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Spokane Ward 1, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T624_1670; Page: 20b; Enumeration District: 0154; FHL microfilm: 1375683
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #30044233 (accessed 17 December 2023)
   J Gordon Mc Pherson (41), married, Clergyman, head of household in Spokane Ward 1, Spokane, Washington, USA. Born in Louisiana.
8. ↑ Marriage: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Marriage Records Index, 1831-1964"
   Original data: State of Louisiana, Secretary of State, Division of Archives, Records Management, and History. Vital Records Indices. Baton Rouge, LA, USA
   Ancestry Record 6500 #371936 (accessed 16 December 2023)
   J Gordon McPherson marriage to Dolly T Taylor in Oct 1923 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
9. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Page: 43B; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 2340539
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #35161000 (accessed 16 December 2023)
   James G Pherson (61), married, Minister, head of household at 2314 N Rocheblave New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Born in Louisiana.