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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN T. JORDAN is well known
throughout the Big Bend country as one of the pioneers and his labors have
been such that he has won the esteem of all those who have the pleasure
of his acquaintance. He is well acquainted with pioneer life in its
various phases and has ever done the part of a good citizen and upright
man. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, on February 6, 1851,
the son of William J. and Matilda E. (Burke) Jordan. The father was
born in Jefferson county, Illinois, on September 20, l820, and followed
farming most of his life. He was a pioneer of Adams county, Illinois,
and when the Mexican war broke out, he enlisted and served throughout the
struggle. In 1855 he went via New York and Panama to California where
he sought the precious metal for one year. Then he returned to Adams
county and there remained until his death, March 26, 1876. He was
a member of the I. O. O. F. The mother was born in Kentucky in 1828
and died in the fall of 1853. She was a devout member of the Christian
church. Our subject was reared on the farm and grew rugged from its
invigorating exercise. In the adjacent schools he laid the foundations
of a good education and until 1872 was at the parental home. At the
date last mentioned he went to western Kansas and spent some time hunting
buffalo. In the next spring he returned to Illinois and remained
with his father until the death of the latter. Then he learned the
painter's trade and in 1878 entered the Gem City Business College at Quincy,
Illinois, where he finished his education. In the spring of 1879
we find young Jordan in Hutchinson, Kansas, painting and in the fall of
the same year he went via San Francisco and Portland to Walla Walla.
Next he located in Lewiston, Idaho, and in January, 1880, he made his way
to Medical Lake, Washington. He was also in Cheney and Spokane, and
in 1881 he located in Sprague. For several years he diligently followed
his trade, and in 1883 engaged as salesman in one of the large stores of
that city. When the Coeur d' Alene excitement was on, Mr. Jordan
spent some time in prospecting, then returned to the store where he continued
uninterruptedly until the big fire of 1895. The next spring he went
to Spokane and took up the real estate business which occupied him until
1901, when he accepted a position with the Western Historical Publishing
Company as biographical historian, where he has continued uninterruptedly
since. Mr. Jordan has operated in this line over a large field and
has performed much of the Lincoln county biographical work. He is
well and favorably known to all the old timers in Lincoln county and stands
exceptionally well.
On October 19, 1884, Mr. Jordan married Miss
Annie Schultz, a native of Adams county, Illinois, where they went to school
together. Mrs. Jordan's parents are Henry and Permelia Schultz.
Both were born in Kentucky and in early day pioneered to Adams county,
Illinois, where they remained until their death. To Mr. and Mrs.
Jordan two children have been born, Charles E., now in business in Spokane,
and Ethel Marie. Mr. Jordan was made a member of the I. O. O.
F. in Illinois in 1874. He has passed the chairs of the lodge and
now holds his membership in the Imperial lodge in Spokane. Mr. and
Mrs. Jordan are both members of the Christian church and are faithful followers
of the teachings of that denomination. Theirs is the faith that makes
faithful and they are both exemplary and highly respected people.
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