Jordan, Wesley

JORDAN, PAINTER, BROWN, CHEETHAM, FISHER, WESTON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 19:50:33

Wesley Jordan

A pioneer of Iowa, Mr. Jordan came to this state in 1847. The country then presented a far different appearance from what it does today. It was literally a wilderness; abundant game roamed over the wild, uncultivated prairies or found shelter in the primeval forests along the watercourses. The bold, hardy frontiersman bad scarcely begun to turn the virgin soil and thus lay the foundation of the prosperity that obtains today on all sides, as evidenced by flourishing cities and many happy homes.

That he has contributed to this transformation may be a source of pride to Mr. Jordan, who is a man of public spirit, and has generously contributed of his means to advance all enterprises that will in any way add to the prosperity of the community with whose interests his own are identical, and among whose people he occupies a position of prominence. He is a man of high character, and is gifted with many worthy attributes that render him respected of all men. Illinois is his native state, his birth having occurred in Jefferson County, October 9, 1823.

The father of our subject, William F. Jordan, was a native of Kentucky, and coming north in an early day, settled in Adams County, Ill., where he engaged in farming near Quincy. He died in Pleasantville, Marion County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabel Painter, was born in Illinois, and was of German descent. They were the parents of seven sons and two daughters, our subject being the second in order of birth. He was a child of six years when he accompanied his parents to Adams County, Ill., and there his boyhood years were passed upon the home farm.

In 1846 Mr. Jordan, with two brothers, enlisted at Quincy, Ill., as privates in the Mexican War, becoming members of Company A, First Illinois Infantry, Colonel Hardin commanding. At the expiration of one year, his period of service, our subject returned to Adams County, in 1847, and very soon afterward removed to Iowa, where he located upon the site of the present village of Pleasantville. He platted that town and erected the first building thereon and established the first general store. At that early day there were no railroads, and produce was hauled to Keokuk, Iowa, the nearest market. Not only does Mr. Jordan enjoy the distinction of being the first merchant in Pleasantville, but he was also the pioneer businessman of Marion County. In his various enterprises be has accumulated a competency, and has become the owner of valuable property.

On the 31st of December 1887, Mr. Jordan located in Colfax, where he has since lived retired from business cares. However, he still maintains an active interest in all matters of public importance, and contributes his quota to the progress of the city. He was a prominent factor in the organization of the Commercial Bank, which was opened on the day that President Harrison was inaugurated, and of which he was President until July 25, 1892, when he disposed of his stock in the institution. He owns a valuable farm in Marion County, in addition to considerable real estate in Colfax, and is numbered among the moneyed men of the county.

The first wife of Mr. Jordan was Miss Susan F. Brown, of Marion County, Iowa, who died after having become the mother of four children. George W. resides in Pleasantville, Iowa; Mary is the wife of Rev. Neal Cheetham. a minister in the Christian Church, now holding a pastorate at Waitsburg, Wash.; William C. and Riley D. are residents of Pleasantville and prominent businessmen of that place. After the death of Mrs. Susan Jordan, our subject married Miss Lovina Fisher, and they are the parents of three children: Cora C., wife of N. T. Weston, of Colfax; Albert E., a farmer residing in Marion County, Iowa; and Thomas Eugene, who resides in Colfax.

With his family, Mr. Jordan holds membership in the Christian Church, with which he has been identified for thirty-five years. He has officiated as deacon and is now an Elder in that denomination, and is a prominent worker in all its enterprises. In his political views he is a Democrat, and strongly favors Prohibition, being himself a sound temperance man. He has been a hard-working man, but his labors have been amply rewarded, as he well knows how to direct his energies so as to produce the desired results. He possesses sound sense discretion and other good traits and is in all respects an honest, straightforward man. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 394.