JORDAN, Clement 1794-1884

JORDAN, JACKSON, DYER

Posted By: Richard K. Thompson (email)
Date: 12/25/2010 at 12:02:37

Fairfield Ledger
December 3, 1884
Pg. 3

Death of Capt. JORDAN

In last week's paper we had opportunity to mention only in the briefest manner the death of Capt. Clement JORDAN, at the residence of his son A. R. JORDAN (sic. Albert Rufus JORDAN), in this city on the 25th ult. Today we present, in condensed form, a sketch of the long and eventful life of this well known man. It is prepared by one who had been his intimate friend for 65 years, and is but a fitting tribute to the memory of the true manhood and sterling integrity of Capt. JORDAN.

Capt. JORDAN was born in the town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, March 25th, 1794, and at the time of his death was in the 91st year of his age. His descent was through a long line of representative men identified with the early history of Maine. His father's farm bodering on the Atlantic coast, he acquired that love for the ocean that induced him at the early age of 15 to make his first foreign voyage to sea. During the war with England he took an active part and was twice captured by British cruisers, once at the age of 18 while in command of a valuable prize captured by the privateer "Dart." to which ship he was attached. He was recaptured by a British cruiser as he was about to enter the port of Portland, and consigned to the British prison ship off Halifax, where he lay two months until exchanged. Again, on a voyage to the West Indies, he was captured by an English man-of-war, and together with the rest of the crew landed on the south side of Cuba, where, after undergoing many hardships, he made his way to the port of Havana and was present when the British fleet put in to that port on its way home with the remnant of the army defeated by Gen. JACKSON before New Orleans.

On his return home the young seaman, with his varied experience, found ready employment and was rapidly promoted until, at the age of 25, he was in command of one of the finest ships out of the port of Portland. During the fifteen years in which he commanded he invariably sustained the character of a man of strict integrity, honesty of purpose and soundness of judgement, and was considered one of the model shipmasters of Maine - during his whole life as a commander never having met with a serious accident at sea.

At the age of 26 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza DYER, a lady of many amiable qualities, who for forty years was the faithful partner of his joys and sorrows. She now sleeps in our beauitful cemetery, having departed this life in 1865. In 1837, his home interest requiring his attention, he retired from the sea and devoted his time to the improvement of his farm and the rearing of his young family. Here for twenty years he took an active part in the affairs of his native town, being ever foremost in promoting a good state of society and in building up its institutions, and was highly respected by all who knew him. In 1850, in company with his wife, he came to Iowa on a visit to his children, who, like many of the sons and daughters of New England, had found homes in the new west. After the decease of his wife he made annual visits to Iowa, spending his summers in Maine and his winters with his children until the last three years, since when the infirmities of age kept him in the west. Some fifteen years since he conceived the idea of laying out and beautifying a new cemetery for the city, An association for this purpose was formed in 1874; the land was purchased, and he was elected president and manager, which office he held until his decease, devoting his whole time and attention to the cemetery, until it stands today the most beautiful cemetery west of the Mississippi river.

Saturday, November 15th, being pleasant, the captain made his daily visit to the cemetery, and was engaged during the day in giving directions with regard to the disposition of the lots and the general management of the grounds. It was too much for his enfeebled frame. He returned late in the afternoon, complaining of exhaustion and fatigue. On the following Sabbath he had a congestive chill which was followed by fever. For four or five days he was very restless, his mind wandering at times back to the scenes of his early youth - now, he thought he was on board of his ship, again, he seemed to be wandering about seeking his home. On Saturday morning he bacme calm and sent for Rev. Mr. Dwight to join him in giving thanks for the comfortable night he had passed and for the beautiful morning. Feeling that his departure was near he sent for his grandchildren and addressed them individually, enjoining them to live godly lives and grow up to be good men and women and meet him in heaven, adding that his work on earth was done and that he was willing to depart. After these final instructions he expressed a desire for quiet rest, and on the evening of the 25th he passed away. On Thanksgiving Day we laid his mortal remains in a honored grave by the side of the beloved comapnion of his youth, in his beautiful cemetery, amid the roses planted by his own hands.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Capt. Clement JORDAN was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in what is now known as Jordan Circle, Old.P.066. Many of his descendants, directly and by marriage, are also buried in this plot and nearby plots. The design and layout of this Fairfield Evergreen Cemetery was based on a cemetery of the same name that he was familiar with in Maine.