Mr. Jordan is of Welsh and Dutch descent and was born in Columbia County, New York, October 26, 1826. His father was Daniel Jordan and his mother was Mary (Hoffman) Jordan, both natives of New York State, and the latter a sister of the Hoffmans who were prominent wholesale merchants in New York City.
At the age of eight years Mr. Jordan removed with his parents from Columbia County to Manchester, Ontario County, New York, where the family resided on a farm for about seven or eight years. During this time Norman went to school and engaged in farm work when not giving attention to his studies. The education he received in these early days was at the district schools. Later the family removed to Macedon, New York, where the homestead still stands and where a brother of Mr. Jordan still resides. During this time Norman attended the public schools and spent a year or so in the high school; his course in the latter ended when he was seventeen. When he was eighteen he went to Newark, Wayne County, to take a position in a drygoods store as clerk, and remained there for five or six years.
He had never turned his attention to any profession, nor had he mapped out for himself any course in business, and as a result he was ready to embrace any promising opportunities which presented them selves and in 1852 started for California, going by way of Nicaragua. When he reached Sacramento he engaged in the wholesale grocery business in partnership with M. D. S. Hyde. In the course of two or three years he tried his luck in the mining district, and for a year and a half made heavy financial losses in the attempt to accumulate some of much-coveted gold. After this experience he undertook the management of a large general store and had charge of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express business. This store was located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in what was then known as Illinois Town. He remained with this firm until 1858, when he returned to the East some time in the spring and remained on his father's farm near Macedon. He was in the East during that summer only, and on the seventh of October was married to Miss Malvina M. Lamb, whose father was Rev. R. P. Lamb, of Salisbury, New York. Mrs. Jordan died May 30, 1890. She was a woman of remarkable energy, and was a consistent Christian, who was esteemed by all who knew her. Florence and Hattie, residing with their father, are the only children of the union. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Jordan came west to St. Louis, and in the course of a few weeks to Davenport, which city they made their permanent home.
The first business in which Mr. Jordan engaged here was the handling of groceries, and this he continued for about five or six years. He then took up a seed and agricultural implement business some time in 1864. His establishment was then quite an extensive affair for this section and was the first agricultural implement house established in the State. His partner in this business was E. A. McNair. Mr. Jordan was very familiar with the seed business and Mr. McNair was equally familiar with the implement business, and as a result the firm of McNair & Jordan was quite successful. However, a misfortune befell Mr. Jordan in the course of a few years, his health failing him almost entirely. He then sold out his interest in the business to his partner, and for about a year was not actively engaged in anything.
Recovering his health somewhat in the course of time, he undertook the spice and coffee business, in which he was engaged for about five years. His partners in this were S. R. Jones and E. T. Hopkins, the firm name being Jones, Jordan & Co. It was established in 1873 and continued until 1878, when Mr. Jordan sold out his interest to Jones & Atkinson, the latter having purchased Mr. Hopkins' interest. Mr. Jordan then went into the general seed and commission business in partnership with a man named Walton, the firm being Jordan & Walton. After a couple of years he sold out his interest in this establishment. The firm soon afterward failed and Mr. Jordan was then appointed to settle up the affairs and was engaged in this work for about a year. In 1882 he was elected city collector for one year, and after his term of office had expired he became cashier for the Renwick, Shaw & Crossett Lumber Company, and retained that position for about two and a half years. Mr. Renwick, the senior member of the firm, was interested financially in the “Davenport Gazette," and wanting some one to look after the finances of that publication he transferred Mr. Jordan's services from the lumber company to the newspaper office, and for about three years Mr. Jordan was practically the business head of the publi cation mentioned. The paper changed owners a number of times during this period, and a couple of years later, as every one familiar with its history knows, it failed.
In 1886 Mr. Jordan became interested in the Davenport Ladder Company, first as traveling salesman and in 1887 taking a money interest in the business. The firm at that time was Felch & Jordan, but is now Jordan & Baldwin, the last named having purchased the interests of Mr. Felch in 1891.
Mr. Jordan is not a prominent man in the broadest sense of that often misused term, but he is a thorough business man whom every one respects, and one in whom all his fellows place the utmost confidence. He has lived long enough in the city to become thoroughly acquainted, to enjoy the friendship and esteem of the best people of the community, and to be generally regarded as a citizen of bright character. In politics he is a Republican, although he has never taken active part in political affairs, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business interests and the enjoyment of social intercourse.
On June 16, 1892, Mr. Jordan was married to Mrs. C. E. McCarn of Animosa, Iowa, a lady whom he has known for over forty years. Mrs. Jordan's maiden name was Barnes, her father having been Hon. Thomas Barnes of Newark, New York.
BIOGRAPHIES