BIOGRAPHY - JOHN JORDAN
John H. Jordan, an enterprising farmer and tile manufacturer, is one of Ford county's native sons, born on the 15th of December, 1855. Here his entire life has been passed and his education was acquired in the primitive schools while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof. His parents were Andrew and Amanda (De Vore) Jordan. The father came to Illinois from Kentucky, having been born at Louisville in that state in 1828. A residence in Cass county was followed by a brief sojourn in Champaign county prior to the time when he took up their abode in Ford county in March, 1854. The usual experiences and hardships of the frontier came to the family and yet in the face of difficulties and obstacles they prospered and as the years passed gained a gratifying measure of success, the father owning at one time eleven hundred acres of land, while at the time of his demise his farming interests embraced eight hundred acres. He was also owner of a large brick and tile factory and it was this which John II. Jordan has taken as a part of his share of the estate and which he is now operating. He also has eighty acres of land devoted to the raising of corn and oats. He manufactures an excellent grade of tile and as a result of the quality and fair prices he is accorded a liberal patronage. In his farm work, too, he is systematic and energetic and his agricultural interests contribute materially to his annual income.
In 1878 John H. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Painter, a daughter of George C. Painter, who is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. They have five children: Marilla B., the wife of O. T. Thorson, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois; Fannie E., the wife of Fred Lucas, of Taylorville, Illinois, and the mother of two children; Amanda E., the wife of O. Davis, of Peoria, by whom she has one child; and Vauna May and John D., both at home.
Mr. Jordan votes with the republican party and has served as school director. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen and he holds membership in the Christian church, in which he was reared. He was early trained to habits of industry, enterprise and integrity, and these have proven strong elements in his success and at the same time have gained the unqualified respect of his fellowmen.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 568-569.
