Daily Journal, Jacksonville, IL, Sunday, August 7, 1887, page 4, columns 1-2

Death of Uncle John Jordan---A Long and Honorable Career
An Interesting History--His Life--The Funeral

Yesterday a few minutes past 4 o'clock in the afternoon the final call and the spirit, which for well nigh a century had fought life's battle passed from earthly bonds, took its flight to the unknown world and Uncle John Jordan, beloved of so many, was at rest. In his death do we lose one of our oldest citizens. His mind could recall as fact of personal experience many things to us known only from the impersonal page of history. His extreme age has made his declining years very feeble. There has been a gradual giving away of nature's forces and an affection of the heart, incident to old age, resulted in death.

Mr. Jordan's history is well known to many of our readers. He was born August 30, 1794, near Union, S.C., a place about 80 miles from Charleston. While he was yet very young his parents took him with them to Golconda, Ill. After a short residence there they removed to Missouri, near St. Charles.

During his life here he experienced much. Though still very young he felt the hardships of extreme frontier life. The toil of the farm, the terror incited by the wild warfare of the Indians. Life and property were always in imminent danger. Relatives and friends were not infrequently killed by the frontiersman's side. All these and many others were the rough experiences of him who has just departed from this life.

While living in Missouri the war of 1812 broke out. The treacherous Indian was the ready instrument for the use of our enemies. Then came forward Daniel Boone, with his brave band with redoubtable courage. One of his comrades was John Jordan. Though he had but reached the age of 18, he was a good gunner, ready, brave and eagerly took to the ranks. During their campaign the soldiers suffered some of the severest deprivations. Hungry, poor, barefooted and thinly clad they faced the disease, the poverty, the dangers to which their circumstances subjected them with the most loyal, noble, patriotic devotion. Mr. Jordan, after hostilities had ceased, lived, following peaceful pursuits, in Missouri until 1822 when he first came to this county. Here he did not at that time remain, but returned to Missouri. He ultimately came with his father and his family and took up a permanent location, in Morgan county in 1836. They settled on the Hardin place east of the city. There were the f! irst Methodist meetings held and their home has always been an altar ever since. He has lived at the home, 222 North West street, since 1838.

Mr. Jordan has been thrice married. Near Louisiana, Mo., on April 7th, 1825, Jane South became his wife. She died July 10, 1833. The second wife he also found in Missouri. On Jan. 22d, 1835, he married Laura Parks. But again he was stricken and in a year, on Jan. 31st, 1836, she too passed away. The third wife, Rebecca Caulkins became a bride March 15, 1838. She for many happy years was his companion. She died October 18, 1877.

He was the father of four children. Richard T. was born Oct. 13, 1826. He was an engineer and died in this city January 31, 1882. Jas. M., the second son, was born Aug. 20, 1828. He went to California to the mines and died there Jan. 22, 1850. Helen S. (now Mrs. Knox) is the only surviving child. She was born Sept. 11, 1830, and has been the faithful attendant at his bedside, supplying his every want. Wm. P., born Dec. 5, 1836, was the last. He died in infancy.

He has two grandchildren. One, J. S. Jordan, of Ironton, Mo., is now in the city. The other, Jas. M. Pickens, of Centerville, Mo., is the son of Mrs. Knox.

Throughout the state there are many near relatives, among whom are the children of Mr. Jordan's brother. They are James Jordan, of Macon county; G.H. Jordan, of Shelby county; Jno. (F. or P. ?), W.H. and C.W. Jordan, and Mrs. Edmund Blackburn, of Morgan county, and Mrs. T. P. Craig of Beatrice, Neb. There are a whole host of other relatives in addition to these mentioned, and well known in this city.

The funeral will be held tomorrow (Monday) afternoon at 3 o'clock, in Grace church, of which the deceased has been an earnest and faithful member, looked upon as a Christian and pillar of the church. Dr. W.F. Short, assisted by others, will conduct the services. The remains will find a final resting place in the Jacksonville Cemetery.