Born in Harrison County, Va., on the 4th of March, 1813, and is a son of John and Agnes (Cunningham) Jordan, who were also natives of the Old Dominion. He passed his early life in the usual routine of farm labor and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired his education. He had almost reached man's estate when the family removed to Fayette County, Va., and was twenty years of age when he emigrated to the Territory of Michigan, settling near Niles, where he was engaged in farming and trading. Four years later, while yet a resident of Michigan, he was married in 1837, to Miss Melinda Pitman, a native of Knox County, Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Jordan removed to Platt County, Mo., and in September, 1846, made his way by team to Polk County. He selected a site for a home in Walnut Township, near Coon River and a log cabin was soon erected on the site. In 1855 Mr. Jordan lost his wife and the following year wedded Cynthia Adams. Mr. Jordan was a Whig in early life and although born and reared in a pro-slavery State, was always an earnest opposer of slavery. Mr. Jordan has taken an active interest in politics and in the fall of 1853, was elected to the State Senate by a majority of eighty-four votes, but was counted out on an account of some slight irregularity in the returns from two townships in Jasper County. He contested the seat and won, but not until his opponent, who had been admitted to a voice in the Senate, had voted on the election of United States Senator. The United States Senate, however refused to seat the member so elected, and on taking his seat in the State Senate, Mr. Jordan had the privilege of voting for Mr. Harlan, who was elected. The question of the removal of the State Capitol from Iowa City to Des Moines, had been agitated several times and failed, and it was during Mr. Jordan's term of office of State Senator that the removal was accomplished and Des Moines became the capital city. He was a member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors three times under the old law, and served as President of that body. For sixty years the Methodist Episcopal Church has found Mr. Jordan a faithful member and an active worker.
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