Son of Thomas Jordan (b. about 1775, Shankill, Dublin Ireland) and Mary Wright Jordan (b. about 1779 in Belfast), John Jordan was the fifth of his parents' 13 children. In a published account of his life (in "The History of Goodhue, MN," John says that his mother was a Presbyterian. His father enlisted as a private soldier when the Irish Rebellion erupted in 1798. John did not go to school, but he learned to read by studying on his own during breaks while working a factory job at a textile printing establishment in Dublin, where he labored from about age 7; at age 16, he became an apprentice. In 1832 or 1833, John was chosen personally to print a dress for the child who became Queen Victoria - a seven-color Chinese pattern that took seven blocks for the design. The factory stood at Islandbridge, near Dublin.

About 1829, John married Eleanor (Ellen) Millen (born in Ireland about 1807). The couple had nine children, whose birthplaces trace the path of the family's migrations. The eldest two were born in Dublin (Patrick in 1829 and John Michael in 1834). The next four were born in Salford, Lancashire, England (Nathaniel in 1838, William E. in 1839, Ellen in 1841, and Margaret Mary in 1845). Haverstraw, NY was the birthplace of two more (Henry T. in 1848 and Mary Jane in 1850). The last arrived in the state for which she was named (Minnesota, b. 1859).

About 1835, the family moved from Dublin to Salford (Manchester) England, where John worked in textile printing. Salford had long been a center for textile production and the trades associated with it (bleaching, spinning, printing, dyeing, and the like). Living conditions were harsh, however. The 1841 census for Greengate, Salford shows "John Jordan 35 - calico printer; John 6, Ellen 30, Patrick 10, Nathaniel 2, Ellen 1 month." The Greengate district also housed the Salford Workhouse. The Jordan family lived in "Robinson's Buildings," multifamily housing for workers. They began to dream of a fresh, new life in America.

Their American journey began about 1845 in Fall River, MA, America's leading cotton textiles center. For two years, John worked at the Globe Print Works there. He appears to have come without his family, to establish himself first. About 1847, he moved to Haverstraw, NY and brought his family there. They lived in Haverstraw nine years, saving $2,000 to make the journey to Minnesota and buy property to farm. They traveled by coach and, in Chicago, lost $800 in gold of their savings; Ellen had left it under the pillow in her sleeping room; they spent three days trying to recover it, unsuccessfully. Arriving in Red Wing MN on 1 Nov. 1856, they settled in Wacouta the next year. By the 1870 census, John had improved 45 acres and was growing oats and spring wheat. He had 3 horses, 4 milk cows, a pig, and 4 other cattle.

The Civil War took a heavy toll on the Jordans. Twenty of John's relatives fought. Two sons mustered for Minnesota - Nathaniel and John. One, Patrick, fought in a NY regiment. Only John returned, injured. Ellen Millon Jordan died in 1870. They had lost their last child young, before that year. Their eldest, Patrick, had remained in New York. Sons Nathaniel and William died in 1862, both in the Battle of Corinth, MS, in different MN regiments. John himself died of "dropsy" at age 87. He is buried in Block A, Section 0, Lot 155, Grave 1; his son Henry is in #2, daughter Maggie in #3 and wife Ellen in # 4. Swante Willard (unrelated) is buried above John in grave 1B, according to cemetery records. John Jordan's funeral occurred Tuesday, 13 Dec 1892 at his home, the Rev. J. W. Hancock officiating.

NOTE: this is of necessity a duplicate memorial, as the maker of the original memorial for John Jordan has disabled messages and cannot be contacted for a request of transfer.