John Pleasant Jordan, son of Elijah Newton Jordan and Frances Fagan. Husband of Susan Alice McCurry and Susan Elizabeth "Bettie" Burdette. Served during the Civil War 17 months with Government Works (Munitions) at Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Marshall, Texas.
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JORDAN, JOHN P.
During the years which immediately followed the civil war, emigration, which had some time before been turned toward Texas, renewed its march in this direction, and among the families which at that time sought homes in this broad commonwealth were the Jordans, of which family the subject of this sketch, John P. Jordan, is a representative. It was in 1867 that they landed here, their settlement being in Bosque county, where he has ever since maintained his residence and been identified with agricultural interests.
John P. Jordan was born in Alabama November 24, 1846, and was reared as other farmer boys, his educational advantages being limited to the common schools of the neighborhood in which he lived. His parents were Elijah and Frances (Fagan) Jordan.
John P. Jordan remained with his parents until at the age of eighteen he left he parental home to enlist in the Confederate service. He was detailed in Government service and stationed at Marshall, Texas, where he was assigned work in manufacturing war supplies for the Confederacy, and was thus occupied ten months. The war over, he returned home and remained with his parents in Arkansas until their removal to this state two years later, he accompanying them hither and continuing a member of the home circle until his marriage, that event being consummated in 1870. In 1874 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of the land upon which he has since lived, at once began improving and cultivating it, and from time to time added to his original holdings. Now his landed estate comprises nine hundred acres, two hundred and fifty of which are under cultivation, the whole tract well fenced, and the numerous and substantial improvements upon the same at once stamping the owner as a man of enterprise and one fully abreast with the times. A windmill supplies the power by which water is pumped for all farm purposes. While he is not extensively engaged in the stock business, Mr. Jordan raises enough stock for the support of his broad acres. He has a pleasant home and a large interesting family.
Mr. Jordan was first married in 1870, to Miss Susan McCurry, a native of Bosque county, Texas, daughter of Captain Columbus McCurry, late of this county. Captain McCurry earned his title in the late war. He was one of the early farmers of Bosque county and was for a number of years one of its most respected citizens. Mrs. Susan Jordan departed this life April 19, 1884, leaving the following children, all of whom are at home: Homer, Addison, Sally, Cumy, Thomas and Andrew. In 1886 he wedded for his second wife Miss Betty Burdett, a native of Smith county, Texas, born September 3, 1868, daughter of B. Burdett.
olitically, Mr. Jordan was always affiliated with the Democratic party, and while he has ever taken an enthusiastic interest in local affairs he has never in any sense sought official honors. Religiously, he is a Baptist. His first wife was a member of this church, as also is his present companion and her parents, both the Burdetts and the Jordans being leading members of the church.
Reverting to Mr. Jordan's early life in the Lone Star state, we may add that there were plenty of Indians through this part of the country at the time he settled here; and while many of the frontier settlers had more or less trouble from their raids and thieving, the Jordans maintained friendly relations with the red men and never suffered any loss whatever from their depredations. It was some years before there were any gins in this community, and Mr. Jordan had his first ginning done at Brazos, and later, when a gin was built at Meridian, his cotton was the first to be ginned there; and his first bale brought him $100. This gin was operated by horse power.
Meridian is Mr. Jordan's post-office address. (History of Texas, Central Texas, Vol 1, Pages 229-231, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896