Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Jordan, Judge A R 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:00 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 Judge A. R. Jordan For the fourth term Alvah R. Jordan is serving as county judge of Grundy county, and the fact of his re-election stands as unmistakable evidence of his marked ability in the line of his chosen calling. The judge upon the bench must possess not only a wide, comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the law but must also add to this urbanity, tact and keen discernment, and above all he must have the power of putting aside all personal prejudice and feeling that his decisions may be utterly without bias, - exclusively the embodiment of justice. In all these particulars Judge Jordan has shown himself well qualified for the office, and is now serving his thirteenth year upon the bench of the county court. He is a man of strong individuality and marked mentality, and has been an honor to the profession which has honored him. Mr. Jordan is a native of the Pine Tree state, his birth having occurred in Kennebec county, Maine, on the 13th of December, 1843, his parents being Samuel and Philena (Dow) Jordan. On the paternal side he is of English lineage, while on the maternal side he is of Scotch-Irish descent. The ancestry of the Jordan family can be traced back to the Rev. Samuel Jordan, the first Episcopal clergyman of Falmouth, Maine, who left his home in Devon, England in 1640, in order to carry the gospel tidings to the colonists of the New World. He took up his abode in Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, and other of his kinsmen came at the same time and settled along the coast of New England. His descendants lived in the Pine Tree state for many generations, and there Samuel Jordan was born and reared. Having arrived at years of maturity, he married Miss Philena Dow, who was born in Windham, New Hampshire. Her father was of English descent, but on the maternal side she was of Scotch-Irish lineage. Her mother was Betsey Morrison, a lineal descendant of Samuel E. Morrison, who was a lieutenant in a company of New Hampshire troops at the capture of Lewisburg. She was also directly descended from Mathew Thorton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Many are the descendants of these first American ancestors, and not a few have become prominent in business, professional and political life in various sections of the United States. In 1854 Judge Jordan's parents came to the west, locating in Morris, Illinois, where they spent the residue of their days. The father's death occurred in 1885, and the mother passed away five years previously. They were the parents of but two children, the daughter, Elizabeth H., having died in childhood. Judge Jordan is therefore the only survivor of the family. He was only ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Morris, and here he attended the public schools and also continued his studies under the private direction of Professor H. K. Trask, who was the principal of the Morris public schools. In 1860 he entered Union college, in the sophomore year, and was pursuing his collegiate course when the civil war was inaugurated. Feeling that his chief duty was to his country, in August, 1861, he laid aside his text-books and joined the "boys of blue" of Company G, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, as a private. He was made the fourth corporal and thus served until November, 1861, when he was discharged on account of a broken ankle. In the spring of 1862, however, he re-entered the service and was commissioned second lieutenant of Company I, Sixty-ninth Illinois Infantry. The regiment enlisted for a term of three months and on the expiration of that time was regularly discharged. Mr. Jordan then went to Central City, Colorado, where he worked in the mines and also taught the first public school ever conducted in that state. He there joined the Third Colorado Cavalry and was present at the Sand creek Indian massacre. On the expiration of his term of service in 1865 he returned to Morris, Illinois, and shortly afterward removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he remained two years. On the expiration of that period he again came to Morris, and entered upon the practice of law, in which profession he has since risen to high rank. He has informed himself thoroughly concerning the principles of jurisprudence, and at the bar he won many notable forensic triumphs in important litigated cases. His correct reasoning, his logical deductions, his accuracy in applying the points of law to the facts in controversy, all gained him prominence and won him a large clientage. He therefore conducted a successful private practice until elected to the bench, and since his elevation to the seat of justice he has won still higher honors by his ability in discharging the important duties of his high office. In politics the Judge has always been a stanch Republican, and on that ticket he has several times been chosen for positions of public trust and responsibility. The first office to which he was elected was that of state's attorney, in 1872, and so ably did he discharge his duties that he was re- elected in 1876. In 1882 he was elected county judge for a term of four years, and then resumed the practice of law, but in 1890 again became a candidate and by successive elections has since been continued in the office, so that he is now serving his thirteenth year upon the bench. In 1898 he was elected as an independent candidate, and the large vote which he received plainly indicated the confidence reposed in his ability and in his worth as a man. Upon the bench he has won a most enviable reputation and gained the commendation of the bar as well as the general public. In 1869 the Judge was united in marriage to Miss Sarah D. Parmelee, a daughter of Charles D. Parmelee, of Morris, Illinois. Their pleasant home in Morris is celebrated for its hospitality, and the Judge and his wife occupy a very enviable position in social circles. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and in his religious belief is a Unitarian. In early life he had no special advantages of wealth or influence to aid him, and his progress has therefore resulted from individual merit. He is a man of marked intellectuality, of keen discernment, and of broad human sympathies and everywhere commands the respect which is always accorded genuine worth. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy Counties Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, pages 405-407 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/jordan618nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb