Bio: Rev. Joseph Henry Jordan, Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ REV. JOSEPH HENRY JORDAN Minister Arcadia, La. Mr. Jordan, a representative man of the county, has done much good in the world, administering to the spiritual wants of his fellow man, and by living a life of such constancy and purity as has not failed to have its effect on the rising generation. He is a native of Georgia, born September 17, 1833, near the home of the renowned Alexander Stephens, of historic fame. He was the fifth of seven children~four sons and three daughters---born to John Wesley and Mahala Mathews (Mercer) Jordan, both natives of Georgia, and born in 1800 and 1805, respectively. The children are named in the order of their births: Thomas (died at the age of thirty-seven years. from exposure during the war; he was a clergyman and a member of the Georgia conference), Elizabeth (resided in Georgia and died when she was about fifty-six years of age), Frances (resides in Georgia, and is the wife of G. C. Edwards, who is now judge of the inferior court of Georgia), George (who died at the age of three years), Joseph Henry, J. W. (who resides in Atlanta, Ga., and is a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church of that city), and Susan (deceased). The father of these children has spent his entire life as an agriculturist and has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since the age of eighteen years. He is now eighty-nine years of age, and is a man of remarkable energy and fortitude. When eighty-seven years of age he paid a visit to his son in Louisiana. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a Baptist minister and a brother of the famous Rev. Jesse Mercer, who is the reputed founder of the Missionary Baptist Church, after the division of the Baptist Church. Rev. Jesse Mercer was also the founder of the Pennfield Institute, now in Macon, Ga. The mother of our subject died when about forty years of age. Rev. Joseph H. Jordan received his rudimentary education in the common schools, and finished his literary course in Brown Wood Institute, at La Grange, Ga. He was married when eighteen years of age to Miss Louisa Hall, a native of Georgia, born in October, 1836. She was educated in the Montgomery Female College, at La Grange, Ga. They were married November 11, 1851, and their union has resulted in the birth of seven children-three sons and four daughters: Eugenia (resides in Arcadia, and is the wife cf Dr. W M. Baker, see sketch), Joseph Homer (resides in Shreveport, La., and is engaged in a clothing and gent's furnishing store; he married a Miss Bouquin, of Shreveport), Rebecca (resides in Arcadia, La., and is the wife of W. H. E11ington, general salesman), Hattie (resides also in Arcadia, and is the wife of Thomas Whitehead, who is in the livery business), John Wesley (resides in Shreveport, La., and is engaged with his brother, Joseph Homer), Robert C. (resides in Arcadia, and is a salesman and book-keeper; he is a graduate of Atlanta (Ga.) Commercial College) and Madgie (attending a female college). Rev Jordan enlisted as private in the " Claiborne Invincibles," in 1861, and was sent by the governor to Camp Moore, where they were assigned to the Seventeenth Louisiana Infantry Volunteers, under Col. S. S. Heard. His regiment was assigned to Army of Tennessee. Very soon after the organization of the regiment, Rev. Jordan was appointed as chaplain of the regiment, direct from the private ranks. He was in the battle of Shiloh, Baker's Creek, and finally at the great siege of Vicksburg where his services ceased. He then returned home o resume his ministerial work. Shortly after his marriage Rev. Jordan engaged as an agriculturist, and continued this occupation to some extent until five years ago. He took great interest in the organization of the Farmer's Grange, and was elected overseer of the first State Grange, second officer of the Grange. He was licensed to preach in 1856, and was expecting to have joined the Georgia conference, but owing to the conference being full he came to the West, where there was a large and virgin field. About the time he was to unite with the Louisiana conference, the war broke out, and he was among the first of the brave boys who wore the gray with honor to themselves and the cause they advocated, who went to the front as already narrated. Rev. Jordan, in his political belief has affiliated with the Democratic party, and cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore. He is not radical in his views, but exercises his franchise for principle and right at all times and in all places. During the year 1887 he was elected mayor of Arcadia, on the strong grounds he took against the whisky faction, or element, or rather in keeping the city a clean temperance town. Rev. Jordan is treasurer of the board of trustees of the Arcadia Male and Female College, and he is a gentleman who has aimed to perform his duties at all times to the best interests of his school, and should have the highest commendations given him for his persistency. A man of knowledge, intelligence and principle, he will stand by the schools when they are of as high a standard as the colleges in Arcadia. Rev, Jordan is a R. A. M. He has been a true disciple of the word of God since he was a little boy, and has spent the cream of his life in the service of his Master, having filled the pulpit since 1861. Mrs. Jordan has also been a constant, devoted Christian, and their united help in the religions work has been felt in all localities of which they have been residents. They are now residing at Arcadia, La., where they are surrounded by their loving children and many warm friends.