Charles E. Jordan Biography This biography appears on pages 574-575 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm CHARLES E. JORDAN. Charles E. Jordan was prominently known as a contractor and builder of Sioux Falls, which place was the central point of his activities which, however, reached out over a wide territory. He gradually worked his way upward in the business world and his success was the merited reward of his close application and unfaltering effort. His birth occurred at Canterbury, England, on the 2d of January, 1856. His father, Henry Jordan, was a shoemaker and followed that trade in Carlinville, Illinois, after coming to the new world He married Elizabeth Head, also a native of England. Charles E. Jordan was but two months old when his parents established their home in Carlinville, Illinois. He pursued his education in the public schools there and when sixteen years of age entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter,s trade, thoroughly mastering the business and becoming quite an expert workman. On the 15th of May, 1878, he came to Sioux Falls and was in the employ of T. C. Mann and at the Queen Bee mill until 1883, when he and his brother began contracting and building under the firm name of Jordan Brothers. They conducted an extensive business until his brother's death in 1901, after which Charles E. Jordan was alone in business. He made his home continuously in Sioux Falls from the time he left Carlinville in 1878 until his death on the 20th of February, 1910. He was largely engaged in building houses for a few years, after which he and his brother built many prominent structures of the city. They were accorded an extensive patronage and the excellent character of their work is seen in many of the older and more substantial structures of the city. In 1880 Mr. Jordan was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Austin, who came from Decorah, Iowa. Her father, George Austin, arrived in southeastern South Dakota about 1878, having driven across the country with his family. He took up land from the government and with characteristic energy began its development and improvement, converting it from a wild tract to one of rich fertility. The remainder of his days was spent in South Dakota, where he died about 1900. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were born three children: Arthur James, now living in Sioux Falls; Harry F., deceased; and Mabel Ruth, at home. Mr. Jordan was connected with few fraternal organizations, belonging, however, to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was a public-spirited man, interested in measures for the welfare and progress of his city and whatever he undertook contributed to the improvement of Sioux Falls. His business affairs were of a character that advanced general progress and his worth as a man and citizen was widely acknowledged.