Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Jordan, Josiah W., 1933 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ NONAGENARIAN DIES AT HOME _____ J. W. Jordan, Said To Be for Oldest Postmaster, Served Under Grant _____ Carollton, Nov. 15.- J.W. Jordan, 90-year-old Carollton postmaster, and was believed to have been the oldest postmaster in the country, is dead. Mr. Jordan's death occurred at 4:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at his home in Carollton, where he had been postmaster for 57 years. He was connected with one of the best-known families in Isle of Wight and was the son of the late Col. Josiah Williams Jordan and Frances Dawley Jordan. He was born at Rock Wharf on the James River. As postmaster he served under all the Presidents of the United States since Grant and is said to have had his name on the Government payroll longer than any man in history. He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. J. Floyd Batten, Carrollton; Mrs. A.C. Barlow, Fort Worth; Mrs. T.T. Nottingham, Stone, Ky.; Mrs. J. Patton Cole, Chatham, and Miss Nat Jordan, Carrollton; two sons, J.W. Jordan, of Chicago, formerly of Norfolk, and R.B. Jordan, of Greensboro, N.C. He is survived by nine grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Isle of Wight County and burial will be in the churchyard. ****************************************************************************** LAST RITES TODAY FOR J. W. JORDAN _____ Services for Oldest Postmaster in America To Be Held At St. Luke's _____ Suffolk, Nov. 16.- Funeral services for Josiah W. Jordan, of Carrollton, Isle of Wight County, who had served as postmaster in Carrollton for 57 years, will be held at the home Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock, with the Rev. William Brayshaw officiating, and burial will be in the cemetery at Old St. Luke's Episcopal Church, near Smithfield. Mr. Jordan was not only postmaster, but a large landowner, farmer and merchant. In August he received the following letter: "My dear Mr. Jordan- "It has been brought to my attention by an article in the Virginian-Pilot that in point of years you are the oldest living postmaster. It is noted from the records that you were appointed postmaster at Carrollton August 20, 1878, and the Postmaster General wishes to extend his congratulations. "Your record is an enviable one, and your long years of loyalty and fidelity to the postal service constitute a record we are proud to acknowledge and commend. "With kindest personal regards, yours very truly, "Joseph C. O'Mahoney, first assistant postmaster general." Mr. Jordan was for many years a member of the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors. He was born in 1843, and had celebrated his ninetieth birthday. He was a Confederate veteran, having joined the Portsmouth Light Artillery at the beginning of the War Between the States. Later he was transferred to Company B, Thirteenth Virginia Cavalry. Surviving are the following sons and daughters: J.W. Jordan, Chicago; Mrs. J.F. Batten, and Miss Mat Jordan, Carrollton; R.B. Jordan, Greensboro, N.C.; Mrs. A. Barlow, Fort Worth, Tex.; and Mrs. W. Coles, Chatham. ****************************************************************************** Josiah W. Jordan Buried On Friday _____ Funeral services for Josiah W. Jordan who died last week were held at his home Friday with interment in the Old Brick Church Cemetery. The following were pallbearers: H.P. Minga, Linwood Latimer, Reynolds Parker, Q.B. Gilliam, E.E. Holloway, John Dixon,, Willie Reed and George Hall, with friends of the family as Honorary Pallbearers. Mr. Jordan served on the Board of Supervisors for a number of years. He was a Confederate Veteran, member of Portsmouth Light Artillery, and after the Seven Days' fight around Richmond was transferred to C. B. 13th Va. Cavalry. It was at Mr. Jordan's "Springfield Farm" that the plans for the restoration of the "Old Brick Church" were formulated with the following present: Mr. Josiah W. Jordan, his brothers J.D. Jordan, W.F. Jordan, W.P Jordan, O.P. Jordan and his sister Miss Ella Jordan; Dr. A.R. Galt and the Rev. David Barr. Mr. Jordan was for a long time Vestryman of "Old Brick Church," for which his affection and interest never waned, even when he was no longer able to attend on its services. Thus has passed out into the Great Beyond, a cultured gentleman of the old type, loyal in his friendships, hospitable, generous, kind. None can replace him in his community. Sadly we say "Farewell". Josiah William "Joe" JORDAN (Sr.), farmer, merchant & postmaster, Confederate veteran, Isle of Wight Co. native, d. 14 Nov 1933, at home, Carrollton, age 90, interred in Historic St. Luke's Church Cemetery*, Benns Church, 17 Nov 1933, "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 13, No. 32, Nov. 16, 1933; "The Virginian-Pilot and Norfolk (VA) Landmark," Nov. 17, 1933; "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 13, No. 33, Nov. 23, 1933, p. 1, col. 7 *Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} Old St. Luke's list (#17): http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html His will is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/wills/j635j1wl.txt His Find a Grave Memorial (#14670545) includes a photo of his monument and two of Joe (circa 1875 & 1930). An error in attached notes states he began as postmaster during the Grant administration - he began under Hayes, after the end of Reconstruction. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Carolyn Keen (VAHistoricHouses@aol.com) & Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/j635j1ob.txt