My Genealogy Hound

EDWARD L. JORDAN, president of the First National Bank of Murfreesboro, and one of Rutherford County’s wealthiest and most prominent citizens. Our subject first saw the light of day in Williamson County, Tenn., July 23, 1817. Archer Jordan, our subject’s father, was born in Lunenberg County, Va., about 1770, where he was reared to manhood and married our subject’s mother, Elizabeth Walker, also a native of that county. In 1795 Archer Jordan emigrated West, locating first in Kentucky, but the following year came to Tennessee, and crossing the Cumberland River on the ice with his wife, and his father and family, and all their earthly possessions, which was limited to a few essential household articles, he located in Davidson County, but soon afterward removed to Williamson County, where he was elected magistrate of the district, in which he resided until his death in 1835. Edward’s mother dying when he was but fourteen years of age, and his father three years later, he was left upon his own resources at the age of seventeen, and consequently his education was somewhat limited. At the age of eighteen years he entered a mercantile house at Hardeman Cross Roads, now Triune, Williamson County, as clerk, continuing three years in this capacity, when, in company with William P., son of the late Gov. Cannon, he bought out his employers, Thomas F. Perkins & Co. The new firm conducted the business successfully together until Mr. Cannon’s withdrawal, in 1841, after which Mr. Jordan owned and conducted the business alone three years. He then repaired to a farm in that county, where he resided until 1851. He then removed to this city and conducted a mercantile business successfully until the breaking out of the late war, when he was compelled to close out the business, as well as many others, at a great sacrifice. Mr. Jordan was a non-participant in that bloody strife, but strongly maintained his position in favor of the preservation of the Union, although he extended a sympathizing and helping hand to his suffering and sometimes helpless brethren of the South. Mr. Jordan has always taken an active lead in all public and private enterprises in this city, and has contributed largely to the prosperity of the county. He was one of the directors of the Planters’ Bank prior to the war, which was never reopened after that time, but in company with others Mr. Jordan established the savings bank, of which he was president until it united with the First National, when he became one of the directors of the latter, and finally its president, which position he fills in a faithful and highly efficient manner. He has also, since the war, devoted a great amount of time and attention to the collection of war claims from the United States Government, in which he has been very successful. Mr. Jordan has been very unfortunate in matrimonial affairs, having lost two wives by death. In 1840 he married Martha, daughter of the late Montford Fletcher, of this county. She died in 1852, leaving four children — three of whom are now living: Montford F., Mary (the widow of the late Dr. G. S. Nuckolls, of Alabama) and Leland. His union with Mrs. Jane Cook, daughter of the late James Carothers, of Williamson County, was without issue. In 1858 he was united in matrimony to Mrs. Mildred Williams, his present wife, and daughter of the late Dr. George Hopson, of Montgomery County, Tenn. The following named children are the result of this union: Maggie (the wife of the Rev. E. A. Taylor, of Knoxville, Tenn.) and Edward L. Mrs. Jordan has three children by her former marriage. They are Mrs. E. R. Thomas and Mr. H. H. Williams, of this city, and John P. Williams, vice-president of the First National Bank of Nashville. Mr. Jordan was formerly an old-line Whig before the war, but has, since that party ceased to exist, been strictly independent in his political views. Himself and wife are leading members of the Missionary Baptist Church of this city, and he is justly recognized as one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Rutherford County, and is a reliable and consistent Christian gentleman. His aged brother, Dr. Clement Jordan, is living a retired life at our subject’s home, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He also has a sister, Mrs. Ralston, eighty-six past, living in West Tennessee. Mr. Jordan is one of six sons and six daughters who lived to maturity, who all raised large families with exception of two — three sons and one sister now living.