Person:Erwin Jordan (1)

BIRTH

According to a 1905 platt map of Rural Twp., the Byron Jordan farm, where E.B.J. was born is the most S.E. Twp. in Rock Island Co., and the farm was located on parts of Sections 35 & 36, which places the farm adjacent to the Mercer Co. & Henry Co. lines to the South & East respectively. Rural was a Post Office and had a population of 15 according to an 1895 IL town index. Erwin always said he was from Rural.

BIOGRAPHY

Listed as Erwin B. Jordan in 1900 Fed. Census for Rural Twp., Rock Island Co., IL, Dist. 124, enumerated on 6 Jun 1900, age 16, b. May 1884, IL, Farm Laborer, single, at home.

Listed as Erwin B. Jordan in 1910 Fed. Census for Orion, Henry Co., IL, Dist. 141, enumerated on 12 April 1910 age 26, b. IL, Civil Engineer, single, at home, living on Washington St.

Listed as Erwin B. Jordan in 1920 Fed. Census for West Deerfield Twp., Lake Co., IL, enumerated on 12 Jan 1920, age 35, b. IL, farmer on general farm, w/wife & son & father-in-law Charles A Parsons. Note: Erwin was the enumerator for this census and location of home is Telegraph Road, but known to family now as Waukegan Road.

Listed as Erwin B. Jordan in 1930 Fed. Census for Deerfield, Lake Co., IL, Dist 49-17, enumerated on 8 Apr 1930, age 45, b. IL, Manager of landscape architect firm, age of 27 when married, w/wife & son.

Listed as E.B. Jordan in 1940 Fed. Census for Deerfield, Lake Co., IL, Dist. 49-107, enumerated on 27 May 1940, age 56, b. IL, Owner operator of Nursery, widowed, completed 5 years of college, residing in same place in 1935, with his Son and Son’s family, living at 50 S. Waukegan Rd., had worked 60 hours during the week of Mar 24-30, 1940.

The “Orion Times” of 25 Sep 1902 relates that Erwin Jordan, who is attending school on Moline, visited his parents Mr. & Mrs. Byron Jordan and again reported a visit in the ed. of 27 Nov 1902.

"The Orion Times" of 25 Sep 1902 reports that 'Erwin, who is attending school in Moline, spent Sunday with his parents....'

He is listed in the 1943 Orion H.S. Yearbook as being in the 1902 graduating class and living in Barrington, IL in 1943. That info [Barrington] is a surprise to hear.

He was in the Class of 1908, College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaing-Urbana. Degree is in Civil Engineering. He received the honorary award of Engineering, Tau Beta Pi.

Through review of letters, either addressed to or posted from various locations, Jeremy Jordan has placed him as living or staying [sometimes visiting] in: Champaign, IL [U. of I.] - Sep 1907; Rock Island, IL - Dec 1907; International Falls, MN - Jan & Aug 1909; Orion, IL - Jan, Feb & Mar 1910 + May 1911; Elmira, NY - May 1910; Sir Johns Run, Morgan Co., WV - Oct 1910 [he was stationed there from Sep 1910 thru Feb 1911]; Nevada, Vernon Co. & Rich Hill, Bates Co., MO + Ft. Scott, KS - Mar 1911; Roseville, IL - Apr 1911; Greensburg, IN - May, Jun & Jul 1911; Superior, WI - Aug, Sep & Dec, 1911; Warwick, OH - Apr 1912; Rowlesburg, Preston Co., WV - May 1912; Montgomery, AL - Oct, Nov & Dec, 1912; Littletons, AL - May 1913. During some or all of this period, he worked for Roberts & Schaefer Co., still in existence in 2011.

Erwin purchased the Parsons family homestead in Deerfield, Cook Co., IL; the oldest portion built in 1849 and removed to that acreage. He farmed until 1924-25 when he established a landscape nursery, Arden Farm in Deerfield at the same location. During WW II, he again worked as a Civil Engineer in Arkansas, Louisiana and elsewhere on munitions plant projects. Erwin retired from The Illinois Department of Transportation at age 81, having worked for them for some years as a Signals Engineer, i.e., installations of traffic signals in the greater Chicago area.

A member of Deerfield Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Order, later becoming a “Knights Templer” and at age 90 was inducted into the “Shriners” in New Mexico.

BURIAL

Ashes were scattered. His name w/birth date is inscribed on the large Jordan gravestone in Western Cem., Western Twp., immediately north of Orion, Henry Co., IL.

Family_Jordan_No.: 10271

1.  
   760, 1070.

   The Family Jordan
   Author(s): compiled by Adelbert Jean "Andy" Annonson ; edited by Roland Gene Jordan.
   Publisher: "The Family Jordan" Association & Penobscot Press
   ISBN: 0-89725-441-4
   Note: Includes index.
   Edition: of 2001
   Publication Place: Port Charlotte, FL