Richard J. Jordon

According to his obituary, Richard Jordan was born a slave near Macon, Georgia around 1838.^[1] Later Census records would also indicate birth years of 1840 and 1841. His whereabouts are unknown until the Civil War, but it is assumed he remained enslaved in Georgia during that time. According to his obituary, Jordan joined the Confederate Army with his master, an officer, and while the Battle of Gettysburg raged on in July 1863, he escaped to Mount Holly Springs.^[2] Over a year and a half later, Jordon enlisted in the Union Army on March 4, 1865 in Chambersburg, PA, as a substitute for wagoner George Stover. On March 15, 1865, Jordan was mustered into federal service as a private with Company E of the 24th Regiment of the USCT. He served honorably until he was discharged along with the rest of the 24th Regiment on October 1, 1865 in Richmond, VA.^[3]

After the Civil War, Jordan returned to Cumberland County. The next official appearance of Richard Jordan is in the 1870 Federal Census. At some point between 1865 and 1870, Jordan married Sarah Jane Jordan, as she is listed as his spouse in the 1870 Census. They are listed as living in South Middletown Township, Cumberland County, PA with three children: Hellen, Mary, and Rosetta Jordan, aged two years, one year, and three months, respectively. The Jordan family also owned land in South Middletown, with an estimated value of $450 and a personal estate value of $125.^[4] Ten years later, the Jordan family had moved to Mount Holly Springs, also in Cumberland County, as expressed in the 1880 Federal Census. Sarah Jane and Richard had more children in that time, with the addition of Lizzie, John, Mark, Richard, and Grace Jordan, aged eleven, eight, seven, five, and two respectively. The exclusion of Mary and Hellen from this Census may indicate their deaths prior to 1880.^[5] For the remainder of Jordan’s life, spent in Mount Holly Springs, he worked as a teamster of the local paper company and was very involved in Mount Holly Church activities.^[6] According to a Special Schedule for Union Veterans and Widows, attached to the 1890 Federal Census, Jordan continued to live in Mount Holly Springs in June 1890.^[7] His enumeration as a veteran in 1890 matches with his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union Army Veterans’ organization.^[8] Richard Jordan died a decade later on July 22, 1900. He was survived by four children Martin, Richard, Robert, ad Rosie. The Sentinel reported on his death on the following Tuesday. Jordan is buried in the Mount Holly Colored Cemetery.^[9]

^[1] “Deaths: Jordan.” The Sentinel, 24 July 1900.

^[2] ”U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for Richard Jordan”.

^[3] ”U.S. Find A Grave Index, 1600s to Current for Richard Jordan”.

^[4] “Richard Jordan.” Year: 1870; Census Place: South Middleton, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1333; Page: 510A; Family History Library Film: 552832

^[5]“Richard Jordan.” Year: 1880; Census Place: Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1122; Page: 292C; Enumeration District: 079

^[6] “Deaths: Jordan.” The Sentinel, 24 July 1900.

^[7]“Richard Jordan.” The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; Series Number: M123; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Record Group Number: 15; Census Year: 1890

^[8] “Deaths: Jordan.” The Sentinel, 24 July 1900.

^[9] “Deaths: Jordan.” The Sentinel, 24 July 1900.