Jordan, William Henry

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

William Henry Jordan is a printer and newspaper man, and for over thirty years had been identified with the publication of the Seneea Tribune, founded in 1879 by Wren and Clawson.

Mr. Jordan, now the sole proprietor and editor, is a native of England, born at Rye, March 7, 1854. His father, Henry Jordan, was born in the old cathedral city of Canterbury in 1822, was reared there, and was married at Rye to Miss Elizabeth Head. She was born at Rye in 1831. After the birth of two of their children they immigrated to the United States in March, 1858, and located at Carlinville, Illinois. There Henry Jordan followed his trade of shoemaker and reared his family. He died at Carlinville, Illinois, in 1897, and his wife passed away in the same city in 1910. William H. Jordan, the oldest of his parents' children, and his brother Charles, were both born in Rye, England, while the others were born at Carlinville. His brother Charles E. died at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1911, and Edwin F. died at Sioux Falls in 1900. Emily E. is unmarried and lives at Carlinville, Illinois. George F. in 1886 came to Seneea and with his brother was associated for thirteen years in the management of the Tribune. He then returned to Carlinville, Illinois, and later served eight years as postmaster under Roosevelt and Taft. Herbert S., who died at Seneca, Kansas, February 14, 1908, was a printer in the office of the Tribune. Frank O. is a carpenter and builder living at Spokane, Washington. James died of typhoid fever at the age of nineteen at Carlinville.

William H. Jordan received his early education in the public schools at Carlinville. He was also a student in Blackburn University at Carlinville through the junior year.

On leaving college in 1879 Mr. Jordan came to Kangas and for a few months was employed at Parsons by Harry Lusk as typesetter on the Parsons Sun. He returned to his old Illinois town and continued working at the printing trade until 1886. That year he and his brother George F. came to Seneca and bought the Sencca Tribune, which they conducted jointly for thirteen years. The Tribune is a steadfast republican paper, and had stood for that party through all the varying influences that have changed politics and affected political organizations of the state. The plant is thoroughly equipped for newspaper and general job printing.

Besides his paper Mr. Jordan had a good home in Seneca and is owner of other realty.

For four years under President Taft Mr. Jordan was postmaster of Seneca. He is biblical in his belief and a member of Seneca Lodge No. 39, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Nemaha Chapter No. 32, Royal Arch Masons, and Seneca Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.

He married at Seneca November 26, 1896, Miss Rose M. Wilson, daughter of J. H. and Ellen (Osborne) Wilson, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have four children. Herbert W. was graduated from the Seneca High School with the class of 1915 and is now in the newspaper office with his father. Helen Elizabeth is a graduate of the Seneca High School with the class of 1917. Harry Ellsworth and Katherine are both pupils in the public school.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

  Go Back