The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-13

one Of the most remarkable men in Cali
fornia to-day, celebrated his eighty-sixth
birthday and spent the anniversary of his
coming into the world visiting among the
gray haired veterans who are gradually
passing away.
Jackson Jordan's life history, if it is
ever fully written. will make volume
that will be interesting to every Califor-
nian and to the country at large, for in the
last fifty years, which he has spent
largely in travelling, he has met and been
identified with great many of the men
who have made California annals. He
was born in New Orleans In 1911, his
father being of Scotch-Irish parentage
and his mother q descendant of native
OF Abyssinia.
Jordans early life was spent in the city
of his birth until Charles Dickens, the
great English novelist, arrived in New
Orleans on his American tour. He was in
search of a confidential man. and young
Jordans capabilities so Impressed him
that he was engaged by the author.
Jordan was in bis service at the time
when Dickens American Notes. so in
censed the people that Dickens was COM
PEELED to flee to New York, and he accom-
panied his employer. Later he went to
England with Dickens and remained there
some time.
In 1874 he returned to New York, and in
the following year took passage in the
American ship Jeanette, Captain Atkins,
for California, which was then practically
an unknown region. The vessel landed
first at Honolulu, and in the latter part of
1916 entered the Golden Gate, landing at
Sausalito.
The early days of 1916 found Jordan at
nf q
big establishment there. He was present
when the general was captured by the
Americ an forces that routed the Mexican
army. Returning to San francisco he
opened the first hotel of this City, the
Leidesdorff House.
Another turn of fortunes wheel made
Jordan Sacramento boniface. In 1S49 he
conducted the Suffer Hotel at the capital.
paying $1,000 month rental for the estab-
lishment.
Flooded out in the latter part of 1849 he
removed to Virginia, Nevada, where he
went into the restaurant business and met
and became intimate with nearly all of
the men who in later years became the
money barons of the Pacific Coast.
Later he returned 10 California and DUR
ing many years residence in this City was
in the employ of many prominent men,
including Charles Crocker, William
Sharon, William Ralston, Senator Hearst
and others.
In 1879 he was proprietor of the Mint
saloon ON Commercial street, which was a
celebrated resort at that time and fire.
quented by the heaviest business men of
the City.
For several years past he has been con-
nected with the Occidental and Oriental
Steamship Company and is at present
steward OF tn ir big liner, Coptic, running
to China and Japan.
| Jordan is giant in stature, being over
| six feet tall, and carrying himself with
| the air of man twenty-five years younger
| than he really is.
| He is a life-member of the Pioneers and
often calls on mem bers of the organiza-
tion to talk of the days when there were
| but TWO stores where San Francisco now
| stands and gold mining was not thought
OF by the simple Mexican inhabitants.
| On his eighty-sixth birthday Agent
| STUDIOS gave b m full holiday. While in
this City Jordan makes his home with
| friends at 60311 Stockton street, where he
has pretty apartment overlooking the
bay and the ships that he loves.
II am getting old" said Jordan yester-
day, while in reminiscent mood, land
| most OF the frieuds of my younger days
have gone, but shall sail many day be.
! fore / dock for the last time"