Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-02
], v. JORDAN
IS VICTIM OF
SUDDEN DEATH
WE'LL KNOWN CITIZEN AFTER
CEANkING AUTOMOBILE EN-
TIERS THE CAR AND SUCCUMBS
BY SIDE or WIFE.
DEATH COMES AS
SHOCK TO FRIENDS

DEcEDENT HAD NOT BEEN ILL
WAS ON PLEASURE TRIP WITH
MRS. JORDAN WHEN ovERTAK
EN- WITH HEART DISEASE.
i can scarcely BREATHE" were the
last words uttered by Jacob w. Jor'
dan this morning a few minutes be.
fore his wife noticed his form cold in
death, while his hands held the steer
ing apparatus Of the automobile in
which the couple were driving near
the White school north of town. The
machine had swerved slightly from
the road, and noting that it continued
toward the side of the road without
Mr.. Jordan seeming to divert 1t from
its course, Mrs. JORDAN stopped the
car, but not until It struck the fence
did she realize the tragic sitla On,
for her husband was sitting cold in
death apparently in charge of the ma
chine
The news o. the death was immedi-
ately telephoneG to relatives in Of
tumwa and j. C. Jordan, a brother Of
the decedcnt, M. c. Gilmore and lr. E.
r. Edgerly Immediately repaired to
the scene. John C. Jordan brought
Mrs. Jordan to her home. while I'm.
dertaker F. L. Daggett and DR.. Edger-
ly brought the machine of the deced-
ent to Ottumwa. Mr.. Gilmore remain
ed with the body, which was trans
ferred to lie ambulance, until Mr..
Daggett returned this afternoon when
the remains were brought to Of
tunwa.
The news of the sudden death
spread quickly about the city and by
noon the entire business district was
acquainted with the story although
few knew the facts. 1t was reported
that death was the result of an acct
dent but such was not the case.
Died at Wheel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jordan had left in
their car this morning for drive
through the country north Of Ottunl-
wa. When the couple arrived near
school house No. 6. known as the
White school, in Richland township.
the machine was turned about and
when about to start home, the engine
Jordan cranked the engine. II can
scarcely breathe" he said to Mrs. Jor-
dan, pressing hands to his waist after
cranking the machine. He then STEP
ped into the machine and started 1t
moving slowly, saying nothing as the
auto proceeded along the road.
When the car had gone about
100 feet, Mrs. Jordan noticed that it
seemed to divert from the center OF
the read and began to run toward the
fence. Noting that her husband did
not turn the car from its course to-
ward the side of the road. and seeing
that it must strike the fence and per-
haps cause injury and damage, she
rose from her place and stopped the
car which by that time had struck the
fence. Not until then did she realize
that her husband had been dead at
the wheel and thus permitted the car
to run wild. The death occurred
ABOUT 10 o'clock.
Retired Merchant.
Jacob w. Jordan had been Identified
with the business life of Ottumwa for
the past forty years and was 81 years
of age at the time of his death. He
was associated with his father, the
late w. A. Jordan and his brothers in
the firm known for years as w. A.
Jordan & Sons, a pioneer general
store of Ottumwa and in existence I'M
til within the past five years. For |
many years during the late life OF the
nrm, he and John G. Jordan were
the controlling interests. He retired
from business when the old firm ceas-
ed operations. He was born in kich-
land and in boyhood came to Ottumwa
with the W. A. Jordan family. He re.
ceived an appointment to Annapolis
Naval academy following his school
days and spent year preparing for
the naval service of his country I'M
til the failure of his eyesight made 1t
necessary for him to resign. He then
embarked in business with his father
and brothers who operated boot and
shoe store in the block between Court
and Market streets. Later the firm
expanded and took in dry goods and
clothing as lines of merchandise. 1t
Is as a merchant that Mr.. Jordan was
best known to Ottumwans during the
past and present generation. ..,
Many Survivors. ..
He leaves to survive his loss,
wife. Mrs. Laura Hennigen Jordan
and two sons, Wymer and John Jor-
Ian. Three brothers. J. G. Jordan OF
Ottumwa, w, B. Jordan Of Miles City,
Mont. w. G. Jordan of Minneapolis,
md six sisters, Mrs. Ira Myers, Mrs.
G. F. Hall, Mrs E. A. Work, Mrs. M.
3. Hutchinson, Miss Kilt Jordan of Of
,umwa and Mrs. B. w. Ladd of Kan
;as City also survive. His mother,
Maria Jordan died May /.
At the time Of his death, Mr.. Jordan
vas serving a term as Republican
member of the board of supervisors OF
Wapello county. He was prominent
member c. the Wapello club.
IT Is OF THE UTMOST IMPORT