The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-08-25
Former Chairman of Coun.
ty Board Stricken With
Heart Disease.
WAS EARLY PIONEER
Long Prominent in Official Life
of Town Of Somers-PrOm-
inent as Masonic Leader.

Henry F. Jordan, aged 81 years, and
for more than half century prominent
in the business and official life of Ke-
nosha county, died Friday evening at
his home on Fremont avenue, following
general breaking down due to the in
firmities of his advanced years. Few
men were more widely known in Keno
sha county. Mr.. Jordan had been a
resident of the county for more than
70 years and he had served in many
capacities. He was for years member
of the county board of supervisors and
as chairman of the board handled some
of the largest problems to come up for
the consideration of the county.
Mr.. Jordan was a native of England.
He was son of Thomas Jordan and
he was born at Rochdale in Lancashire,
September 7, 1886. Mr. Jordan's grand
father was an excise officer in the en-
ploy of the British government and he
died in middle life following an injury
received when he risked his life to
save others in runaway accident.
Came to America in AZ"
his father in 1912. The family came
to America from England and came
west to Southport, reaching here on
May 20, 1912. Thomas Jordan, the
father took up claim Of land in the
township of Pike, now known as Som
ers. The elder Jordan was one of the
most influential of the earlier settlers
of the county, serving for years as d
county supervisor and for twenty-five
years as school district treasurer.
Henry r. Jordan was one of the most
interesting of the pioneer residents of
Kenosha county. He recalled with in
terest on many occasions his coming
to Southport by steamer and being
brought ashore to the old plank bridge
in lighter. There were but fifteen
houses in Southport when Mr.. Jordan
came.
Mr.. Jordan grew to manhood in the
town of Somers, receiving his educa-
tion in the old district school there.
He purchased a farm in Somers and
resided on the farm until 1896 when he
removed to Kenosha Later he went
into the real estate business in Keno
sha and for years he was most sue
cessful in this line of work.
Served in Many Offices.
Mr.. Jordan was for many years one
Of the leaders of the Republican party
in this section of Wisconsin and he
held many official positions. He served
a treasurer of the town of Somers;
he was clerk of the town for a number
of years; and he served for seven years
as a member Of the county board, rep
resenting the town of Somers for a
portion of this time and the. old third
ward for the remainder. He served as
chairman of the county board for q
term Of three years.
On May 90, 1869, Mr. Jordan was
married to Miss Lavinia Goldsworthy
and the widow and one daughter, Miss
Edith Jordan, of Kenosha, survive him.
He is also survived by two brothers,
Thomas and George Jordan.
Mr.. Jordan had been in failing health
for some time, but the end came sud-.
denly. He had been about the house
as usual on Friday and appeared to be
unusually cheerful. Just after nine
o'clock he had retired for the evening
and was stricken with an attack of
heart disease. He died few minutes
later. Mr. Jordan was one of the old
est and most active Of the members of
the Masonic fraternity in Kenosha and
he had taken very great interest in
the work of the order in Kenosha coun-
ty. The funeral services will be held
from the late residence at 300 o'clock
Monday afternoon.