William was the son of William Jordan and Sarah J. Wood. He is my third great-grandfather.

Biography

“William Jordan came to Tennessee with his father, William Jordan, when he was but a lad, early in the present century. They located in Williamson County, near Triune, and our subject’s father came to Gibson county in 1820, locating on a farm three miles east of Milan, where he raised a very large family. He was twice married and to sisters, our subject being the son of his second wife. He died on his farm in September, 1863. He was one of the most enterprising and successful planters in west Tennessee, owning about 15,00 acres of good land and 100 negroes. He was for many years magistrate of his district, being an old line Whig in politics, and was conscientiously opposed to secession up the date of his death. His wives came to Tennessee at an early day and were second cousins of the noted John Bell.” (From Goodspeed History of Gibson County, page 893.)

Birth

William was born on April 3, 1792, in Lunenberg, Virginia.

Marriage

William was married twice, first to the fifteen-year-old Mary Medy Boyd on August 28, 1810, and later, after Mary’s death, to her sister, Elizabeth Edmiston Boyd, on December 12, 1833. The sisters were the children of William C. Boyd and Martha Edmiston.

Children

William had ten children total, two with his first wife Medy and eight with his second wife Elizabeth.

Children with Mary Medy Boyd

Mary did not appear to have any living children for the first 17 years of her marriage.

1. Louisa Ellen Jordan, born May 13, 1827, in Milan, Gibson County, TN. Ellen continues my direct line; learn more about her here.
2. Newton C. Jordan, born in 1832, in Milan, Gibson County, TN. Married Mary E. Bennett in 1854. Died in 1910, Madison County, TN.

I don’t have a death date for Medy but it must have been sometime after the birth of her son Newton in 1832 and previous to her husband’s remarriage at the end of 1833.

Children with Elizabeth E. Boyd

William and Elizabeth had eight children.

1. Marcus De La Fayette Jordan, born on 01 Nov 1834 in Gibson, Tennessee, USA. He married Mattie H. Hillsman Nov 1858. General Notes: “Marcus De Lafayette Jordan, M.D., of Milan, Tenn., was born in Gibson County, on the 1st of November, 1834; son of William and Elizabeth (Boyd) Jordan, who were born in the Old Dominion. William Jordan came to Tennessee with his father, William Jordan, when he was but a lad, early in the present century. They located in Williamson County, near Triune, and our subject’s father came to Gibson county in 1820, locating on a farm three miles east of Milan, where he raised a very large family. He was twice married and to sisters, our subject being the son of his second wife. He died on his farm in September, 1863. He was one of the most enterprising and successful planters in west Tennessee, owning about 15,00 acres of good land and 100 negroes. He was for many years magistrate of his district, being an old line Whig in politics, and was conscientiously opposed to secession up the date of his death. His wives came to Tennessee at an early day and were second cousins of the noted John Bell. Dr. Marcus Jordan, our subject, resided on a farm in Gibson County, until fifteen years of age when he entered Union University at Murfreesboro, Tenn., graduating from the same in 1852. He then began studying medicine at McLemoresville under Drs. Boyd and Brannock, and later entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and graduated in March, 1857. He returned home and practiced at Milan until the war, when he was appointed first assistant surgeon of the Fifth Tennessee Confederate Infantry, and served in this capacity until the battle of Stone River when he was left behind in charge of the hospital, and was held in hostage by the Federals from June until December, 1863, and served in his professional capacity as surgeon of Col. Biffel’s regiment of cavalry, under Gen. Forrest until the close of the war. He resumed practice at Milan and has met with the bests of success. In November, 1858, he married Mattie H. Hillsman, who died in 1876, leaving four children: Robert Lee, Mary E., Marcus DeLafayette and Irma. In October, 1877, the Doctor married Josephine E. Perry, of Rutherford County. In 1874 he was elected to the State Senate, and served with honor and distinction during the session of 1875. Since 1869 he has been engaged in the drug business in Milan, and is a member of the Gibson County Medical Society. He and wife belong to the Baptist Church.” (From Goodspeed History of Gibson County, page 893.)
2. Robert Jordan, born 1836 in Gibson, Tennessee.
3. Archer Jordan, born 1838 in Gibson, Tennessee.
4. Nicholas E. Jordan, born 1840 in Gibson, Tennessee, USA. Property on 31 Jul 1867 in Gibson, Tennessee. Property Notes: “July 31, 1867. N.E. Jordan to M.D.L. Jordan. William Jordan of Gibson County departed intestate in 1863 leaving a large real estate and 13 children. I, Nicholas E. Jordan, a son is entitled to 13th part.”
5. Eliza Jordan, born 1843 in Gibson, Tennessee.
6. Myra Jordan, born 1847 in Gibson, Tennessee.
7. William Jordan, born 1849 in Gibson, Tennessee.
8. Victoria Jordan, born 1847 in Gibson, Tennessee.

Residence

William Jordan came to Tennessee with his father, William Jordan, when he was a boy, in the 1790’s. They settled in Williamson County, near Triune.

1820

William appeared in the US Federal Census for Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee, in 1820. The enumeration date was August 7, 1820. Household composition is as follows: Free White Persons – Males – Under 10: 3 | Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44: 1 | Free White Persons – Females – Under 10: 2 | Free White Persons – Females – 16 thru 25: 1 | Slaves – Males – Under 14: 3 | Slaves – Males – 14 thru 25: 1 | Slaves – Females – 14 thru 25: 1 | Number of Persons – Engaged in Agriculture: 2 | Free White Persons – Under 16: 5 | Free White Persons – Over 25: 1 | Total Free White Persons: 7 | Total Slaves: 5 | Total All Persons – White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 12

William moved to Gibson county in 1820, locating on a farm three miles east of Milan.

1830

1840

1850

1860

Occupation

“He was one of the most enterprising and successful planters in west Tennessee, owning about 15,00 acres of good land and 100 negroes. He was for many years magistrate of his district, being an old line Whig in politics, and was conscientiously opposed to secession up the date of his death.” (From Goodspeed History of Gibson County, page 893.)

Death

William died September 15, 1863, in Gibson, TN, at the age of 71.

Burial

William was buried in Veazey Cemetery in Gibson County, Tennessee. See his FindAGrave memorial page here.

Sources

• Wilma Vaughan Chunn, A Treasury of Kith and Kin, 1979, Shelbyville, TN