Masonic Membership Letter Transcription

The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois March 6, 1979 Mr. David S. Jordan 32 Juniper Place Matawan, New Jersey 07747 Some time has elapsed since you wrote to this office regarding the Masonic membership of your great-grandfather, James O. Jordan. According to the records of this office, he was a member in good standing of Covenant Lodge No. 526, Chicago, Illinois, at the time of death on March 23, 1947. His date of birth is recorded as February 18, 1868, at London, England. We do not have available a short story or biographical sheet of your great-grandfather. Only the Masonic membership is recorded in our files, and it is listed that he was raised to the degree of Master Mason on April 11, 1890. In answer to one of your questions, there are a number of Masonic cemeteries in Chicago, Illinois. The check you sent to cover costs for doing our research is being returned herewith. Yours truly, Roy L. Wyckoff Grand Secretary

Membership Letter Comments

This 1979 letter was instrumental in establishing James' date and year of birth as February 18, 1868. The date was essential in the search for his birth registration given the name change. The date was also instrumental in establishing that the record for 18 February 1868 date of birth for Joseph Canute Oscar Scholdberg and James Oscar Jordan are the same person. James Oscar Jordan's place of birth was Poplar, England, which is the greater London area.

This letter also was instumental in establishing the date of death for James Oscar Jordan as March 23, 1947. At the time the family did not know when he had died and the Illinois Death Record was misfiled. It took until 2002 to find the actual death record. This letter also established that James Oscar Jordan was a Master Mason on April 11, 1890. He would have been 22 years old. This suggests that he was in Chicago at least several years before 1890. The 1900 and 1910 Census suggest 1886 or 1882.

Marriage Application
State of Illinois Cook County

No. 258013 James Oscar Jordan of Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, being duly sworn and deposed says that he is of the age of 26 years, and that Miss Margaret Jane Knowles of Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois is of the age of 18 years, and that said above named persons are single and unmarried, and may lawfully contract and be joined in marriage. Subscribed and sworn before me this 30 day of December 1896 James Oscar Jordan (signature) Philip Knopf Clerk of the County Court (signature) By Illegible Deputy (signature)

Marriage Application Comments

James Oscar was born in February 1868 and was thus 28 and not 26. This Marriage record and the 1900 Census record suggested James was born in either 1870 or 1872 and had me on the wrong track for a long time. While it is possible that he wanted to imply to his wife or her family that he was younger, I found in James' case that he had a long history of providing misleading information.

Margaret was born in April 1878 and was 18 years old.

Marriage License
State of Illinois, Cook County

No. 258013 The People of the State of Illinois To any Person Legally Authorized to Solemnize Marriage, Greetings Marriage may be Celebrated between Mr.James Oscar Jordan of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, of the age of 26 years, and Miss Margaret Jane Knowles of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 18 years. Witness Philip Knopf, County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court of said Cook County, and the Seal thereof, at my office in Chicago, this 30th day of December A.D. 1896. Philip Knopf (signature) County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court State of Illinois, Cook County I, Reverend H. Francis Perry a Clergyman hereby certify that Mr. James Oscar Jordan and Miss Margaret Jane Knowles were united in Marriage by me at Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, on the 30th day of December 1896. Rev H. Francis Perry (signature) 513 - 62nd Street

Marriage License Comments

The Decmber 31, 1896 Chicago Tribune on Page 5 listed the Marriage Licences for the previous day (December 30th, 1896). Listed was "James O. Jordan Margaret Jane Knowles 26 18", the 26 and 18 being their ages.

Their clergyman was Reverend H. Francis Perry. Rev. Perry's address was listed in 1902 Directory as 513 W. 62nd at Englewood Baptist, 62nd and Stewart.

Divorce Records

James and Margaret Jordan's Divorce Records are stored separately because of their length.

Link to The Jordan Story

Naturalization Records Search

James is listed as an alien on the 1900 Census and as naturalized in the 1910 Census. It is felt that he may have been a citizen well before then. The primary reason is due to his 1890 entry into the Grand Lodge. It would be expected that initiation into the Lodge took careful preparation, such as entry into a stable trade (e.g., electrician), stability in the community and allegiance to the new country.

A search of the naturalization records did not yield any confirmed record of James ever becoming a citizen. Five James Jordans were found but it was not possible to verify that any were our James Jordan due to lack of correlating information on the records. Of the five James Jordans found, the most reasonable appears to be a James Jordan naturalized on October 10, 1888. On the record it was indicated that the country of birth was England and that the applicant was in the "minor-5 year category." The minor-5 year category meant that the applicant was a minor (under 18 when entering the country) and that he had spent at least five years waiting to become an applicant. This record could match our James if he had come over in about 1882 or 1883 (age: 14 or 15).

Certificate of Death
State of Illinois

9623713 Reg. No. 9459 Dist No. 3104   Place of Death: 1a. County of Cook Registration District No. 3104 1b. City: Chicago 1c. Address and Names of Hospital: 836 Wellington Avenue, Illinois Masonic Hospital 1d. Length of Stay (in this place): 2 days Place of Residence: 2a. State: Illinois 2b. County: Cook 2c. City: Chicago 2d. Street Address: 6532 Maryland Avenue   3a. Name of Deceased: Mr. James Jordon alias James Jordan 3b. If veteran, name war: No 3c. Social Security No.: None 4. Sex: Male 5. Color: White 6. Marriage Status: Widowed 7. Birth date of deceased: Feb. 18 1867 8. Age: 80 years 1 month 5 days 9. Birthplace : Chicago Illinois 10. Usual Occupation: Stationary Engineer 11. Kind of Business: Marshall Field & Co. 12. Name of Father: Unknown Jordon 13. Birthplace of Father: London, England 14. Name of Mother: Elizabeth Stewert 15. Birthplace of Mother: London, England 16a. Informant: E. M. Ketzell, Hospital Records 16b. Address: 836 Wellington Avenue, Illinois 17a. Place of Cremation: Acacia Park 17a. Location: Narwiasd [spelling] 17b. Date: March 26, 1947 18. Funeral Director: Presh, 3421 [can't read street] 19. List no. 131A/93D Medical Certificate of Death 20. Date of Death: Month March day 23 year 1947 hour 9: minute 35 A.M. 21. I hereby certify that I attended deceased from 3/21/47 to 3/23/47, that I last saw him alive on 3/22/47, and that death occurred on the date and hour stated above. Immediate cause of death: Myocarditis (Unknown duration) Other Condition: Nephritis (Unknown duration) 22a. Was there an autopsy: Yes 22b. Findings: Artereoseliratic: Heart Disease 23. Was disease in any way related to occupation of deceased: No 24a. Signed: A. C. Taylor 24b. 4753 Broadway 24c. 3/23/47 24d. Telephone: Long 7432

Death Record Comments

James Oscar Jordan died on March 23, 1947. It took until 2002 to find this record. It appears that it may have been filed under James Jordon and there was a certain amount of incorrect information that would have identified it as the correct James Jordan There are a number of discrepancies in James Oscar Jordan's records. These continue on his death record. His marital status is shown as widowed. Unless he remarried after 1936, he was actually divorced. His birthplace is listed as Chicago. It was actually Poplar, England. The death certificate date of birth Feb. 18, 1867 is correct except for the year which was 1868. His father's name was Oscar Scholdberg who was born in Sweden and not Unknown Jordon born in London. This may have been intentional so as not to explain why he used Jordan. His mother's name was Elizabeth Steward and not Elizabeth Stewart.

All of these discrepancies in this record and others make one wonder why he was trying to stay disconnected from his past. James worked for many years as chief electrician at the Conway Building in Chicago. He retired about 1935. This record indicates that he worked as a Stationary Engineer for Marshall Field & Co. The Conway building may have been owned by the Field Co. Thus it appears he may have gone back to work for another part of his old company. It appears that at the end when James had little family and little money that his Masonic membership provided care and support at their hospital.

Obituary Chicago Tribune March 27, 1947 Page26 JORDAN - James O. Jordan, fond brother of James H. Services Wednesday at 2 p. at Funeral Home 3421 Fullerton avenue. Cremation at Acacia Park. Member of Covenant Lodge 526, A. F. & A. M.

Obituary Comments

It is curious that the obituary didn't mention, brother Charles, especially given the note below from the Acacia Park Cemetery.

A. F. & A. M. is Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Cemetery Record

Response to July 21, 1984 Request for information about James Oscar Jordan and Charles Jordan. Dear Mr. Jordan No Record of Charles Jordan other than at the time of James Jordan death, Charles was in charge. He lived at 1411 Sherman Ave., Madison Wisc. The Cremains of James Jordan were mailed to Mrs. Mildred Esterhine, 6522 Maryland, Chicago, Il. Our records also show he died at the Illinois Masonic Hospital

Cemetery Record Comments

The death record indicated that James Oscar Jordan was cremated at Acacia Park on March 26, 1947. The address of Acacia Park in 1984 was 7800 W. Irving Park Road. From Janet Kommer's letter, she indicated that her dad, James Henry Jordan was in charge of the funeral. She does not mention Charles Jordan. Very little is known about Charles Jordan. It was surprising to find that he was in charge and apparently living with his half-brother in Madison.

Mrs. Mildred Esterhine rented at 6522 S. Maryland during the 1940 Census. James Oscar Jordan was a boarder at her apartment. The death record states that James O. Jordan lived at 6532 Maryland. It is possible that is a typo, or if so that he had become familiar with Mr Esterhine and had made arrangements with her as to his cremains. James Oscar Jordan had become estranged from his Chicago children in the late 1930s and had moved out of the upstairs apartment he had with his son Herbert Jordan on Throop Street. At the time of his death, all James Oscar Jordan's children lived in California. Grandsons Herb and Ed Jordan still lived in Chicago, but were unaware of where he llived or that he had died.

Last Will and Testament and Distribution of Estate Search

A request was made in 1987 of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County to search for the last will and testament, distribution of estate and inventory list for James Oscar Jordan, alias Oscar Jordan, alias Oscar Scholdberg who died March 23, 1947.

The response was "We are unable to find any record of probate on the estate of the person named herein, in the Probate Court of Cook County, Illinois. They wrote "1947-1950, No Will, No Estate".

Go to the James and Margaret Jordan Initial Page Go to the James and Margaret Jordan Family Chart Go to the Jordan Genealogy Source Records Page