Anyone who has lived a reasonable amount of time will likely agree that there are times when life doesn’t always appear fair. Worse yet, there are times when it appears just downright cruel. Such may be the case for the Jordan family who lost three of their four sons, two to murder and one to an accident.
Bluford and Mary Jordan began their married life farming in Cave Precinct of Franklin County. In the 1880 census, the couple in their mid-thirties already had six children. They were Mary 12, James 9, Ella 8, Richard 4, Constance 3 and son Bethel 7 months. They had been born in 1868, 1871, 1872, 1875, 1878, and 1880.
By the 1900 census, the couple had moved into Marion and Bluford supported his family by working as a carpenter. All of the previous children, were out on their own save for Bethel who was now 20. Children who had been added in the last 20 years were twins, Thena and Rena, both born in June of 1883, Thomas aged 12, born in 1888 and Sarah, 10 born in 1890.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The first of the tragedies for the family occurred in 1900, when son, James Jordan, who was then 29 and on his own decided to board a special political excursion train bound for Carbondale to attend a Democratic gubernatorial campaign rally. On September 28th, a fight broke out on the train, a gun was drawn by a Carterville band member and James Jordan was shot through the heart and killed instantly. The event is captured in the following series of newspaper articles.
Shot on an Excursion, The Daily Free Press, Oct. 4, 1900
Marion, Ill., Oct. 1 –James Jordan of this city was shot and killed on an excursion train run from this city to Herrin, in this county, where a Democratic meeting was held. All went well until the return trip, when a free-for-all fight took place. Someone fired a pistol and the ball passed through Jordan’s heart. He walked a few steps and fell dead.
Shot On a Train, The Daily Free Press, Oct. 5, 1900
While an excursion train was returning from Herrin to Marion last Friday night a number of passengers engaged in a fight, in the course of which, James Jordan, night marshal of Marion, was shot through the heart and instantly killed. It is impossible to get the exact particulars. All that is known is that a fight was in progress when Jordan was killed. The train was just inside the Jackson County line on the Johnston City branch of the Illinois Central.
Jordan was shot in the left breast and died instantly. His body was taken to Marion where a partial inquest developed the fact that the killing was done in Jackson County and the body was sent to this city (Carbondale) and the county officials were notified to hold an inquest. This they refused to do, as the law says that where a crime is committed on a moving train the county most concerned shall have the trial. The body was then returned to Marion and interred.
After an investigation by Sheriff Gray (John), of Williamson County, arrested were Lem Shadowens and Rob Hadfield of Carterville.
The Daily Free Press, Oct. 12, 1900
In the case of Lem Shadowens and Robert Hadfield, who were arrested for the killing of James Jordan on an excursion train between Herrin and Carbondale last week, the Williamson County grand jury released Shadowens and held Hadfield for the crime.
Trial of Hadfield Begun, Chicago Daily Tribune, May 17, 1901
Marion, Ill., May 16—The first day of the Hadfield murder trial closed after hearing fourteen witnesses for the people and a few for the defense. X. Davis was the first witness examined and testified that the prisoner (Hadfield), dressed in the uniform of the Carterville band, advanced toward James Jordan on the train with a pistol in hand, and it was him who shot Jordan. Dr. Theodore Hudson related the story in much the same way. Officer Green said he saw Hadfield shoot Jordan and within a few minutes arrested him. What the defense will be is unknown, but probably an effort will be made to locate the crime in Jackson County. The train was moving at the time and near the county line, but owing to the confusion, it may be a difficult matter to tell to a certainty where the shooting took place.
Hadfield Convicted, The Daily Free Press, April 23, 1902
The trial of Robert Hadfield for the murder of James Jordan of Marion came to a close Tuesday morning when the jury rendered a verdict of conviction, and imposed a sentence of fourteen years in the penitentiary.
The circumstances as given in evidence are substantially as follows: A special train bearing Samuel Alschuler and party, including the Gunster Band of Carterville, were enroute from Herrin to this city (Carbondale). A fight ensued on the train, resulting in the killing of Jordan. A preponderance of the evidence showed that Hadfield fired the fatal shot, although Lem Shadowens claims to have done it. Hadfield was a member of the band.
The case has occupied the attention of the court for nearly two weeks and was prosecuted by the State’s Attorney of Williamson County, Attorney Venable and Judge Lightfoot of this city, who distinguished himself by making the final plea to the jury on behalf of the state.
Hadfield is but 22 years of age and has twice been tried for murder, the former case being the Carterville riot, wherein five negroes were killed in that city. He was but recently married to one of the belles of Carterville.
Hadfield Pardoned, The Daily Free Press, January 10, 1905
Among the very last acts of Gov. Richard Yates administration as governor, was the pardoning of Robert Hadfield of Carterville, charged with having shot to death James Jordan, on board a special Illinois Central train during the campaign of 1900.
The train was enroute to this city from Herrin and among the passengers was Samuel Alschuler, the then democratic gubernatorial candidate.
The circumstances of the case are not at hand more than that in a free for all fight, Jordan was shot and several parties claimed that Hadfield did the shooting. Lem Shadowens, another member of the party, but not a member of the Carterville Band to which Hadfield belonged, testified on the stand that he shot the man and that Hadfield did not fire the fatal shot.
However, the jury convicted Hadfield not believing, evidently, the testimony of Shadowens and the former went to prison.
Naturally, doubt existed as to Hadfield’s guilt owing to Shadowens testimony and evidently Gov. Yates based his pardon on that fact.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The second Jordan son, Thomas, to perish died on June 12, 1908 in an accident while working as an Illinois Central brakeman and the events are captured in the following article.
Tom Jordan Dead, The Daily Free Press, June 13, 1908
Thomas C. Jordan, the Illinois Central brakeman whose injury at Reevesville was noted briefly in yesterday’s Free Press, died about 4 p.m. shortly after his arrival at Paducah, to which place the injured man was hurriedly taken in order to receive medical aid at the hospital there. His injuries were much more serious than at first learned here yesterday, his left leg being cut off, his hip crushed and sustaining other injuries also. It is stated the young man was conscious much of the time until his death and was able to give a clear statement as to the manner of the accident.
Jordan was brakeman on Brookport Local Nos. 891-892, and was on this run yesterday, on the return trip to Carbondale. At Reeseville, the junction point of the Golconda branch, the train crew was doing some switching. It is said Jordan attempted to cross the track ahead of a string of freight cars backing toward him, but he stumbled and fell across the rails and was run over by one or more of the string of cars.
Jordan had been running in and out of Carbondale on the I.C. for the past year, during the last few months making his home with I.C. brakeman, J.R. Brown and family of West North Street. He was quite popular among his fellow railway employees and his tragic death is the cause of great sorrow to many friends here.
The remains were brought to his home in Marion on No. 306 this afternoon, the funeral taking place there at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
In speaking of Jordan, the Marion Post says:
The young man and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Bluford Jordan, have many friends in Marion who sympathize with them greatly. He has been doing railway work for some year and a half and this is his first accident of any moment. He has worked for the Big Four and twice for the I.C. and with both roads was held as one of their best men.
Young Jordan has besides working as brakeman and switchman engaged in special police work for the I.C. and has had charge of a number of the harder excursion trains on which he never failed to keep order. He is the one that rapped on Logan Meadows in this city last fall during fair time and came near landing Logan under the sod. It will be remembered that Tom, a flagging on an excursion train which ran to Marion, bringing fair visitors. The company complimented their man for his deed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Only two months, after the loss of Tom Jordan, came the murder of Richard Jordan in Harrisburg as described in the following article.
Dick Jordan Killed, The Daily Free Press, August 12, 1908
Another of the Marion Jordan Brothers Meets Violent Death at Harrisburg
Dick Jordan, formerly of Marion, was shot and killed at Harrisburg Monday night by Charles Howard of that place, a former jailor in Marion.
According to the Marion Post, Howard operates a livery stable in Harrisburg. On Monday night Jordan is said to have gone to the stable to get a rig. Howard would not let him have it, whereupon Jordan demanded it of him. When Howard yet refused to allow him to have the rig, Jordan is said to have knocked him down, whereupon Howard pulled a gun and shot him through the heart. Howard immediately gave himself up to the Sheriff in Saline County.
Jordan leaves in Harrisburg a wife and child. In Marion, he leaves his aged parents, besides one brother and three sisters. Another sister lives in Belleville. Out of four boys born to Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, but one, Bethel, is now living. James, the oldest of the family was shot through the heart and killed on an I.C. excursion train several years ago. For the killing, Robert Hadfield of Carterville was sent to the penitentiary. Tom, the youngest son of the family, was but recently killed at Reeseville on the I.C., while braking.
Sam’s Notes:
A Marion 1907 City Directory listed Bluford and Mary Jordan, a carpenter as living at 601 N. Market Street. Living with them in the home was their son Bethel Jordan, a bartender for H.C. Cash. In the 1910 census, Bethel, 30, was married to a female named Maggie H., 43, at 402 W. College St. and was working odd jobs for a living. Bethel Jordan passed away in 1947.
(Compiled from notated newspaper articles; Federal Census Records; Marion Street Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/28/2013)