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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of Richard Francis Jordan
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 19:22:58 -0500


Surnames: Jordan, Connelley

Gue, B.F. Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa. Des Moines:
Conaway & Shaw Publishers, 1899.

Jordan, Richard Francis, is a leading citizen, successful lawyer and
influential democrat of Boone county. He was born in Queensburg township,
Warren county, N. Y., not far from Glen's Falls, March 19, 1856. His parents
were John and Ann Connelley Jordan. The father was a farmer in easy
circumstances, who retired from active life in 1889. Both Father and Mother
Jordan were natives of Ireland, coming to this country in early youth. It is
understood in the family that his people originally came from Holland, as
soldiers under William of Orange in one of his campaigns in Ireland, and that
they settled in the city of Waterford, Ireland, and eventually became as
children to the manor born. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were married at Glen's Falls, N.
Y., January 25, 1855. They lived in Dixon, Ill., from 1856 to 1866, and in April
of the latter year drove overland from that place to Boone county, Iowa, where
they purchased a farm in Colfax township, which continued to be the family home
until 1889. Richard attended the city schools of Dixon, Ill., until he was 10
years of age, and after that attended the country district schools of Boone
county until he was 17 years of age. In March, 1874, he entered the State
Agricultural college at Ames in the regular course as freshman, and continued
there until November, 1877, when he graduated with the degree of bachelor of
science. He stood second in the markings of his class and was selected as one of
the ten to participate in the graduating exercises. While in college he was a
member of the Bachelors' Debating society, and in general took an active
interest in all college class matters while there. During his vacations and for
a short time after graduating he taught country schools. In August, 1878, he
entered the Iowa Law school at Des Moines, which was a department of the Simpson
Centenary college. There he completed the course in the study of law, receiving
the degree of bachelor of law, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court
of Iowa, June 9, 1879. During the time he was in law school he also read law in
the office of Miller & Godfrey, in Des Moines. He has always been a student,
keeping abreast of the times, keeping himself posted in all the new changes in
the laws of our country and in the decisions of the supreme court. He has been
successful and has advanced in his profession by simply sticking to his work,
giving his best efforts to his profession and treating all with whom he deals in
a fair and honorable manner-a firm believer in the old proverb: "Honesty is the
best policy."


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