http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/common/viewform.asp?atlas_num=4100002003&site_name=Josiah%20Jordan%20(or%20Gordan)&class=4100

Momma Wilson (Cathrine Jourden maiden name) was the daughter of Capt Joe Jourden who was a successful business man in early Orange and was killed while serving as City Marshall of that city. An account of the day he was killed can be found in the Beaumont Enterprise or the Orange paper in which is recounted 5 gun deaths occurred on the day grandpaw Jourden died.
Jimmy (Blondie) Hayes

THE BLACK PANTHERS OF THE LOUISIANA-TEXAS BORDERLANDS: ARE THEY EXTINCT?
By W. T. Block

Another verifiable panther episode (Galveston Daily News, January 14, 1897) occurred in December, 1896, when Captain J. J. Jordan took a load of supplies aboard his cotton steamer, the Robert E. Lee, and sailed up the Sabine River to Brice's Landing (a log skidway). On the return voyage, Jordan ran into low water, and he had to anchor the R. E. Lee at Droddy's Shoals to await a river freshet (high water). Hearing his dogs baying outside in the moonlight, Robert Jordan, the 14-year-old son of the captain, fired a shot at a large cat in a nearby cypress tree, and a large black panther fell to the ground. As the dogs gathered snarling around him, the panther, only momentarily stunned, began defending himself with every fang and claw, when suddenly young Jordan grabbed a pine knot and struck the panther across the head, which killed it. Jordan skinned the animal, had it stuffed at Orange, and mounted it as a trophy on the pilot house wall of his father's steamboat. That story is also recounted in the author's Cotton Bales, Keelboats, and Sternwheelers, published by Dogwood Press of Woodville in 1995.


PART G: THE JOSIAH JORDAN SHINGLE MILL
by W. T. Block
Another of the early shingle mills of Orange was that of Josiah Jordan, who built his Excelsior Mill on the Sabine River in 1876, adjacent to the D. R. Wingate Lumber Company sawmill. Jordan used three single block machines to cut an average of 90,000 shingles daily.97 Jordan named his shingles the Excelsior brand; hence his mill became known as the Excelsior Mill. One news account of 1878 reported that:
In 1879, the mill statistics of the J. Jordan Shingle Mill, recorded in the Schedule V, Products of Industry census, of 1880 were as follows:99
. . . J. Jordan Shingle Mill, Orange, Texas. Capitalization-$15,000; employees-maximum, 35; average, 30; daily work hours-10 summer and winter; daily wages paid-skilled $3.00, unskilled $1.50; annual wages paid-$8,000; months in operation-11, idle one month; equipment-one 5-gang saw, one circular saw, two boilers, one 50-horsepower steam engine; raw materials and value-logs worth $12,000, mill supplies worth $200; product-10,000,000 shingles; product value-$25,000; origin of logs-Sabine River and tributaries-mill did no logging of its own.
According to Southern Industrial and Lumber Review of 1902, Jordan closed down his shingle mill in the summer of 1889 because the price of sawed shingles had dropped at the very moment when cypress logs became both scarce and expensive. His shingle mill was probably closed even earlier because in a list of the Orange County shingle mills published in March, 1889, the Josiah Jordan shingle mill was no longer listed.

Copyright W.T. Block. All rights reserved.
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[Orange daily Tribune November 5, 1902 Page 1]

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

ANOTHER SERIES OF SHOOTING OCCURS IN ORANGE

CITY MARSHAL JOE JORDAN KILED

Felix Chenault Shot Down and Tony Jones Mortally Wounded

A terrible tragedy was enacted on the streets of orange this afternoon by which two men lost their lives and a sequel to the tragedy another man lies mortally wounded.

While standing in the door of the Custom House Saloon talking to a party about a land matter, Felix Chenault was shot and almost instantly killed by Will Harris, who stood in the street with a shotgun fired the fatal shot and after Chenault fell, emptied the contents of the other barrel of the gun into the prostrate body.

Harris brother then covered his retreat and he backed into the saloon and as he went out the back door, he was met by City Marshal Joe Jordan, who placed him under arrest and started to jail with him.

In the mean time ???? was great excitement and a large number of shots were fired at the railroad crossing near the Waters-Pierce oil tanks, Captain Joe Jordan was shot in the head and instantly killed, Harris grabbing the officer?s gun and making his escape, going down towards the southern portion of the city with his brother.

Will Harris took refuge in a residence in the southern part of the city and was there placed under arrest by Sheriff John Roberson and a posse whom he had selected. Harris was then taken to jail and placed behind the bars.

While a crowd was standing around the jail another of the Harris rode up. He was approached by Sheriff Roberson, but rode away going towards Snoddy's a crowd following.

Just in front of Snoddy's store, Tony Jones drove up in his buggy and some one fired a load of buckshot into his shoulder, mortally wounding him. It seemed impossible to learn any thing about who did this shooting although many people saw the flash of the gun. Jones was taken into Foreman?s market and a physician hastily summoned to dress his wounds. It is stated by parties who were near that Jones had given Harris, who was previously unarmed, a gun and ammunition, and it was just after this that the shot was fired that struck Jones.

The terrible Tragedy has wrought excitement that is is almost impossible to get a coherent story from any on of the awful affair, but from all accounts it seems that Chenault was not expecting an attack when he was killed

The death of this young man and the terrible ending of a faithful and respected officer have thrown a gloom over the entire city.

Later - Tony Jones is dead, having died just before the paper goes to press.
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[Orange daily Tribune November 6, 1902 Page 1]

THE SAD TRAGEDY OF YESTERDAY


FUTHER AND MORE PARTICULAR DETAILS OF THE DOUBLE KILLING.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LYNCHING

Averted by the Prompt Action of the Sheriff in Getting the Prisoners Out of Town - The Two victims Have One Funeral Today - General Suspension of Business While the People Attend.

The tribune?s account of the terrible tragedy enacted upon the streets of our beautiful city yesterday afternoon is substantially correct, though space and time did not permit us to give an account in detail. It seems, that will Harris, armed with a shotgun, walked up to Chenault and shot one barrel of Buckshot into the unsuspecting victim?s breast just above the ???????? fell, Harris emptied the second barrel already dying man?s abdomen. He then backed into the street loading as he ran into Baker?s saloon, on the opposite corner from the place where the murder was committed, and his retreat was covered by Douglas Harris, his brother, who, armed with a loaded pistol, urged him to escape. Upon emerging from the back door of the saloon they were met by Captain Joe Jordan, our brave city marshal, and Will Harris was disarmed and placed under arrest. It was while taking Harris to jail that Captain Joe met his untimely end. Being Shot by a bullet from a pistol, it is thought, by a party, up to this time it not being known who fired the fatal shot. The bullet that killed Captain Joe entered his forehead and came out at the base of the brain judging from the holes in the hat that the captain wore at the time of his death, and which hat was seen by a Tribune reporter after the tragedy.

The place where the marshal was killed is as stated in yesterday?s Tribune, opposite the Water-Pierce Oil company?s tanks. The slayer of Chenault, Will Harris, took advantage of the death of the marshal to make his escape, and so gain for a short time his liberty. He ran down the railroad switch towards Bancroft?s mill, veering towards the river front as he ran, and finding the door of Eugene Bancroft?s house open he sought refuge there. It was here that he was captured by Sheriff John Roberson, ex-Sheriff Lyons of Louisiana and posse, and after quieting the great crowd which had by this time gathered, the sheriff took Harris to the county jail. It was here in front of the court house that the first straw was kindled to subsequent shooting of Tony Jones as an indecent remark was alleged to have been made by Jim Harris about the Dead, Chenault. It seems that while they were trying to arrest Jim Harris, who had in the meantime, it is said, received gun and ammunition from Tony Jones, who fell out of this buggy and was carried into his mother?s house across the street from the meat market of D. A. Foreman, nearly in front of which market Jones was shot. Tony Jones was to have been married yesterday evening to Miss Maggie Priest of Nashville, Tenn., but on account of the low state of his health just at present, the marriage has been postponed after the last shooting there was a quiet understanding among the citizens to the ?????????? something must be done to put an end to indiscriminate murder and tings began to look serious. In the meantime Sheriff Roberson had taken Will Harris and his brother Douglas, who had been captured in the meantime, to the train, the party slipping out of the rear of the jail and crossing the marsh to the sidetracks of the Southern Pacific railroad, where Roberson secreted his prisoners under guard of the ex-Sheriff Lyons and posse, until the first train west, the local passenger, arrived. Then they moved toward the Main street crossing and from that point boarded the train with their prisoners and took them to Beaumont for safe keeping, probably disappointing a crowd of angry citizens, who, anticipated removal of the prisoners, had gone to the orange and northwestern crossing to intercept the party. There were some sixty men waiting at that point the train whistled but did not slow up, and went by the crowd at full speed.

Up to a late hour today everything is very quiet. The funeral of the two dead men, Captain Joe Jordan and Felix Chenault, takes place this afternoon, at one and the same time, from their respective homes.

The coroner has not as yet formed a verdict, not having had any witnesses at the time of the tragedy, one account of the excitement then prevailing, and this simply view the remains at the scenes of death and ordered their removal. Felix Chenault was 32 years old and a brother of a. T. Chenault of the Sabine supply company. He was a deputy Sheriff here several years ago, but lately has resided in Houston.

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The Orange Daily Tribue, November 6, 1902, Page 1.
The Dead Marshal,

Captain Joe Jordan was born in Wilcox County, Alabama, April 14, 1840. While an infant, his parents moved to Georgia and in October, 1845, they removed to Orange, where he had resided ever since. He comes of a long lived family, an uncle of his having recently died in Atlanta, Ga. at the age of over 100 years. The captain retained his full vigor and a remarkable youthfulness up to the time of his death.

He was a pioneer saw mill man of Orange, having owned on of the first mills operated in this section. This mill stood where the Ice and Light plant now stands. After disposing of the mill, he engaged in farming for a time and afterwards was master of a steamboat on the on the Sabine for several years. For the past few years he has been a local contractor in various works and has from time to time held several positions of public trust. He was appointed city marshal by the council to succeed Marshal J. A. Jett, who was killed on the streets of Orange in May.

Captain Jordan was a quiet man of exemplary habits and a consistent member of the Baptist church. He was twice married his first wife be- (copy missing line) Union 6 children were born, five of whom are still living, being Mesdames - Mary Kitchens, Sarah Jane Woolford, and Kate Wilson; Messrs. George and Joe Jordan. All of them reside in Orange except Joe, and he is in Arkansas. His second wife, nee Mittie Bean, survived him. Of this union six children were born, three of whom are living. They are Mrs. C. H. Nemits, Mr. Robert Jordan, Miss Stella Jordan He also leaves three sisters; Mesdames Dennis Call, Sr., Tom Davis and Jane Dawson, Besides many other relatives and friends. He will be sincerely mourned.

Business, while the people pay the last tribute and the dead men.
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Atlanta Constitution, November 6, 1902 Page 1.

THREE MEN FALL
BEFORE BULLETS
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Deadly shooting Affray occurs at Orange, Texas
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Bad Blood Between Chenault Harris Results in the Use of Shotguns on a Crowded Street -- one Officer Killed.
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Orange Tex. November 5 - Three men are dead as a result of a shooting affray here late today, and great excitement prevails in this community. The Dead:
Jeff Chenault,
City Marshal Jordan,
Tony Jones.
Bad blood is said to have existed between Chenault and Will Harris, a well known young man, for some time. today the two met, and, after a war of words, Harris secured a double-barreled shotgun and Killed Chenault. Harris ran to escape the fire of Chenault?s brother, but was apprehended by city marshal Jordan, who was close at hand. While the officer was conduction young Harris to jail, he was shot and killed, and his prisoner escaped. It is not known who killed Jordan, although there were a large number of people on the street at the time of the tragedy. Will Harris was later arrested and placed in jail.
At this juncture his brother, James Harris, started for a near by store, declaring he would procure a weapon and take part in the affair. It is claimed that Tony Jones handed Harris a gun after which the former jumped into a buggy as he was driving away officers appeared on the scene and opened fire on Jones, inflicting wounds from which he died a few minutes later.
The town was thrown into state of intense excitement and further trouble was feared, but Sheriff Roberson firmly ordered that all saloons must close until he gave them permission to open, and announced that he would restore law and order at any cost. This statement had the desired effect, and, although the streets are crowded to night, there does not appear to be any likelihood of further trouble.
Jordan was only recently appointed to succeed marshal Jett, who was killed in the discharge of his duty.
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[Orange daily Tribune November 6, 1902 Page 1]

TALKING ABOUT IT

WILL HARRIS CLAIMS HE SHOT IN SELF DEFENSE

STORY TOKD A BEAUMONT REPORTER


Will and Dug Seen in Jail and the Former Acts as Spokesman.
The Enterprise?s Advice

The following is take from yesterday?s Beaumont Journal:

Will and dug Harris were brought from Orange to Beaumont last night and were locked up in the county jail for safekeeping. They were seen there today and asked to tell their side of the story. Will Harris acted as spokesman for both himself and his brother, Dug Harris standing beside him, so that the version of the affray given by him is that of his brother also. He said:

?the shooting that I was engaged in so far as I and my brother are concerned was done in self defense. The trouble started in the Mckay & Griffith?s Saloon. Chenault pulled his gun, started toward me and threatened to kill me. Then the shooting occurred there. I then went across the street to Bob Baker?s Saloon, entered that saloon and passed through it to the river bank. Then I started for ?????? to give myself up. Captain Joe Jordan and Policeman Charley Winn overtook me and I surrendered to them and asked for protection. While we were going to the jail and when he was about fifty feet behind me and the officers, he cried out, ?look out Captain.? And pointed back. I looked in the way dug pointed and saw two men, one of them was pointing a Winchester rifle toward us. He fired, and Captain Jordan fell. I don?t know who fired the rifle. Frank Harvey was with the man who fired the rifle and had a shotgun.

?When Captain Jordan fell I started and ran, and so did Dug. I ran to Mrs. Eugene Bancroft?s house, went into the house and asked protection of a couple of men who were there. Dug ran into the Holland hotel. Afterward I gave myself up to Sheriff Robinson and was taken to jail and locked up. Soon after being locked up in jail I heard a shot on the outside, but don?t know who fired it. About half an hour after Captain Jordan was killed, dug was taken out of the hotel and brought to the jail and locked up.


The Enterprise of yesterday says editorially;

Orange has always had a hard name, and this recent event puts a stigma on the town that may be only removed by prompt action of a vigilance committee in running out of thrown all characters identified with the disorderly element. Sheriffs may only perform a duty after a crime has been committed, but a vigilance committee may instruct undesirable characters to quit the hill and see that they do so. This paper does not indorse hangings or any process that has a flavor of bulldozing, but a committee of citizens has the undeniable right to prevent killings by running out of town the riff-raff that resort to gunpowder to adjust their personal and petty grievances. Those of you who have been on the frontier may have noticed how much more swiftly vigilance committees can rid a town of gamblers, thugs and horse thieves than a sheriff can. Nothing High-handed need be attempted; the mere fact that a committee is organized will cause the undesirables to his the wind like an antelope. Don?t be afraid that you will be called on to string up a few in order to induce the rest to leave; such is very unlikely, for that locality wherein there be vigilantes the toughs quit like ducks.

• Married: 4 Jul 1861 in Orange, Texas. ³
• Note: Jordan, Josiah, Jr.-Shaver, Miss M. E., 7/4/1861, Volume A p. 107

1. Mary Elizabeth JORDAN b: ABT 1863 in Orange, Texas
2. Joe JORDAN b: ABT 1864 in Orange, Texas
3. Sarah Jane JORDAN b: Mar 1865 in Orange, Texas
4. Catherine JORDAN b: 1866 in Orange Texas
5. Ella JORDAN b: ABT 1870 in Texas
6. George JORDAN b: Sep 1871 in Texas

• Married: 21 Mar 1877 in Orange Texas
• Note: Jordan, Josiah Miss Mittie Bean 21 Mar 1877 Vol B page 162

1. Mittie W. JORDAN b: 8 Feb 1878 in Texas
2. Robert JORDAN b: Apr 1881 in Texas
3. Stella JORDAN b: 29 Sep 1884 in Orange County Texas
4. Lucille JORDAN b: 3 Nov 1889 in Orange, Texas

1. Title: 1880 Census, Orange Co., Texas. Page 8, Supv. Dist. 1, E.D. 58
2. Title: 1870 Census
   Page: Orange Texas
   Note: orange city 84/83
   Text:
   Jordan J 30 M shingle maker Alabama
   elizabeth 30 f keeping home Lousiana
   bryant James 26 ??
   lillian 4 f at home
   clara 1 f
   Jordan Joe 6 M at home Texas
   mary 8 F at home Texas
   Kate 4 F at home Texas
   Sarah 3 F at home Texas
   Ella 1 F at home Texas
   Jordan Sarah 60 F Boarding Alabama
   
   
3. Repository:
   
   Title: World Family Tree Vol. 2, Ed. 1
   Author: Brøderbund Software, Inc.
   Publication: Release date: November 29, 1995
   Note:
   Customer pedigree.
   
   Source Media Type: Family Archive CD
4. Title: 1880 Census, Orange Co., Page 8, Supv.Dist. 1, E.D. 58
   Text:
   Census Place: Orange, Texas
   Source: FHL Film 1255322 National Archives Film T9-1322 Page 89D
   Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Occupation Fa: Mo:
   Joseph JORDAN Self M M W 40 GA Owns Saw Mill GA GA
   Mary JORDAN Wife F M W 24 TX Keeping House GA GA
   Mary JORDAN Dau F S W 17 TX At School GA TX
   Joe JORDAN Son M S W 16 TX At School GA TX
   Kate JORDAN Dau F S W 14 TX At School GA TX
   S. Jane JORDAN Dau F S W 12 TX At School GA TX
   Ella JORDAN Dau F S W 10 TX At School GA TX
   Ger JORDAN Son M S W 8 TX At School GA TX
   Mittie JORDAN Dau F S W 2 TX GA TX
   Sarah JORDAN Mother F W W 74 LA LA LA
   John JORDAN Other M S W 30 TX Watchman GA GA
   A.T. SKINNER Other M W W 43 SC Pilot SC SC
   M. SKINNER Other F S W 8 LA At School SC LA
   L. SKINNER Other F S W 6 LA SC LA
5. Title: 1900 Census
   Page: orange ward1 SD 8 ED 57
   Text: Jordan Joseph head 2c July 1835 64 42 Georgia Georgia unknown Engineer
   Mary E wife Mar 1841 59 42 9 6 Alabama unknown unknown
   Robert son Apr 1881 19 Texas Georgia Alabama Fireman Tugboat
   Stella daughter jun 1885 14 Texas Georgia Alabama at school
   Date: 5 Jun 1900
6. Title: Evergreen cemetary Transcripts Orange co tx