WILLIAM H. JORDAN

William H. Jordan is a distinguished member of the San Francisco bar. Before he established himself in his profession he had become well-known throughout the State by his pominent (sic) connections with philanthropic and fraternal organizations and since then has won a reputation, not only as a lawyer but also as a legislator possessed of broad and liberal views. An epitome of his life is embraced in the following sketch.

Mr. Jordan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 3, 1849. He was the son of a carpenter and farmer. The family had been in America since 1630, when its progenitor in this country, Rev. Robert Jordan, of the Church of England, settled in Portland, Maine. Mr. Jordan came with his father and family to California in 1859, driving an ox team across the plains and walking most of the journey. They settled near Red Bluff in Shasta county. The great floods of the winter of 1861 and '62, destroyed his father's property. His mother, too, had died and the father and son removed to San Jose, the latter soon afterward finding employment on a farm. At the age of fifteen he went to Oakland with the purpose of getting an education. As far as schools are concerned his education may be comprehended in about two years at Brayton Academy at Oakland, one year at the Norwich Free Academy in Connecticut, and two years at Yale College. His withdrawal from Yale was enforced by failing health, and it may be said in this connection that Mr. Jordan from that time almost to the present was subject to severe pains in his eyes. It was only in the summer of 1889 that he found in electricity a relief that was instant and still promises to be permanent. Years after he left college, in 1888, at the unsolicited request of his former classmates, the faculty of Yale conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts as a recognition of his intellectual and professional attainments.

Returning to California in the fall of 1873, Mr. Jordan entered upon a business career in Oakland, which proved one of great prosperity; subsequently he invested his capital in an extensive vineyard enterprise, in which he met with heavy losses.

In the fall of 1884 Mr. Jordan was elected to the Assembly from Alameda county. Two years later he was re-elected to the Legislature and was then chosen for Speaker of the House. As Speaker he maintained himself throughout the session with great dignity and capacity, and such was the tact with which he discharged his duties that he is today universally conceded to have been the ablest presiding officer the Legislature of California has ever had. As a parliamentarian he was without a peer, his rulings were fair in their administration and correct in law.

From early boyhood Mr. Jordan "wanted to be a lawyer." He began to study law on the farm. Such was his interest in the subject that he read law books whenever opportunity afforded in preference to others of a lighter character. In May, 1885, he was admitted to the bar and upon July 6 of that year opened an office in San Francisco, maintaining his residence in Oakland. He has established a large and valuable practice; is attorney for nearly all the large lumber companies of the State, some fifteen large and wealthy corporations, including the Southern Pacific Company and a host of private capitalists.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Jordan finds time to take an interest in the subject of astronomy. He is a member of the Astromonical(sic) Society of the Pacific coast; and under a commission from the late Anthony Chabot recently visited Cambridge, Massachusetts, and secured an instrument for the Chabot Observatory at Oakland, an institution that owes its origin to his efforts and of which he is still the Associate Director.

His association with the A.O.U.W. has been well-known throughout the United States. He was the first Grand Master Workman of the Order in California and held office for a second term. During his administration the membership grew from 300 to 900. He was Supreme Master of this great order for the year 1888, the jurisdiction extending over the United States and Canada. As Supreme Master he made a tour of both countries in the interest of the order named. During his term of office an increase of membership was brought about of 34,000--the largest the order has ever known in any one year. Mr. Jordan was candidate for Lieutenant-Governor before the last State convention, but failed of the nomination. As a speaker, Mr. Jordan is fluent and logical. He possesses that peculiar magnetic influence over his audience that renders his oratory attractive and effective.

Transcribed 4-25-05 Marilyn R. Pankey

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, pages 64-65, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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San Francisco County

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