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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Original Post:
Posted on October 16, 2015
In 1840, John Manley bought the L. Woodruff and Company tin shop thus founding the
Manley and Company hardware store. The hardware store occupied the same wooden building
which had housed the tin shop on the public square in Ottawa. In 1851, Manley contracted for
the erection of a brick building to replace the wooden one. It was completed in 1857 and still
stands today.
Richard Cook (R.C.) Jordan, a native of Hudson, New York and Kendall County, Illinois,
worked for Manley as a clerk in 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Jordan joined the army
and did not return to Ottawa until the end of the war. Upon his return, Jordan became a cashier
in the National City Bank of Ottawa, a position he held for eight years. In 1874, Jordan married
Manley’s daughter, Susan, and by 1879 was a partner in the hardware company.
The partnership of Manley and Jordan lasted until Manley’s death in 1889. Jordan took
over the business and acquired a new partner, C.H. Hamilton. Hamilton was Jordan’s brother-inlaw
and remained in the hardware business until 1899, at which time he retired. Jordan then
became sole proprietor of the store which came to be known as the Jordan Hardware Company.
Upon R.C.’s death in 1924, his son John Jordan took over the business. A
commemorative plaque was dedicated to Manley and R.C. Jordan at the hardware company’s
Centennial celebration on November 14, 1940. The Jordan Hardware Company continued to
function and expanded in 1957 when it bought Refior Hardware, an Ottawa competitor. John’s
son, Robert, eventually took over, making him the third generation of Jordan’s to own and
operate the business. It was sold in May of 1983 but still retains the Jordan name.
Richard Jordan moved west with his parents in 1847, settled in Kendall Co near Minooka, IL.He taught school in the winter and did farm work during the summers.In 1861 he took a job with John Manley Hardware store.During the Civil War he was enlisted in K Company, 138th Illinois Infantry and became a Sergeant.Most of his enlistment time was spent in MO chasing bushwhackers.
After discharge he spent eight years as cashier of the National City Bank, then returned to work for Mr. Manley.In 1874 he married John Manley’s daughter, Susan.In 1879 Richard became a partner of his father-in-law and the firm became Manley and Jordan.In 1919 the firm was incorporated as Jordan Hardware Company.
After the death of John Manley in 1889, a brother-in-law, Charles Henry Hamilton, was taken into partnership in the hardware business.In 1899 Richard C. Jordan became sole proprietor upon retirement of Charles Hamilton.Upon the death of Richard 1924, his son, John Manley Jordan, became president of the firm.Still later the two sons of John, Robert and John Jr. (Bo) entered into the firm.
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