NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 E. F. JORDAN Among the energetic and progressive business men of Sioux City, who have been builders of the community's business prosperity, specific mention should be made of Edward F. Hordan, president of the Winchester-Simmons Hardware Company, Iowa's largest wholesale hardware firm, for a large part of the splendid growth in business which this company has enjoyed has been due to the vigilance, the perseverance and the sound judgment of Mr. Jordan. He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on the 22d of March, 1857, and is a son of Charles E. and Emily P. (Ray) Jordan, both of whom were descended from old Revolutionary war stock. The father was long engaged in railroad work in various capacities. Edward F. Jordan attended the public schools of Worcester and graduated from high school in Chicago, Illinois, in 1874. At an early age he began his identification with the hardware business, for, in January, 1875, he entered the employ of the wholesale hardware firm of Miller brothers & keep, Chicago. He remained with them five years and in 1880 became a traveling salesman for a wholesale hardware firm of St. Joseph, Missouri. After being on the road several years for that house, he entered the employ of the Simmons Hardware Company, of St. Louis,having his headquarters in Omaha, from which point he looked after the company's business in Nebraska. He held that position nineteen years and then was made sales manager and secretary of the Sioux City branch of the Simmons Company. In 1922, after the merger of the Winchester Arms Company and the Simmons Hardware Company, Mr. Jordan was made president of the Winchester-Simmons Hardware Company, Sioux City branch, which house does an exclusive wholesale business, covering the territory of Nebraska, wyoming, South Dakota and northwestern Iowa. In this responsible position, as formerly, Mr. Jordan has abundantly proven his eminent qualifications as a business man and executive, his record with the Simmons Company and its successor being one of which he has just reason to be proud. Mr. Jordan is a director of the Sioux City Building, Loan and Savings Association. Fraternally he is a member of Tyrian Lodge No. 508, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Sioux City Consistory No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and he also belongs to the Sioux City Boat Club and the Chamber of Commerce. His religious affiliation is with the First Congregational church, and he is a member of its board of deacons. He has been successful in business, respected in social life and as a citizen has discharged is obligations to the community in a manner that has gained the respect of all. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/

Is anyone up on Des Moines history? My husband's grand-uncle, Arthur Heun, was the architect of a house in Des Moines that I have only seen called the Brinsmaid House. I am curious if this house still exists and if so where is it? Here is the reference I found to this house in a article about George Mann Niedecken. "In 1902, Niedecken painted the murals for the Sedgewick S. Brinsmaid house in Des Moines, Iowa. Designed by Arthur Heun (1864-1946), the house was heavily influenced by Wright. It featured leaded glass windows by Orlando Giannini, who executed work in glass and mosaic for Wright's D.D. Martin house in Buffalo. Examples of the Giannini glass from the Brinsmaid house are now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York." I sounds as if it was a well-appointed house, probably in Prairie Style. Sue

Hi, Sue, According to the 1915 Des Moines city directory, he lived at 2124 Grand Avenue in Des Moines. I'll send the image off list, but perhaps someone that still lives there can tell us if the house still exists. Shirley in Tucson

But you don't get off that easy Sue. Backing up a bit, in 1900 Sedgewick & wife are living with her parents at 29th & Ridge Rd. in the 1st ward of Des Moines. In 1910, Sedgewick & wife are still in the 1st ward at what looks like 3600 Grand Ave. and it appears to be a multiple dwelling unit. I too, can send you the image to view if you wish. Dick May you live to be a hundred, with an extra year to repent! (Irish proverb) Shirley Siltala wrote: >Hi, Sue, > >According to the 1915 Des Moines city directory, he lived at 2124 Grand >Avenue in Des Moines. I'll send the image off list, but perhaps someone >that still lives there can tell us if the house still exists. > > > >