Jordan Titus Woodward In Civil War
Submitted by Virginia Brown
JORDAN TITUS WOODWARD, son of Willis and Elizabeth Reed Woodward, was born December 27, 1833, in Twelve Mile Township, Madison County, Missouri. His first marriage was to a Miss Hickman on July 17, 1853, in Newton County, Arkansas. The date of his marriage was recorded in the Bible of his sister, Sarah Elizabeth Woodward Roberson. They had two sons, William Willis and Jobe. (These two sons were previously thought to be children of Jordan's parents because of the 1860 Federal Census record. However, they were listed because Jordan was then staying with his parents.) Jordan's second marriage, in 1861, was to Sarah 'Sallie' Snow Robinson, a widow living nearby, in Union Township, Newton County. She had two children, William S. and Elender E. (Called Ellen). The two sets of children were the same age. Jordan and Sarah then had five more children: Mary Jane, Isabella, Rufus, Ruth Everell, and Benjamin.
When the Civil War broke out, Jordan enlisted on the side of the Confederacy in Company I, 3rd Regiment, Missouri Cavalry. He left his wife and children in Newton County with his parents. On March 24, 1863, he was captured in Barry County, Missouri. Two months later, on May 19th, he was transferred to Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis, Missouri. On July 24th, he was sent to City Point, Virginia, as part of a prisoner of war exchange. Sometime after his discharge, Jordan moved his family to Eglantine, Van Buren County, Arkansas. Later they moved to a farm in Greasy Valley, about two miles northeast of Morganton. The farm was previously owned by John 'Red' Morgan, from whom Morganton was named. In 1887 Jordan became the second postmaster of the post office that had been established there in 1886. Three years later, the post office was moved to Morganton, and Jordan moved into Morganton at that time. It appears Jordan was better educated than the average person of his day, and reports from 'old-timers' indicate he was an outstanding leader in all community affairs and was highly respected. Jordan's elderly father, Willis, lived with him for a few months until his death in January 1894. Willis was buried in Colony Cemetery, a few miles from Morganton, in an unmarked grave. Jordan's wife, Sarah, died February 06, 1909, in Morganton, and was also buried in Colony Cemetery. On October 13, 1919, Jordan died at the home of his son, Rufus, in North Little Rock. He was buried between Sarah and Willis.
Some of the details listed above, came from a brief sketch of the family written by Bert Stark, Jr., a great-grandson of Jordan. The small booklet, 'The Life of Jordan Titus Woodward (1833 - 1919),' is available through the Van Buren County Historical Society.
Pension records for Jordan Woodward came from the Arkansas History Commission. This file only contained a few documents, as summarized below. In 'VETERAN'S APPLICATION FOR PENSION,' for the State of Arkansas, County of Van Buren, Jordan Woodward applied for a Civil War pension on June 28, 1915. In this signed document, he affirmed he had served in the 3rd Missouri Regiment of Cavalry, from the State of Missouri; that he was honorably discharged (paroled or released) from such service on or about the 19th day of May 1865. His stated his disability as, 'Being 81 years old and affected with Rheumatism.'
In a document entitled, "ORIGINAL APPLICATION EVIDENCE OF PHYSICIAN," State of Arkansas, County of Van Buren, Jordan's physical health was described. At Jordan's request, he was examined by Dr. Jno S. McMahan, a practicing physician in Van Buren County. Dr. McMahan certified he was personally and well acquainted with Jordan Woodard of Morganton. Jordan was diagnosed as having "General Debility Neurasthenia." Dr. McMahan wrote, 'I attribute his incapacity due to general debility. Physical weakness due to old age also causing Senile Neurasthenia.' The disability was not 'due to ordinary and normal habits of life.' The extent of the disability "wholly sufficient to prevent him from doing any kind of manual labor." This was signed by Dr. McMahan, but the date of the document was unreadable.
In an affidavit, dated June 8, 1915, Daniel Parish (father of Delia F. Parish, wife of Jordan's son, Rufus) attested, 'I soldiered in the Confederate Army about two months with Jordan Woodward in the spring of 1862. We were together on the Marmaduke Raid.' This was signed by Daniel Parish before R.C. Thomas, J.P.
In a document entitled, 'PROOF OF INDIGENCY,' State of Arkansas, County of Van Buren, R.C. Landford and Joe L. Rogers appeared before a Circuit Clerk on behalf of Jordan. They certified they were personally and well acquainted with Jordan Woodward; Landford for twenty years, and Rogers for seven years, and that he was incapacitated for manual labor by reason of 'Old age and Senile Neurasthenia.' This was signed on July 1, 1915, by R.C. Landford & Joe L. Rogers, in the presence of S.K. Patton, County Clerk.
The Pension Board for the State of Arkansas, County of Van Buren, considered Jordan Woodward's pension application. James H. ?, J.W. Pate, and J.B. Foster, sitting as board members, certified they had examined the application of Jordan Woodward and approved his claim for $100. Jordan's application, #23659, was filed in the Auditor's office on August 5, 1915, and he was allowed $100.