Cleora (Fitz Randolph) Jordan (1869 - 1955)

Born 27 Sep 1869 in Berea, Ritchie, West Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Eugene Corey Jordan — married 21 May 1903 (to 11 Apr 1925) in Alfred, Allegany County, New York, United States of America

Died 3 Apr 1955 at age 85 in Roulette, Potter, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Thomas Randolph [send private message]

Biography

Cleora was born in 1869 on her family's farm in Berea, WV. She was the eighth-born child and fourth-born daughter of Asa Fitz Randolph and Marvel Maxson. She grew up in Berea and was just finishing grade school when her mother passed away in 1887. She stayed at home for a year or so to run the house, but then finished her grade school in Salem before starting at Alfred University in Alfred, NY in 1890. She lived with her brother Alva's family there. She did not complete her degree and went to keep house on her older brother Virgil's farm in Willing, NY. After he married in 1894, she seems to have stayed in the Alfred area, perhaps also staying with her father and stepmother who were living there, although she also appears to have been back in Berea for her brother Preston's wedding in 1895. She took a couple more semesters of college courses at Alfred University in 1897-1898, but again did not complete a degree, In 1903, she married a widower, Eugene C. Jordan, farmer and oil driller, in Alfred. She joined him on his farm in the Clarksville, NY area, becoming stepmother to his six children still at home. She never had children of her own. Her husband died in 1925, and Cleo continued to live in the area, first in Ceres, NY (as of 1925), then with her stepson Percy's family in Bolivar, NY (1930), and by herself in Olean, NY, where she was earning money keeping house (1940). In her later years, she joined another stepson, Leon, in Roulette, PA, and she died there in 1955. She is buried with the Jordan family in Mount Hope Cemetery in Friendship, NY.

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Surname note

In this Fitz Randolph family, Fitz appears to have been used by all family members in the family where Cleora is a child as their middle name as if part of their surname: In some censuses and birth records, the family is recorded using Fitz Randolph. The current consensus is therefore to use the surname Fitz Randolph as Last Name at Birth for Cleora, her siblings and father. Please don't hesitate to contact the profile manager if you think this decision should be reviewed!

• 1850 Census: Family listed simply as: "John Randolph"
• 1860: Other names on page list only middle initial, except for Asa Fitz Randolph, Marvil Fitz Randolph (with the Fitz added) and Experience Fitzrandolph. Other family members use initial, e.g. Calferna F. Randolph
• 1869: In Cleora's birth record notes her parents as 'Asa Fitz Randolph' and 'Marvel Fitz Randolph'
• 1870: Family name listed as 'Fitz=Randolph Asa' (whereas other families use initial after the given name, e.g. 'Martin Marcus E.'
• 1880: Fitz treated as middle name for Asa only. i.e. 'Randolph Asa Fitz' and 'Randolph Marvil'
• 1900: Treated as middle name: 'Randolph Asa F.'
• Birth records: usage varied from 'Fitz Randolph' as family name, to no mention of Fitz or even the initial 'F'.

Sources

Rev. John Fitz Randolph. (1939). Dr. John LaForge Fitz Randolph of Salem, W.Va.: His Ancestry & Descendants. Mimeograph, S.D.B. Parsonage, Milton Junction, Wisconsin. Name: Cleora Fitz Randolph; Birth: 27 Sep 1869, Berea, WVa; Death: 3 Apr 1955; Spouse: Eugene C. Jordan of West Clarksville, NY; Marriage: 21 May 1903, at Alfred, NY; Spouse death: 11 Apr 1925.

Louise Aymar Christian and Howard Stelle Fitz Randolph.

• (1950). Fitz Randolph Genealogy: The Descendants of Edward Fitz Randolph and Elizabeth Blossom: 1630-1950. 222 pp.
• (1955). Supplement to the Fitz Randolph Genealogy with addition and corrections. Edward Brothers Inc.: Ann Arbor, MI, 44 pp.
• Entry 623 (viii.) Name: Cleova (corrected in Supplement to Cleora), same information as above.

Oris H. F. Randolph. (1976). Edward Fitz Randolph Branch Lines, Allied Families and English and Norman Ancestry: A Family Genealogy, 860-1976. Edwards Brothers Inc.: Ann Arbor, MI. 694 pp. Entry 1425, p. 334. Entry 1425 (viii.). Information same as above.

Corliss Fitz Randolph. (1905). A History of the Seventh Day Baptists in West Virginia including the Woodbridgetown and Salemville churches in Pennsylvania and the Shrewsbury church in New Jersey. The American Sabbath Tract Society, Planfield, NJ. This book can be viewed online or downloaded at Archive.org, accessed 30 Oct 2014.

• p. 448: Cleora Fitz Randolph (Jordan) listed as a West Virginia student from Berea who matriculated at Alfred University, Alfred, NY in 1890-1891, but not listed as having received a degree there.

Alois Preston Fitz Randolph's autobiography, accessed 28 Aug 2015; provides details about Asa's family life and places where he lived and farmed. The autobiography was prepared for publication and is maintained by a son of Harry Vernon Lewis at Lewisathome.com.

• Chapter 1: "Cleora (Cleo) went to New York, taught for some years and then married Gene Jordan. Gene died a few years ago, and she is now living in Pennsylvania with one of Gene’s boys, Leon." Preston describes the close relationship between the last three born children: Cleo, Preston and Delvinus, and how they did chores together and had an egg business. He notes Cleo left in 1890 to go to Alfred.
• Chapter 2: Tells story of walking to school his first day with Cleo and Virgil and falling in the river.
• Chapter 4: Describes Cleo as one of his few playmates.
• Chapter 7: After their mother died in 1887, "Cleo and Emza kept house for nearly a year. Then Emza got married, and Cleo did the work herself. This was very hard as we would have eight or ten hands in harvest. She would get up at 4 a.m., get breakfast, prepare dinner, and fix supper and take it a half mile on the hill to the hands for a five o’clock supper. Hands began at sunrise and worked till sunset then. Cleo had never been very strong, so this was too hard for her; but she never complained. In the fall of 1889 Cleo went to school in Salem, and Aunt Delilah (Father’s sister) stayed with us. Then the next year Cleo went to Alva’s at Alfred and never stayed with us any more."
• Chapter 8: Tells story of Cleo keeping house for Virgil in New York in 1893, and making an especially strong black pepper tea requested by a peddler with a stomach ache that took the tin off the inside of the cup. And a couple of other minor incidences that summer.
• Chapter 9: Cleo was back in Berea in March, 1895 for Preston's wedding.
• Chapter 11: Preston's family went to live and work on Gene Jordan's farm in New York in 1906. Mention of Cleo with Preston's children

Brown, Walter Leroy. The Maxson family (Albion, NY 1954). Entry no. 2124, p. 120.

Birth

"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM7R-L5T : accessed 6 September 2015), Chora Randolph, 28 Sep 1869; citing Union, West Virginia, United States, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,887,475. Name: Chora Randolph; Event Type: Birth; Event Date: 28 Sep 1869; Event Place: Union, West Virginia, United States; Gender: Female: Father's Name: Asa Fitz Randolph; Mother's Name: Marvel Fitz Randolph; Born: Alive.

"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM4Y-13V : accessed 6 September 2015), Chora Randolph, 1869; citing , county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 839,536. Name: Chora Randolph; Event Type: Birth; Event Date: 28 Sep 1869; Gender: Female. Father occupation: Farmer.

Residence in West Virginia

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHM-32W : accessed 5 September 2015), Clora Fitz in household of Randolph Asa Fitz, West Virginia, United States; citing p. 17, family 116, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,197. Census place: Union Township, Ritchie County, WV; Post Office: Harrisville, WV; Census date: 22 Jun 1870. Name: Clora Fitz; Gender: Female; Age: 0; Race: White; Race (Original): W; Birth Year (Estimated): 1869-1870; Birthplace: West Virginia; Page Number: 17; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): Randolph Asa Fitz, M, 37, Virginia, now West Virginia; Farmer, Real estate value: 3000; personal estate: 850; Mariel Fitz, F, 37, Virginia, now West Virginia; Keeping house; Experience Fitz, F, 17, Virginia, now West Virginia; attended school; Calfurnia Fitz, F, 15, Virginia, now West Virginia; attended school; Emsy Fitz, F, 12, Virginia, now West Virginia; attended school; Virgll Fitz, M, 10, Virginia, now West Virginia; attended school; Elsworth Fitz, M, 7, Virginia, now West Virginia; Alva Fitz, M, 3, West Virginia; Clora Fitz, F, 0 (8/12 Sept), West Virginia. Enumerator: WE Davis, recorded name as "Fitz=Randolph Asa". "Mariel" can be easily read as 'Marvil'. Nearby are John N Bee and TFH Davis families.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6TW-DS5 : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora Randolph in household of Asa Fitz Randolph, Union, Ritchie, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district 149, sheet 350C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1413; FHL microfilm 1,255,413. Census location: Union District (west side). Census date: 9 Jun 1880. Name: Cleora Randolph; Gender: Female; Age: 11; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Race (Original): W; Occupation: At school; Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Dau; Birth Year (Estimated): 1869; Birthplace: West Virginia, United States; Father's Birthplace: Virginia, United States; Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, United States; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): Asa Fitz Randolph, Self, M, 47, Virginia, United States; Marvil Randolph, Wife, F, 47, Virginia, United States; Experience Randolph, Daughter, F, 27, Virginia, United States; Calferna Randolph, Daughter, F, 25, Virginia, United States; Euizy Randolph, Daughter, F, 24, Virginia, United States; Ellsworth Randolph, Son, M, 17, Virginia, United States; Cleora Randolph, Daughter, F, 11, West Virginia, United States; Alvas P Randolph, Son, M, 8, West Virginia, United States; Delvinas Randolph, Son, M, 3, West Virginia, United States; Alva Randolph, Son, M, 14, West Virginia, United States; Virgil Randolph, Son, M, 20, Virginia, United States.

Residence in New York

"New York, State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQS7-B23 : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora F Randolph, 1892; citing Alfred, E.D. 01, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 501,959. Name: Cleora F Randolph; Event Date: 16 Feb 1892; Event Place: Alfred, E.D. 01; Age: 23; Gender: Female; Birthplace: United States; Birth Year (Estimated): 1869; Citizenship Status: Citizen. Household members: Leon D. Burdick, m, 25, US cit; Perie R. Burdick, F, 40, US cit; Cleora F. Randolph; F, 23, US cit.

1900 census? Might have been either in New York or West Virginia

New York, State Census, 1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVBC-ZDR : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora R Jordan, Clarksville, E.D. 01, Allegany, New York; citing p. , line 45, county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm 501,960. Census date: 1 Jun 1905. Name: Cleora R Jordan; Residence Place: Clarksville, Allegany, New York; Age: 35; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; Birthplace: United States; Relationship to Head of Household: Wife; Race: W. Household members: Eugene C. Jordan, head, w, m, 41, US, cit, driller, own account; Cleora R. Jordan, wife, w, f, 35, US, cit, housework; Perry M Jordan, son, w, m, 17, US, cit, at school (12); Marrion S. Jordan, daughter, w, f, 16, US, cit, at school (40); Leon J. Jordan, son, w, m, 15, US, cit, at school (16); Bessie M. Jordan, daughter, w, f, 13, US, cit, at school (32); Irean A. Jordan, daughter, w, f, 10 US, cit, at school (32); Homer Jordan, son, w, m, 7, US, cit, at school 28; Living next door (or with) John J Jordan (age 79) and Cassius M Jordan (age 45) and family.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5Q9-16V : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora R Jordan in household of Eugene C Jordan, Clarksville, Allegany, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 22, sheet 3B, family 79, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,936. Census date: 15 Apr 1910. Name: Cleora R Jordan; Gender: Female; Age: 38; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Wife; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Wife; Birth Year (Estimated): 1872; Birthplace: West Virginia; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Eugene C Jordan, Head, M, 46, married, 2nd marriage, yrs married: 7; New York; parents' birthplace: NY; Dairyman, dairy farm, own account; veteran?: [blank]; Cleora R Jordan, Wife, F, 38, married, 1st marriage, yrs married:7; children born:0; living:0; West Virginia; parents' birthplace: WV; occupation: none; Percy M Jordan, Son, M, 22, single, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; Driller, oilfield, wages, not out of work; weeks without work:0; veteran?: [blank]; Leon J Jordan, Son, M, 20, single, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; Tool dresser, oil field, wages; not out of work; weeks without work:0; did not attend school; Homer B Jordan, Son, M, 12, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; attended school; John J Jordan, Father, M, 84, widower, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; own income; veteran?: [blank]. Address: Rishhing Road. All can read, write, speak English; owned farm, with mortgage; Farm schedule: 35.

"New York, State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9XL-65Y : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora A Jordan, Clarksville, A.D. 01, E.D. 01, Allegany, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 13, line 27, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany. Census date: 1 Jun 1915. Name: Cleora A Jordan; Gender: Female; Age: 45; Relationship to Head of Household: Wife; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; House Number: Road; Page: 13. Address: Barton Road; Household members: Eugene C Jordan, Head, w, m, 51, US, Cit, Farm laborer, own account; Cleora R Jordan, w, f, 45, US, Cit, housework; Leon J Jordan, son, w, m, 25, US, cit, laborer oil field, wages; Homer B Jordan, son, w, m, 17, US, cit, farm labour, wages. Living next to or with? Perry and Ida Jordan and family.

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJK6-RPW : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora A Jordan in household of Eugene C Jordan, Friendship, Allegany, New York, United States; citing sheet 1A, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,084. Census date: 2 Jan 1920. Name: Cleora A Jordan; Gender: Female; Age: 50; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Race Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Wife; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Wife; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; Birthplace: West Virginia; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Eugene C Jordan, Head, M, 55, married, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; Farmer, general farm, own account; Cleora A Jordan, Wife, F, 50, married, West Virginia; parents' birthplace: WV; Homer B Jordan, Son, M, 21, single, New York; parents' birthplace: NY; Driller, oil and gas wells, wages; Address: Nile Road, farm; owned home, with mortgage; Farm schedule: 4.

"New York, State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSMC-1H7 : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora R Jordan, Genesee, A.D. 01, E.D. 01, Allegany, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1925," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing state population census schedules, 1925, p. 6, line 20, New York State Archives, Albany. Census date: 1 Jun 1925. Name: Cleora R Jordan; Gender: Female; Age: 55; Nationality: United States; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household: Head; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; Page: 6. Household members: Cleora R. Jordan, head, w, f, 55, US, cit, housework; Homer B. Jordan, son partner, w, m, 26, US, cit, oil field driller, wages; Myrthe Jordan, wife, w, f, 24, US, cit, housework; Delores M Jordan, daughter, w, f, 3, US, cit, at home; C. Duane Jordan, son, w, m, 2, US, cit, at home. Address: Ceres.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7HQ-3VP : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora Jordan in household of Percy M Jordan, Bolivar, Allegany, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0016, sheet 4B, family 102, line 64, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1406; FHL microfilm 2,341,141. Census date: 5 Apr 1930. Name: Cleora Jordan; Gender: Female; Age: 60; Marital Status: Widowed; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Stepmother; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Stepmother; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; Birthplace: West Virginia; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Percy M Jordan, Head, M, 42, married, marriage age: 22; New York; Drilling contractor, oil well, wages; employed; veteran: no; Hazel Jordan, Wife, F, 24, married, marriage age: 20; New York; occupation: none; Cleo Jordan, Son, M, 17, single, New York; attended school; Dorothy Jordan, Daughter, F, 14, New York; attended school; Forest Jordan, Son, M, 11, New York; attended school; Keith Jordan, Son, M, 9, New York; attended school; Mitchell Jordan, Son, M, 6, New York; attended school; Alvin Jordan, Son, M, 2 (2 11/12), New York; Milton Jordan, Son, M, 1 (1 6/12), New York; Cleora Jordan, Stepmother, F, 60, widow, West Virginia; occupation: none. Address: 145 Friendship Street; Owned house, value: $6500; radio?: [blank]; not a farm. All parents' birthplace: NY; except for Cleora: WV; All can read, write, speak English

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Accessed: 6 Sep 2015. Name: Cleora R Jordan; Widow of: Eugene C Jordan; residence: 725 Division; Publication Title: Olean, New York, City Directory, 1934.

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3TR-XZ1 : accessed 5 September 2015), Cleora R Jordon, Ward 7, Olean, Olean City, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-53, sheet 12A, family 266, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2506. Census date: 17 Apr 1940. Name: Cleora R Jordon; Gender: Female; Age: 70; Marital Status: Widowed; Race (Original): White; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head; Relationship to Head of Household: Head; Birthplace: West Virginia; Birth Year (Estimated): 1870; Last Place of Residence: Same House. Address: 1214 So. 13th St.; Owned house, value: 10,000; not a farm. Respondent; living alone; Educ: C-3; Working; 48hr/ 52 wks; Housekeeper, private home; wages; income: 360, also received other income.

University records

Alfred University, Herrick Memorial Library, University Archives, Alfred, NY. (Laurie McFadden): Email to Tom Randolph, dated 18 Sep 2015. Name: Cleora Fitz Randolph; Home address: Berea, West Virginia; Dates registered: Sep – Dec 1890; Dec 1890 – Mar 1891; Sep – Nov 1897; Nov 1897 – Jan 1898. Degree: does not appear to have completed a degree.

Death

FindaGrave Memorial #126319790 accessed 5 Sep 2015. Name: Cleora Randolph Jordan: Birth: Sep. 27, 1869, Ritchie County, West Virginia, USA; Death: Apr. 3, 1955, Roulette, Potter County, Pennsylvania, USA; NOTE: Wife of Eugene C Jordan; Family links: Parents: Asa Fitz Randolph (1833 - 1903), Marvil Maxson Fitz Randolph (1832 - 1887); Spouse: Eugene Corey Jordan (1864 - 1925); Siblings: Experience Fitz Randolph Burdick (1852 - 1906), Calfurnia Fitz Randolph Meathrell (1854 - 1948), Emza Fitz Randolph Coon (1857 - 1890), Virgil Fitz Randolph (1860 - 1950), Ellsworth Fitz Randolph (1862 - 1905), Alva Fitz Randolph (1867 - 1949), Cleora Randolph Jordan (1869 - 1955), Alois Preston Fitz Randolph (1872 - 1953); Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, Friendship, Allegany County, New York, USA Photo: no.