Carrollton
Disasters, wars, and tragedies often make us have to rebuild our lives. The Civil War did that to “Joe” Jordan.
Please note that all photographs were created with the kind permission of the family to access the property. Enjoy the photographs - please do not trespass.
Josiah William “Joe” Jordan Jr was born on June 24, 1843. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted with the Portsmouth Light Artillery - Confederate State of America, and was assigned to the Artillery Battalion, Department of Norfolk. In 1862 the unit was reassigned to Mahone’s Brigade, Huger’s-R.H. Anderson’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia. It saw action at places like the Battle of Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Antietam. And it seems to have fired on several ships of the U. S. Navy such as the USS Lockwood.
After the Seven Days Battles - a series of seven skirmishes and battles fought over a period of seven consecutive days from June 25 to July 1 - he was transferred to the C.B. 13th Virginia Calvary.
The last of the Seven Day Battles was at Malvern Hill in Henrico, Virginia.
For several years a monument stood in Portsmouth dedicated to this unit. It was torn down in 2020.
When he returned from the war all he had was some land and the horse he rode in the service. Josiah built the house we still see today on his property.
When the horse passed away he was buried behind the home.
Josiah, his wife Martha, Josiah around age 90, and their tombstone at St. Luke’s Cemetery in Smithfield, Virginia.
Josiah acted as the postmaster for his community, serving from President Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States (1877-1881), to the administration of the 32nd President, Franklin D Roosevelt (1933-1945).
A side view showing the “depth” of the home.
The original post office was in this house across the street from the building, which later became the post office.
The 1933 Library of Virginia image of the Carroll home
That “new” Post Office from the 1950s or 1960s judging from the cars.
The post office as it stands today.
From his obituary of November 15, 1933:
“J.W. Jordan, 90-year-old Carollton postmaster, and was believed to have been the oldest postmaster in the country, is dead.
Mr. Jordan's death occurred at 4:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at his home in Carollton, where he had been postmaster for 57 years. He was connected with one of the best-known families in Isle of Wight and was the son of the late Col. Josiah Williams Jordan and Frances Dawley Jordan. He was born at Rock Wharf on the James River. As postmaster he served under all the Presidents of the United States since Hayes and is said to have had his name on the Government payroll longer than any man in history. “
Mr. Jordan was not only the postmaster, but a large landowner, farmer, merchant and very active in his community. During his tenure as the local postmaster, and towards the end of holding that position, he received the following letter from the First Assistant Postmaster General:
"My dear Mr. Jordan- It has been brought to my attention by an article in the Virginian-Pilot that in point of years you are the oldest living postmaster. It is noted from the records that you were appointed postmaster at Carrollton August 20, 1878, and the Postmaster General wishes to extend his congratulations.
"Your record is an enviable one, and your long years of loyalty and fidelity to the postal service constitute a record we are proud to acknowledge and commend.
"With kindest personal regards, yours very truly, Joseph C. O'Mahoney, First Assistant Postmaster General."
To this day no one has been able to explain why this door to the Post Office and General Merchandise store says, “Ladies.”