Elder Interview-Kenneth Jourdan
A.2008.001.231 PP
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Kenneth JourdanEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.231Tags
Missing, Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Jordan, Kenneth Robert Born 05/13/1944 Parents: Mary "Mammie" (Powless) Jordan and Henry Ephraim Jordan Paternal Grandparents: Ephraim Jordan and Elsie (Christjohn) Jordan He doesn’t know his mother’s parents because they passed away before he was born. His mother was raised by an aunt. His grandmother use to make rugs even though she was blind. So, Kenneth would sit next to his grandmother and tell her what colors where and she’d braid the strands. She’d talk to him in the Oneida Language but half the time he couldn’t understand her. He went to school at Pine Grove School and in 1957 they got electricity in their home. They still didn’t have running water though. He attended high school at Seymour High School and graduated. He use to have to milk cows before and after school. When Kenneth was 14 years old he ran away from home and joined the circus. And right before school started he would go back home. Every year he would do this. After he graduated he went Chicago looking for work. He worked in Chicago until he went into the service in 1963. He was in the Army and went he got out the service he went back to Chicago and got a job as an engineer. He worked there until 1977. Between those years he got married and divorced. He was married in 1968 or 1969 and he divorced her in 1978. They had two children a boy and girl. In 1978 Kenneth’s father passed away. He left to live in California but didn’t like it so he came back to Oneida. His daughter had an accident in Chicago so he came back to be with her. When she got better he went to Texas but took her with him. A month later his son showed up there. He raised both his son and daughter in the Oil fields in Texas. During all his travels he became an alcoholic. But, he’s been alcohol free since 1985 and is now married. He’s married to a woman from Michigan they have one daughter together and an adopted son. He then adopted his first wives children and raised them as his own. Back when he was drinking he got really sick so now has a hard time speaking. He hurt his vocal cords somehow and has some kind of disease. His adopted daughter has 2 daughter and his son don’t have any yet and hasn’t been married yet either. Two of his children are living in Texas now. His adopted son is living in the trailer house that Kenneth bought when he lived and worked in Texas.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media, Military