Introduction
This section contains address information for various families in the Jordan and Knowles lines. Each address group listing consists of the name of an individual or the names of a husband and wife. Then for various years since the birth of that individual, year-by-year addresses and occupations are listed along with comments and the source of the information.
The data was obtained from Census Records, Marriage Records, Birth Records, Recollections, Telephone Directories, and City Directories. Three city directories provided most of the historical data. These were the Chicago City Directories, the Montreal City Directories, and the Madison City Directories.
Surname and given names spellings in the Address Listings use the spellings shown in the original record source.
Chicago Directories
The Chicago City Directories list individuals and businesses in Chicago from the years 1839 to 1917 with special editions in 1923 and 1928-1929. These directories, though rather comprehensive, are sometimes incomplete as many times newer immigrants and boarding house roomers were missed. Directory listings for an individual indicate name, address and occupation; business names are also listed. The data were generally collected in the closing months before the year of publication; thus the addresses were sometimes out-of-date by publication since the population was very mobile.
The Chicago Public Library and the Newberry Library have most of the Chicago Directories on microfilm. The New York Public Library also has a fairly complete collection of these directories in their original paper form. Microfilms of the Chicago Directories may also be borrowed from various locations on interlibrary loan.
As an example of the power of tracing an individual in the directory, consider the information collected for James Oscar Jordan. In an attempt to identify the early presence of James Oscar Jordan in Chicago, many of the years in the 1880 directories were searched. The first entry, which might be valid is for James Jordan, an electrician who boarded at 1182 Harvard in 1890. The following year, 1891, James Jordan, an electrician, can be found at 1243 W. 16th. In 1894, James Jordan, an electrician, is located at 1467 Fillmore. Thereafter a James, James O. or Oscar J. Jordan is listed at various Fillmore addresses between 1894 and 1901 . It is believed that all these variations were our James Oscar Jordan. James Oscar seemed to be fond of changing his name and it is not unreasonable that all of these were the same individual. Thus early address analysis places James Oscar Jordan in the Douglas Park area of Chicago in the early 1890s. Unfortunately, this find cannot be confirmed by the 1890 Census since that census was accidentally burned many years ago.
The 1243 W. 16th address is in the same general area as 1467 Fillmore and the Douglas Park area. The 1182 Harvard address has not been located on any map, but the address appears to be in the same general area.
Montreal Directories
The Montreal City Directories list individuals and businesses in Montreal, Canada. The directories were published in two year intervals for many years and include at least the years: 1850 through 1890. Various information about the Knowles and Blacks were obtained from these directories. Xerox copies of pages of the directories can be obtained from the Bibliotheque Nationale, 1700 Rue Sainte-Denis, Montreal, Canada H2X 3K6.
Madison Directories
The Madison City Directories list individuals and businesses in Madison, Canada. The directories were published yearly for many years and include at least the years: 1904 through 1970. Listings about the Jordans were obtained from these directories, in particular James Henry Jordan. Xerox copies of pages of the directories can be obtained from the Madison Public Library, 201 W. Mifflin St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703.
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