The Jordan Story

Recollections

Pajewski Descendants

Recollections of Elizabeth M. Jordan (nee Pajewski)

As follows are recollections of Elizabeth Marie Jordan, known to us as Grandma Jordan and to her friends as Betty. Elizabeth was born as Elizabeth M. Pajewski and was later called Elizabeth M. Page. Contributions to these recollections were made by: her three sons, Harold, Herbert (Herb), and Edward (Ed); Herb's wife Dorothy; Ed's wife, Jeanne; and her grandson, Dave.

The Early Years
  1. Elizabeth Marie Pajewski was born on December 8, 1895 at home at 1540 W. 49th Street in Chicago. It is believed she was born in the home of her grandparent's where her parents resided after their marriage. Elizabeth always claimed she was born in 1898 but I believe that she was trying to make herself younger than her husband who claimed he was born in 1897 instead of the actual 1898. Her parent's family changed their named formally to Page in 1926 and when I asked her about it she insisted her name was Page, even though she was married in 1918. I actually think they started using Page for years in everyday transactions before but never formalized it until 1926, which would help explain her recollections.
  2. It is believed that Grandma Elizabeth Jordan completed the eighth grade, which was typical for girls of the time. After that she went to work.
  3. Grandma's sister Anna recalled that Elizabeth used to work in a department store in downtown Chicago. There she would sit in a cage in the middle of the floor to take money for purchases.
  4. Herbert Jordan met Elizabeth Page at the Morris Meat Company where she was a cashier. The Morris Company was a huge company in the Chicago Stockyards.
  5. My mom Jeanne told me that Elizabeth was going with another guy who was steady and conservative. But Herbert was taller, better looking, more fun and had a gift of gab that wooed her. Her parents liked the other guy and were concerned that Herbert was not a Catholic.
  6. Herbert and Elizabeth were married on August 21, 1918 at St. Raphael's in Chicago during a leave from the Army.
  7. Grandma Elizabeth Jordan told me she received many penny dolls at her wedding, which was a tradition of the times.
The 1920s and 30s
  1. Grandma Elizabeth Jordan recalled that when her son Harold was born, she was able to have a mid-wife for 7-8 days after the baby was born and take care of them both for $9.00. For her son Harold it was $11.00 and for Edward it was $15.00. When her grandson Dave was born, it was 8 days in the hospital for $84 plus $125 for the doctor.
  2. During the winter of 1942-43, Grandma broke her leg on the ice in Chicago.  Grandpa Jordan came back to take care of her from California as a result. There is more to this story in the Recollections of Herbert Jordan.
The California Years
  1. I visited Grandma Jordan several times in California over the years. There was a visit during June 1957 with my family and another a few years later in April 1959. In addition, Beez and I visited in September 1979 after a drive down from San Francisco and the last time I saw her was after a business -trip to Pasadena during the summer of 1983. She was always in good spirits, got around great for her years, and liked to visit with us.
  2. In the summer of 1983 I recalled seeing her in Wheaton where she played an Atari video game called Space Invaders with my 3-year son Michael. I'll never forget the sight of the two of them, an 87-year old with her control panel playing against her 3-year old great-grandchild, each determined to win.