Biographical Note
Nelson W. Jordan (1842-1922) was born with slave status in Albermarle County, Virginia. In 1863 he enlisted with the 1st Alabama (African Descent) Regiment in Corinth, Mississippi. Shortly after his enlistment, this unit was reorganized into the 55th Regiment, United States Colored Troops. Jordan campaigned with the 55th in Tennesee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. After Civil War military service, Jordan became a Baptist minister, settled in Farmville, Virginia, the county seat of Prince Edward County, and served four rural congregations in that county as pastor for approximately sixty years. In 1879 he married Carrie Walker (1862-1945), daughter of William Walker and Julia Spencer Walker. Carrie Jordan was active in church and denominational organizations, such as the Women's Baptist State Educational Conference. She bore ten children, nine of whom lived to adulthood to become ministers, teachers, principals, school system administrators, soldiers, a musician, an author, and a domestic labor contractor.