Jordan G. Carville was born on September 9, 1837, in Lewiston, Maine, to William and Sarah Carville. His father was a farmer who owned $1,500 of real estate by 1850. He grew up and attended school in Lewiston, and by 1860, he was working as a brickmaker. He married Harriet Ellms around 1863, and they had at least seven children: Esther, born around 1863; Elzada, born around 1866; Althea, born around 1868; Alberta, born around 1869; Willie, born around 1871; Lillian, born around 1877; and Lyrengia, born around 1877.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on May 3, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company K of the 1^st Maine Infantry later that day. The regiment spent the next few months stationed in Washington, D.C., and the men mustered out on August 5, 1861. He returned to the Union army almost immediately, mustering in as a corporal in Company K of the 7^th Maine Infantry on August 21, 1861. The regiment took part in the Peninsula campaign and the Battle of Antietam.

 

He was wounded at Antietam. He eventually recovered and rejoined the regiment, but he was wounded again in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was reduced to the ranks in 1863 before being promoted to sergeant in 1864. He was transferred to the 1^st Veteran Volunteer Infantry on August 21, 1864, and he mustered out on February 15, 1865. On March 22, 1865, he received a commission as a 2^nd lieutenant in Company H of the 14^th Maine Infantry. He was promoted to 1^st lieutenant soon afterward, and he mustered out on August 28, 1865.

 

He returned to Lewiston after the war and earned a living as a farmer. By 1870, he owned $3,000 of real estate and $1,800 of personal property. His wife died of apoplexy on February 23, 1901, and he died of apoplexy in Lewiston on December 25, 1901.

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