George Barnett Hardy (1821 - 1899)

Born 13 Dec 1821 in Overton County, Tennessee

Ancestors

Died 12 Aug 1899 at age 77 in Loraine, Adams County, Illinois

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Brian Stump [send private message]

Biography

George was born in 1822.

GEORGE HARDY, a hardware merchant of Loraine is one of the earliest settlers of the county now residing here. He was born in Overton County, Tenn., December 13, 1822. His grandfather Thomas Hardy was a native of Scotland. Emigrating to America, he located in and thence removed to Virginia, where he died at a ripe old age. The father of our subject, Thomas Hardy Jr., was born in Maryland in 1777. While residing in Virginia he married Elizabeth Crawford a native of that State. She is a cousin of Col. William Crawford, who was burned to death by the Indians in Wyandot County, Ohio. Emigrating to Tennessee, Mr. Hardy became a farmer of Overton County where he resided until 1830 when he came with his wife and seven children to Illinois. The trip was made in wagons drawn by horses they arriving at their destination after four weeks of travel. The family first located on Mendon Prairie and the following year made one of the first settlements in Keene Township. The father entered built a log cabin and in true pioneer style the family began life on the frontier Deer and wild fowls were plentiful wolves were numerous and a few Indians still lingered along the creeks. The father died in 1844 and the mother in 1837. Both were members of the Baptist Church and their upright lives made them highly respected people. Their family numbered eight sons and four daughters, but our subject is now the only survivor although all lived to mature years. The eldest sister died in Tennessee at the age of ninety two.

George Hardy was a lad of eight summers when he came with his parents to this county. He well remembers how barren the country looked in those early days. Few indeed the settlements Quincy was a mere hamlet and many of the now flourishing towns had not yet sprung into existence. There were many hardships and privations to be borne. It was a long distance to market and mill and had it not been for the wild game the supply in the larder would often have been meagre indeed. The development of the farm was an arduous task and the educational privileges were very poor. He conned his lessons in the log schoolhouse with slab seats and old fashioned fire place but with no windows. Mr. Hardy was married March 10, 1842 to Mary Frederick a native of New York who with friends had come to the West expecting to return but fate willed otherwise. They resided for a few years on Mendon Prairie and then removed to section 17 Keene Township, where they have since made their home. For more than fifty years they have traveled life's journey together sharing with each other its joys and sorrows its adversity and prosperity. Seven children were born of their union of whom four are yet living:

• James, who is married and is a prosperous farmer of Knox County, Mo
• William, who is also married and is a well to do farmer of Knox County
• Stephen A., a conductor on the Santa Fe Railroad who is married and resides in Las Vegas, NM and

Jessie A., at home.

The land on which Mr. Hardly settled in Keene Township was new and unimproved but he began its development and transformed it into one of the finest farms of this section. He now owns altogether four hundred and ten acres of land on sections 17, 18, 19, and 20. In 1859 he built a brick residence one of the first in this locality and in it has since lived but expects soon to remove to Loraine in order to better attend to his business interests. He engaged successfully in farming and stock raising until 1887 when he formed a partnership with D.D. Riddle in a hardware store. In 1890 he bought out his partner's interest and has since continued the business alone. He has an excellent trade and well deserves his liberal patronage. In connection with the hardware he has a tin ware department in the store in charge of his grandson John B. Roley, who is now a partner in the firm. In politics Mr. Hardy is a Democrat and cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, but has never been an aspirant for office. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hardy has inherited the best characteristics of his Scottish ancestors and although he started out in life empty-handed, he has won through his enterprise thrift and good management a handsome competency. He had much to contend with in the early days but he overcame the obstacles in his path and he is now enjoying a well deserved prosperity. He has witnessed the entire growth of the county is one of its honored pioneers and well deserves representation in this volume.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Portrait and biographical record of Adams County, Illinois, 1892, page 281

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113490903/george-barnett-hardy: accessed 20 November 2022), memorial page for George Barnett Hardy (13 Dec 1821–12 Aug 1899), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113490903, citing New Providence Cemetery, Ursa Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Pam Witherow (contributor 47364463) .