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| James Hardy |
James Hardy was born 10 Apr 1813 in Somerset County, PA to Joseph and Nancy (Ann) Hardy. About 1829 James' grandfather, William Hardy, died in Somerset Co. and the family moved to Logan Co., OH. and then to LaGrange, Indiana in 1836. After the death of Joseph, James moved his family to Glenwood, Pottawattame, Iowa in 1850 and became their first sheriff. In 1852 he moved his family to Harrison County, Iowa and lived there until he died May 10, 1885. He served as county judge and helped build Harrison County's first courthouse. James is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia. James married on 10 Nov 1833 to Minerva Tomlinson.
Minerva was born on 6 Apr 1816 in Allegeny County, Maryland and is the daughter of Samuel Tomlinson and Polly Matthews both of Maryland. James and Minerva's children were Joseph Andrew, Norman Bruce, George Washington, James, Samuel Tomlinson, Delevan Martin Jerome Bonaparte, Drusus Nicholas and Josephine Margaret Hardy.
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| The old Courthouse in Magnolia. James Hardy helped build this courthouse |
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| Minerva Tomlinson Hardy |
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| James and Minerva Hardy's children Top Row - Norman B. Hardy, Joseph, Delavan M Hardy, George Hardy Bottom Row- Jerone B. Hardy, Samuel Hardy, Josephine Hardy, James Hardy, Drusus Hardy taken about 1872 by Eation Photographer in Magnolia Harrison Co., Iowa |
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| James and Minerva Hardy children's spouses Top Row - Katie, Myra, Ann, Julia Bottom Row- Mary, Viola, Milton, Minnie, Flora taken about 1872 by Eation Photographer in Magnolia Harrison Co., Iowa.
Children of James and Minerva are:
1. Infant, born September 14, 1834 died as a baby.
2. Lloyd, born March 15, 1836 died as a baby
3. Joseph Andrew, born September 26, 1838 in Angola, Indiana; died March 15, 1894 in Rantsdale, Ravalli Co..Mt. Married (1) Julia E. Hopkins January 24, 1859 in Harrison, Iowa. He married (2) Myra Trow July 02, 1885 in Harrison, Iowa.
4. Norman Bruce, born November 21, 1840 in Lagrange Co., Indiana; died December 11, 1909 in Harrison, Iowa. married (1) Mary H Eaton May 14, 1862 in Magnolia, Harrison, Iowa. He married (2) Katie Nutterville September 10, 1877 in Harrison, Iowa.
5. George Washington, born March 10, 1843 in Lagrange Co., Indiana; died November 07, 1919 Harrison, Iowa. married Julia A Wakefield August 16, 1863 in Harrison, Iowa.
6. James P, born March 27, 1846 in Lagrange Co., Indiana; died December 04, 1912 in Seattle, Washington. married Mary Lauretta Oviatt March 30, 1869 in Harrison, Iowa.
7. Samuel Tomlinson , born May 01, 1848 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana; died July 21, 1933 in Logan, Iowa.married (1) Martha Emma Walden 1866, (2) Viola M Vincent June 30, 1872 in Iowa.
8. Delevan Martin, born April 03, 1851 in Coonsville (Glenwood), Mills, Iowa; died February 07, 1927 Tacoma, Washington.married Anna Libbie Severance.
9. Jerome Bonaparte Hardy, born June 11, 1853 in Magnolia, Harrison, Iowa; died June 30, 1921 in Logan, Iowa.married Mary H Merchant March 24, 1874 in Magnolia, Iowa.
10. Drusus Nicholas Hardy, born February 08, 1856 in Magnolia, Harrison, Iowa; died January 18, 1932 in Missouri Valley, Iowa. married Flora Cornelia Oviatt May 28, 1879
11. Josephine Margaret Hardy, born March 05, 1858 in Magnolia, Harrison, Iowa; died July 12, 1941 in Logan, Iowa.married Milton Merchant Abt. 1880 in Harrison, Iowa.
My great, great grandfather James Hardy, son of Joseph and Nancy, was born and raised in Southampton, Somerset county, PA on April 13, 1813. James, according to his obituary, went to business school somewhere in PA. The fact that he became a sheriff and a county judge I wonder if it wasn't business law school. (Something to investigate; find schools, academies, colleges in the area that he grew up in, maybe a state school directory and go from there searching for school logs, granulation rolls, school history, whatever you can find.)
James finished school and married Minerva Tomlinson, daughter of Samuel and Margaret Matthew's on Nov 10 1833 in Pennsylvania. The Tomlinson and Matthews family were both from Maryland. James and Minerva headed west to Logan County, Ohio, where they joined up with James' father Joseph. James engaged in farming for three years before moving the family again to Steuben Co., Indiana in 1836. This family included his; father and mother, Joseph and Nancy Ann, and younger brothers Joseph and Lloyd, sisters Elizabeth, Margaret and Susan all married before excect Susan who was married in Logan co.
One year later Steuben county was created from Lagrange county, Indiana making him one of the first settlers of Steuben county.James lived in Steuben County for about 14 years. He was a farmer. He was appointed the first constable of Jackson town in 1837. He was also first bailiff in charge of the grand jury in 1838.
James' father Joseph died in 1847, and his mother Nancy a few years later. Joseph's probate was settled in 1850. James then moved his family farther west across the Iowa border to Coonsville, Pottawattamie County, now Glenwood, Mills county. Mills county was created from Pottawattamie on the first Monday in August of 1851 and James was elected the sheriff and county assessor of this new county. Record shows James was still sheriff of Mills co. in June 1852. James was not total satisfied in his present location in Mills County. James moved further north in Pottawattamie county in the autumn of 1852. He moved to the site of what is called Magnolia, Harrison County, Iowa. Again he was one of the first settlers of the counties of Iowa. James entered 160 acres of land in Magnolia and a quarter of Section 15 in Calhoun in 1852. That first winter James rented a house in Calhoun town while he built a log cabin on his 160 acres. In 1853 James laid out what is known as "Hardy's Addition". In March of the same year James assisted the county seat commissioners in locating the county seat of Harrison county to this place in Magnolia. By the first Monday of April a full copra of county officials were elected. The return was to be carried to the house of Stephen King to be counted. James Hardy and Thomas B Neeley were appointed to take the poll books from this west side of the county to Judge King's place. Upon this journey they arrived at the banks of the swollen Boyar river. They needed to cross and there was no bridge. They staked out their horses and undressed. They swam the river, keeping their scanty wardrobes and record books above the high water. They dressed and went on to Judge King's place on foot. James was elected the county's second judge in 1854 and served to 1857. In those days Harrison county was under the county judge system---- a one man power. As a general rule these county judges were men of exceptional integrity. They was held in high esteem , good judgment and were of a high and honorable order - above suspicion. The county judge system was abolished in 1869 and the county seat was relocated to Logan in 1875. Memories of those days are seen in a large framed picture of the old pioneer courthouse at Magnolia. Surrounding the courthouse are pictures of it's county judges whom served 1853 to 1869. Under Judge Hardy's administration the first courthouse was built in 1856 in the county's seat of Magnolia, and the town of Clay was organized in 1856. Judge Hardy always took active part in any enterprise that in his judgment would build the interests of Harrison county. He donated land and money to help such matters along. No man was more popular in the county than Judge Hardy as he was always called. James belonged to a society styled "regulators" that consisted of an organized band of pioneers that became a law of itself. No one would dare to question their authority. The formation of this society was to protect their fellow settler from claim jumpers or land sharks from stealing their land. In their way they sought to see that honorable men seeking homes in their county should not be imposed upon and beaten out of their rights. These claim jumpers were given formal notices that if they did not relinquish all supposed rights to a certain piece of land that they would receive free transportation the great unknown country, whence claim jumpers were never known to return. Sometimes one would presume that this was not legal, but in such cases "judge lynch" tried the case with but little argument, and sentence was at once executed in a near by grove. Those cases of that degree were rare and seldom. The usual outcome was a speedy flight from Harrison county, then a kingdom in itself. James Hardy was noted for his coolness when threatened by Indians. There was a time in 1853 when the visiting band of 150 Nebraska Omaha Indian's who were camping along the banks of the Willow by reason of treaty, would annoy the settlers by milking their cows, stealing chickens and begging for several years. Companies frequently were organized to drive the Indians off. Sometimes there would be shooting. Usually no one would get hurt. About 20 warriors of this band was going up the Willow, they were stopped and made to surrender and sent back to their own country beyond the big muddy. The rest of the 150 Indians that was going up the Boyar was much stronger and would not consent to surrender to James Hardy and 25 of the white settlers that came upon their camp demanding their surrender. James Hardy and the rest of the settlers suddenly realized they were out numbered and the settlers sent for reinforcements, but even then they were out numbered. The settlers then high tailed it out of there when they was surprised from the rear by a few more Indians. James Hardy and Jacob Huffman built one of the first grist mills in Harrison county in 1854. The Hardy mill was erected on the banks of the Willow, on section 15 in Calhoun . Farmers came from a 75 mile radius to have their wheat grind at the Hardy mill. Huffman sold his interest in the mill to James Hardy in 1863. James kept the mill operating until his eye sight failed them in 1880, making it impossible for him to run the mill. The old mill was left still and the waters that once gave the mill life, cut its way under the supports, collapsing the mill into the Willow. It was never repaired but the lumber was used for various buildings. In 1915, the old burrs and part of the machinery still remain at the once prosperous mill. In 1859 Harrison county agricultural society held its second annual fair near the old courthouse in Magnolia. Their attractions were the products of soil and barn-yard, homemade goods and domestic articles. Some the games played was horse and foot races. There were premiums awarded. James took first place for the best two years old steer winning two dollars. December 1, 1860 James and Minerva platted out Magnolia city and recorded and filed the platt January 10, 1861. This was to the west of the original platting which was done under the Authority of commissioners and County judge. Three years later James donated to the town land for a cemetery. Magnolia by 1869 had a population of about 300, with three dry goods store, two hotels, ten carpenters, four blacksmiths, one tailor, a shoe shop, two physicians, two ministers, six attorneys, two jewelers, artist who took daguerreotypes, a copper shop and one plasterer. In the immediate vicinity there was two gist mills and a number of saw mills in operation. Nine mails arrived each week by stage coach. In 1864 James moved to Calhoun by the Willow. He spent his last years farming and running the mill in Calhoun. My grandpa Lou told and wrote of days as a child growing up around his grandparents and the mill. In about 1880 James lost the use of his eyesight as a result of sickness and from that time on he gradually grew weaker. Finally he fell into a dreamless sleep. He died May 10,1885. He is buried in the same Magnolia town cemetery he donated to the town. The history books of Harrison County tell us that of all the pioneer men none were more highly respected than Judge Hardy. He was an industrious man. A good citizen who has filled with credit the highest offices in the county. James was a good, kind father and a considerate husband. A trustworthy friend to all who lived within the radius of his acquaintance.  James Hardy Died May 10, 1885 Aged 72y 1m 1d Father rest in peace Missouri Valley TimesJudge James Hardy, one of Harrison counties oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home near Magnolia, on Sunday last. He was buried on Tuesday last. We have not received the particulars May 15,1885 Obituary of Grandma Hardy
Minerva Tomlinson was born April 6, 1861, in the state of Maryland; departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs Milton Merchant, near Logan on Tuesday, June 14, 1904, aged, 88 years 1 month and 9 days. She was married to James Hardy Nov, 10, 1833 in the state of p
Pennsylvania. She and her husband moved to Glenwood Mills county this state in 1850 and to Harrison county in 1852.
To them were born eleven children----ten sons and one daughter, eight of whom still survive her and are; Norman B., Geo. W., James K., Samuel T., Delavan M., Jerone B., Drufus N., and Josephine, now Mrs. Milton Merchant. The husband and three children precced her to the world beyond. She also leaves two brothers, Sam and Geo. Tomlinson each of whom are above eighty years old, 44 grand children and 33 great grand children to mourn her loss
The funeral exercises were held at her late home Thursday June 16, conducted by Rev. E. Bodenham, pastor of the Baptist church of Logan. The interment took place in the Magnolia cemetery which was given to the town by her husband years ago.
She has been in poor health for some time, but was confined to her bed but a few weeks in her final sickness. Most all her near relatives were present either at her late sickness or her funeral. She knew that death was near so she bade all “good bye”
Her suffering was great but in all she was patient and unselfishly thinking of the comfort of those who were caring for her. In early life she became a Christian and so lived until her death. Her kindness of heart won for her the love of all who knew her. Her life is gone out but her works live after her.
Logan Gazette June 23, 1904, page one
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