Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Bailey Hardeman was born at Hardeman Station, near Nashville, Tennessee on February 26, 1795; he was either the thirteenth or fourteenth child born to his parents. He spent his early years working the property with his father, who had been influential in both North Carolina and Tennessee in constitutional politics, then began his adult life as a merchant and a deputy sheriff before finally studying law and setting up his own practice. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, he enlisted as an artillery officer under Andrew Jackson and served in Louisiana. He married Rebecca Wilson in 1820 and spent the next several years on the frontier as a trapper, helping to open up the Santa Fe trading route, from 1821 to 1825. He returned home to his Williamson County, Tennessee estate and spent his money endowing the Hardeman Academy, donating land to the local church and opening a store and a tavern. In 1835, Bailey, his two brothers Thomas and Blackstone and his sister Julia moved their families to Texas where they quickly became involved in the Texas independence movement. He helped to secure a cannon and brought it to the battlegrounds of San Antonio, then was appointed to help organize the Matagorda area militia. Early the next year, he was elected one of the delegates to represent Matagorda Municipality at the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. He arrived at Washington-on-the-Brazos and helped draft the Texas Declaration of Independence, which he immediately signed, then began work on the Constitution of the forming Republic. His service was invaluable in forming the ad interim government, working on everything from militia membership to tariff control, operating as both temporary secretary of state and secretary of the treasury. After the decisive battle of San Jacinto in April of 1836, he negotiated the treaties ending the war and having Mexico formally acknowledge recognition of the Republic of Texas as a separate entity. Unfortunately, Bailey Hardeman did not live long after these events, dying of fever on September 15, 1836 at his home in Matagorda; he was buried on his estate near Caney Creek. In 1936 he was re-interred at the Texas State Cemetery in recognition of his service to the Republic. Hardeman County, Texas is named for both him and his brother Thomas.