George Washington HARDISTY
With the passing of the pioneers of the county there is always a feeling of deep sadness even though they may have lived their days of usefulness to the fullest extent for all to realize that with them passes the history of the county. Such is the feeling when the people of this community learned of the death Tuesday, March 31 of George Washington Hardisty. Seventy nice years is a long time to live in one county, to see it develop from a rough prairie land to acres of unlimited value, to see it's wilderness transformed to civilization, and to make friends as the years go by and see them pass ahead of him. In fact we often wonder if these days are not a bit lonely for these pioneers when there are so many more friends "in the far country" then around them in their daily life.
George Washington Hardisty, son of Samuel Hardisty and Maria Headley was born December 21, 1849 in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. Following a brief illness caused by cerebral hemorrhage he departed this life at his home in Corning, Iowa on March 31, 1931 at the age of 81 years, 3 months, 10 days.
Mr. Hardisty was very proud of his family tree, although he said little about it except as he talked with his own family. His great-grandfather. Obed Hardisty, was a Revolutionary soldier and fought at Valley Forge. His great grandmother, who was Polly Hildred, came over with Lafayette with the French troops, her father being a French soldier. The son of this worthy couple was Solomon Hardisty, who came from Maryland to Ohio and settled in Belmont County, Ohio. His wife was Sarah Warren. Their son was Samuel Hardisty, father of the deceased George. Samuel Hardisty came from Belmont down the Ohio river in a steamboat with his mother and seven brothers and sisters. At the mouth of the Ohio river the steamboat burned and they reached Keokuk without a thing except the clothes they wore. Samuel Hardisty married Marie Headly, and when George, their son, was two and one-half years old the family came with an ox team, a horse, cow and twenty head of sheep, to Adams county and settled on a homestead one mile southwest of Carbon and were among the first pioneers to settle in this section of the country. There were many Indians living hers at that time. When George Hardisty was only thirteen years old he carried the mail by means of a buckboard between White Cloud and Glenwood.
pioneering. These were days of real pioneering. The children worked in the field, where they raised flax from which they spun the linen thread and wove the cloth to make their clothes for both men and women. The children, with the mother's help, washed and carded the wool, spun and dyed the yarn, using stain from walnut hulls for the latter purpose. This yarn was knitted into mittens and stockings for winter wear.
On November 30. 1908. he was married to Mrs. Rosa Clites of Omaha. Nebr., who survives him. He is also survived by two brothers, T. J. Hardisty. Sr., of Carbon, and Benjamin F. Hardisty of Jutland, New Jersey: and one sister, Mrs. Kathryn Arment of Lenora. Oklahoma: also his ten children previously mentioned, forty grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.
When a young man he taught school and studied law and was admitted to the bar, and continued to practice law with his other activities for many years. He was married to Ella Eveline Boham October 29. 1869. She preceded him in death January 21. 1905 at the age of fifty-one years. To this union were born eleven children, the daughters being, Zo Lena, who died at the age of one and one-half years: Mrs. Ed Thomas. Mrs. Sherman Walton, Mrs W. W. Thomas. Mrs. C. D. Flowers, Mrs. Wallace Chilcott. all from Corning. and Mrs. Alfred White, of Cresco. Iowa. The four surviving sons are. S. T. Hardisty of Stella, Mo.; E. V. Hardisty. E. B.
Hardisty, and G.W. Hardisty Jr. of Corning.
Mr. Hardisty and his family moved from the farm near Carbon to the farm south of Brooks, going on this farm when it was entirely virgin soil, never having had a plow on it. He lived there until he retired from the farm in 1909. and came to Corning, where he spent the remainder of his days. After moving to town he took an active part in civic affairs, always standing for the betterment of the community. He acted as Justice of the Peace at different times, each time serving for several terms. He was also mayor of Corning for several terms. After his health failed he still continued to take Interested in public matters, although not able to take an active part. He united with the local Methodist church in 1910.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal church at 2 p. m. Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. A. M. Eastman. Burial was made in the Quincy Cemetery.
Adams County Free Press, Thursday, April 9, 1931