Hardenbergh, Otis

HARDENBERGH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 22:42:41

Otis Hardenbergh

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.532)
OTIS HARDENBERGH, one of the prominent farmers of Lincoln Township, is from an old American family of Dutch descent. The remote ancestors of the family came with the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock, in 1620. There were three brothers of that name who landed at that time. The Hardenberghs were soldiers in the War of the Revolution, and were early pioneer settlers of Ulster County, New York state. Nicholas HARDENBERGH, the father of our subject, was born on a farm in Ulster County and was a man of education and was a surveyor by occupation; he did a great deal of business for the people, such as writing deeds, etc. He was married in that county to Margaret CRONK of Scotch ancestry. To Mr. And Mrs. HARDENBERGH were born twelve children: Cornelia A., Mary J., Thomas H., Susan, Abraham, John B., Garrett C., Gertrude, Otis, Rachel, Nicholas, Eliza, all of whom grew to maturity and of whom five are now living: Thomas, Garret C., Otis, Mary J. and Eliza. The father lived on a farm in Ulster County, New York, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a man of honorable character, respected by all who knew him, and a man of great intelligence and quiet disposition. He was an excellent, sensible and well-informed gentleman.

Otis HARDENBERGH was born October 3, 1828, and learned farming and carpentering in early life. He followed the former occupation in Ulster County, until twenty-eight years of age, when he came to Iowa and settled in Lewis, Cass County, as a carpenter, where he remained six years. In 1866, he went to Colorado, settling in Arapahoe County, seven miles from Denver, where he worked on a ranch and also at his trade for fifteen years. In 1881 he returned to Iowa and settled in Lincoln Township, Pottawattamie County. Mr. HARDENBERGH has the respect of the people, and has served s Township Trustee, and was also Township Clerk in Cass County. In religious principles, he is a Reformed Episcopal, but both he and his wife attend the Congregational Church at Lewis. In politics, he is a stanch Jacksonian Democrat, and socially is a Master Mason, being a member of the lodge No. 117 at Lewis, Iowa. He has accumulated his property by his own unaided efforts, and stands high as an honorable and industrious man. He is a practical farmer and takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to his township and county. He is a man of good judgment, a clear thinker, and expresses his thoughts in a vigorous manner. He has always lived a life of probity, has been self-sacrificing, and endeavored in all ways to lead a correct and moral life.

Mr. HARDENBERGH was married in January 1860 to Margaret HOPLEY, daughter of Thomas and Francis (ARROWSMITH) HOPLEY. The father came to Iowa from England in 1856 and became a prominent farmer in Lewis, Cass County. He lived to the age of sixty-eight years and was the father of eleven children, ten of whom lived and came to America: John, William, Thomas, James, Peter, Joseph, Margaret, Hannah, Anna and Fannie. The father was shipwrecked and lost nearly all his property, and part of his family were sent back to England, but finally came to America. Mr. And Mrs. HARDENBERGH were the parents of three children: George H., Sophia (who died in infancy) and Jessie. George was born October 25, 1860, and Jessie was born August 11, 1864, and was married to Henry CONN of Beatrice, Nebraska, and they have two children, Otis and Harrold. Mr. CONN is connected with the Union Pacific Railroad. In February 1882, Mrs. HARDENBERGH died, and in 1889 Mr. HARDENBERGH married Eliza WILSON, daughter of Knight and Margaret (RATHBORN) WILSON. The father was born in Churnley, Cheshire County, England, and was a prominent farmer, within five miles of the old city of Chester, famous for its splendid cathedral. He died at the age of fifty-five years, from the effects of an accident. His father, Samuel WILSON, was a Scotchman by birth, who settled in England in 1800. Mr. Wilson's wife was of an old English family, who lived on the home farm eight miles from Chester for 200 years. He lived to the age of sixty-four years and died in England. By his last marriage, Mr. HARDENBERGH has one daughter, May W.

Thomas H., the eldest brother of our subject, served through the Seminole or Florida War and was shot through the hand; he now receives a pension.