Hardy, Rev. J. B.

HARDY, JAMISON, STAFFORD, KILBURN

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/19/2012 at 08:52:51

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

HARDY, Rev. J.B. - Bear Creek Twp - pg 836. Brooklyn. Of Poweshiek's pioneers there is none deserving of more special notice than the subject of this notice, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1820. Moved with his parents to Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1824. He attended the common school of his district until he attained the age of seventeen years. In 1841 came to Iowa and commenced his theological studies. July 9, 1842, was licensed to travel under the auspices of the Rock River Conference. At the organization of the conference in Iowa City, in September, 1844, he was ordained, and commenced his missionary labors in what was known as the Clear Creek Mission, which included Poweshiek county. Rev. Hardy held the first religious service held in the county in the spring of 1844, in the log cabin residence of a Mr. Satchel, about four miles south of where the town of Montezuma now stands. The missionary labors in those days were very arduous, the country being so sparsely settled, and the obstacles Mr. Hardy had to contend with can better be imagined than described. He has been a diligent worker of the M.E. Church in this State form 1842 to the present time, his labors being confined to Iowa. He is recognized a one of the stalwarts of that denomination. He was married July 9, 1846, to Miss Emily A. Jamison, daughter of Rev. Milton Jamison, at that time a prominent Methodist divine of Kentucky. By this union they have two daughters: Emma A. (now Mrs. Stafford), Lenora (now Mrs. Kilburn). The Reverend's labors at present are at Eddyville, Mahaska county, but he still is a resident of Brooklyn. He has a pleasant home, the surroundings of which indicate comfort. He can look back with some degree of satisfaction to the early times and know that he sowed the first seed of Christianity in one of Iowa's banner counties.