George Hardenbrook (1843-1916)

HARDENBROOK, GIBSON, WELLS, MERRILL

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/11/2005 at 11:42:05

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, January 13, 1916, page 1. "OBITUARY - George Hardenbrook, son of Freeman and Sarah Gibson Hardenbrook, was born at Wawaka, Noble county, Indiana, August 2, 1843. He died at his home in Maxwell, Iowa, January 5, 1916, at the age of seventy-two years, five months and three days. His early education was procured at a typical Indiana log school house of that time. In October, 1863, he enlisted, and was assigned to Company B of the 12th Indiana Calvary. He served to the end of the war, most of the time in the particularly hazardous capacity of dispatch rider. At the close of the war he returned to private life and tilled his father's farm until 1867 when he came to Iowa. After a year in a store at Peoria he moved to Iowa center and entered the service of Baldwin & Maxwell, then one of the prominent mercantile firms of Iowa. He remained in that position twenty-three years. In 1869 he was married to Miss Addie Wells, daughter of one of the pioneer families of Story county. Eight children came into their home, five of whom are now living, as follows: Mrs. Jennie Merrill, of Neola, Iowa; Frank J. Hardenbrook, of Chicago; Harry F. Hardenbrook; Joseph H. Hardenbrook of Little Falls, Minnesota, and Clyde G. Hardenbrook, of Collins, Iowa. In 1881 the family came to Maxwell and Mr. Hardenbrook was connected with the store of C. H. Dickey for several years. In 1897 he received his appointment as postmaster of Maxwell from President McKinley. For eighteen years he served the community in that capacity in a manner notably efficient and satisfactory. Recently he retired from business. His health had become so poor that it was imperative for him to seek a higher altitude, but while plans to this effect were under way he contracted the grippe, which in his weakened condition he was unable to successful combat. Death came after a sickness lasting less than one week. The funeral was held Saturday, January 8th, at the Methodist church in Maxwell, rev. Frank Bean delivering the sermon, with interment in the Maxwell cemetery. The large attendance attested to the respect and esteem which the life of the deceased had engendered in the hearts of his fellow citizens, his comrades of the G. A. R. Post attending in a body. The relatives and friends from out of town in attendance at the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Hardenbrook and son, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hardenbrook and son of Little Falls, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Merrill and son, of Neola; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hardenbrook and son, of Collins; Leon Hardenbrook and Miss Zopf, of Marengo; Mr. and Mrs. ……"