ASA HARDENBERG, GROVE TOWNSHIP.

Among the well known and progressive farmers of Grove township no one stands higher or better deserves the public regard in which he is held than Asa Hardenberg, who has lived therein for nearly fifty years, having come to the county with his parents in 1859, when he was but eight years old. He was born in Ulster county, N. T., on May 8, 1851, and is the son of Thomas H. and Fannie E. (Niver) Hardenberg, also natives of the State of New York and born in Orange county.

The father was born in 1813, and he grew to manhood in his native State. He learned two trades, those of a carpenter and shoemaker, but he never worked long at the latter. To the former, however, he devoted many years, afterward becoming an extensive fruit grower and general farmer. He was a soldier, under General Jessup, in the Seminole War of 1835-42, fighting against the renowned chief of the tribe, Osceola. (For further particulars of this portion of his life see sketch of his daughter, Mrs. R. G. Phelps, on another page of this work.)

The elder Mr. Hardenberg brought his family to Iowa in 1859 and settled at Lewis in this county, and in that neighborhood he followed farming until about 1878, when he retired from active work. The farm which he took up as an unbroken tract of wild prairie is the excellent one on which his son Asa now lives, and its development and improvement to its present state of high value and productiveness is the result of his continued and skillful application. His life ended on March 12, 1903, his wife passing away in April, 1901. He was a man of extensive general information, especially on historical events and subjects, and was much sought as an arbiter of disputed points. The fmaily comprised four daughters and two sons, all of whom are living, Asa and three of his sisters residing in this county.

The son came to this county with his parents in 1859, when he was but eight years old, as has been noted, and has made his home here ever since. The trip from the then far away Illinois home was made with teams and was full of interest to the country boy who had hitherto seen but little of the world. The slow progress through the wilds from day to day, the strange scenes and varying phases of country, the almost impassable forests and swamps, the unbridged rivers which had to be forded at the risk of life oftentimes, all impressed his childish memory with indelible force. He grew to manhood on the farm he now owns and occupies, and tilling its soil has been the occupation of all his years since his arrival. His education was secured in the primitive schools of his day, supplemented by the book of nature opened daily before his eyes, and the stern discipline of experience in a new country wherein everyone was largely dependent on himself.

On May 20, 1878, Mr. Hardenberg was united in marriage with Sarah Moreland, a daughter of James L. Moreland, one of the honored pioneers of the county, a sketch of whose life follow. Mr. and Mrs. Hardenberg have two children, Myrtle R. and Alice. The former is a school teacher. Like his father, Mr. Hardenberg has eschewed the contentions of politics, and has never sought or held an office. He belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows, however, and finds a pleasant recreation from the stern and exacting duties of his daily life in the meetings of his lodge. A valued reminder of the simple, serious pioneer age, which has forever passed away, and an enterprising and progressive farmer of today, he is a shining link of connection between the present and the past, all the more appreciated because so few are left.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018, from "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 353-354.