Dubuque Gravestone Project Index

Thomas Hardie

Biography of Thomas Hardie taken from Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894. Pages 120-121.

HON. THOMAS HARDIE

Hon. Thomas Hardie is one of Dubuque's old settlers and prominent citizens, who, by his 
courteous and honorable manners, has merited the high esteem of all with whom he has been 
brought in contact.  He was born in Montreal, Canada, January 25, 1819.  His father, Alex 
Hardie, was a native of Scotland, and located in Montreal, where he lived until his death,
which occurred in 1830.  In religious belief he was a Presbyterian.  His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Harriet Enfield, was born in Detford, England, and spent her last days in 
Canada.

Mr. Hardie was reared in Montreal until 1832, when he removed to Kingston, Canada, and in 
1834 removed to Buffalo, N. Y.  In the fall of 1839, he removed to St. Louis, Mo., and in
the spring of 1840 he went to Springfield, Ill.  In 1843 he returned to Montreal and 
remained until 1846, when he came to Dubuque and engaged in painting until 1853, at which 
time he was appointed draughtsman in the surveyor's general office in Dubuque under Warner
Lewis.  He was thus employed for eight years.

The name of Mr. Hardie is inseparably connected with official life in this community.  In 
1849 he was a member of the Board of Alderman from the Fourth Ward.  In 1854-55 he served
as representative to the Sixth General Assembly and in 1860-61 to the Ninth General Assembly.
In 1863 he was made Secretary of the School Board, and has since filled that office with 
credit to himself and usefulness to those concerned.  He was a member of the Board of Regents
of the Iowa State University in 1877 and 1878, being appointed by Govenor Nebold to fill a 
vacancy.  At this time there is only one teacher left of the corps of 1863.

In 1840 Mr. Hardie became a member of Sangamon Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of Springfield, and 
was a member of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1843.  He took a prominent part in organizing
the lodges and encampments, and during the three succeeding years in Canada, whither he had 
moved.  When he left there he was serving as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Canada.  He was a charter member of Metropolitan Lodge 
No. 49, A. F. & A. M., which was established in Dubuque October 23, 1854, and was its first
Secretary.  He was re-elected in 1863, and has since filled that office.  Mr. Hardie cast his
first Presidential vote in Springfield in 1840, supporting Martin Van Buren, and has since 
been a member of the Democratic party.

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