JOHN HARDMAN.

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         The late John Hardman, who was one of the capable agriculturists of Port Louisa township, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, on the 14th of April, 1865. He was a son of Silas and Amanda (Fulwider) Hardman, also natives of Cedar county, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1885, at which time he disposed of his homestead and came to Louisa county, where he bought another farm, in the operation of which he engaged for five years. At the expiration of that period he sold his property and he and his wife removed to Grand View, where they are now living retired. Unto them were born four . . .

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. . . children, the order of their birth being as follows: Charles, who is a resident of Louisa county; John; Ella, the wife of David Woodruff, of Louisa county; and Jane, who married William Khone, a resident of Muscatine county.

         The early years of John Hardman’s life were not unlike those of the majority of lads who are born and reared in the rural districts. His education was acquired in the common schools of his native county, following which he engaged in farm work with the expectation of making it his vocation. For eleven years after his marriage he rented land and during that time he managed to save enough from his income to purchase one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Port Louisa township, in the cultivation of which he engaged until his demise in February, 1907.

         Mr. Hardman was married at the age of twenty-seven to Miss Mollie Beik, on the 11th of February, 1892. Mrs. Hardman is a native of Louisa county, her natal day being the 5th of July, 1868, a daughter of Jacob and Emma (Jackson) Beik, whose complete biography appears on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Hardman became the parents of three children: Guy H., who was born on the 30th of August, 1893, and is now a student in the high school, still residing at home; Milton B., whose birth occurred on the 30th of October, 1896, and who is also attending school; and Grace Lucille, who was born November 15, 1904.

         The family continue to reside upon the homestead to which Mrs. Hardman has added another forty acres since the demise of her husband. She now owns one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. They are all earnest Christians, as was also Mr. Hardman, and are highly regarded and esteemed in the community where they reside.