devolving upon him in this connection in a most prompt and efficient manner.
On the 16th of December, 1869, Mr. Hardenbrook was united in marriage to Miss Addie Wells, a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Park) Wells, who were born, reared and married in New Jersey. Subsequently they removed to Bureau county, Illinois, where they remained for some years, coming thence to Story county, Iowa, and taking up their abode among the early settlers here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hardenbrook were born eight children, five of whom are yet living, as follows : Frank J., a resident of Chicago, who is a baggage-master on the Milwaukee Railroad running between Chicago and Omaha; Jennie, the wife of L. G. Merrill, of Neola, Iowa; Harry F.; Joseph H., a telegraph operator at Little Falls, Minnesota ; and Clyde G., assistant postmaster at Maxwell, Iowa.
In politics Mr. Hardenbrook is a stanch republican, believing that the principles of that party are most conducive to good government. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in James H. Ewing Post, No. 305, G. A. R. His wife is a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hardenbrook has been a resident of Maxwell for two decades and enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance here.
MAJOR EPHRAIM Hix.
On the roll of Story county's honored dead appears the name of Major Ephraim Hix, who for many years was closely associated with the farming interests and later with the real-estate and abstract business of this part of the state. Energy and determination ever characterized him in his business career and he worked his way steadily upward to success, enjoying at the same time the honor, confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
He was a native of Alabama Center, Genesee county, New York, his birthplace being near the Erie canal and the celebrated roadway from Lewiston to Lockport, New York. He was born October 28, 1839, and was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children, eight of whom reached adult age. He came of most creditable ancestry, the line being traced back on the paternal side to one who was a member of Lord Baltimore's colony in Maryland, while in the maternal line he is descended from the Pilgrims who first settled New England. In the year 1848 he removed westward with his parents to De Kalb county, Illinois, being then a lad of nine years. He pursued his education in the public schools and afterward in Mount Morris Academy, largely meeting the expenses of his college course by teaching or other kinds of labor during vacations. He subsequently attended Wheaton College. Eventually he engaged in business on his own account in Sycamore, Illinois, and he also made several trips to California in the interest of