HARDY-James G. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

James G. Hardy. In the early days the west was often a tempting field to energetic, ambitious, strong-minded men; and Indiana was filled with them during the time she was struggling up to a respectable position in the sisterhood of states. There was a fascination in the broad field and great promise which the new region of the northwest presented to activity and originality that attracted many men, and induced them to brave all the privations and discomforts of frontier life for the pleasure and gratification of constructing their fortunes in their own way and after their own methods. It is this class of men more than any other who give shape, direction and character to the business of a community, county or state. The subject of the sketch became identified with the commerce of the Wabash valley at an early period, while its trade was, if not in its infancy, in a formative state. Born June 10, 1810, a native of Canada, Mr. Hardy came to Ohio at the age of twenty-one, and afterward, in 1843, came to Covington, in this county, where he has since resided. Immediately upon becoming a resident of the county he began business as a merchant, first occupying a building upon the north side of the public square, and soon after in the house on the northwest corner of the square, so long and widely known as the Indiana Store. From the first his business was conducted upon a very comprehensive plan, and included the purchase of everything that the people of a new country had to sell, and the sale of every article which their needs required them to purchase. The farmer found at the "Indiana store" a market for his corn, wheat, oats, pork, beef, butter, eggs, rags, beeswax, etc. etc., and at the same time a depot from which he could procure all his supplies. In the purchase and shipment of furs Mr. Hardy did for many years a very large and extensive business, and his agents were frequently found at Louisville, Evansville, Vincennes, Terre Haute, and as far north as St. Paul. He was, during several years, one of the largest dealers in grain and other produce between Toledo and St. Louis, and more than once his shipments were made direct to Europe. In 1847 or 1848, in addition to his other operations, he began the business of packing pork at Covington, and continued in it for several years, packing, on an average, 3,500 hogs each year. During a considerable portion of the same period he was purchasing cattle and manufacturing beef to the extent of 1,500 or 1,600 head per annum. It has been said with propriety and truth that it requires as much ability to successfully manage some of the great mercantile houses, or the business of large corporations, as it does to direct the affairs of many of the important departments of the state and national governments. It is certain that the extensive and varied business interests, running up the scale from the smallest to the largest transactions, which Mr. Hardy for many years had in charge, required great energy and ability, and it is not too much to say that he was successful. As we have seen, Mr. Hardy has covered a large extent of territory in his business ventures, and he has consequently been brought into relations more or less intimate with a great number of people. During all this time, and with all the people with whom he has been brought in contact, his reputation for promptness has been first-class, and a prominent feature of Ill's business career has been a disposition to meet all his engagements at any cost. Mr. Hardy has always been liberal in his business views, and so much so that Edward A. Hannegan once said of him that he was the only merchant he ever knew that actually invited competition. During his career as a merchant Mr. Hardy had a great number of persons in his employ, and to those he was always kind, and made it a point to look after their welfare and to encourage in them the formation of correct business habits. Mr. Hardy has always been a strong advocate of a railway line connecting Covington with Toledo, and in 1856 was very earnest in his endeavor to secure the location of what has since been known as the Wabash line, by the way of Covington. After going out of business as a merchant, in 1877, Mr. Hardy formed a partnership with Sampson Heed and Benjamin Gardner, under the style of J. G. Hardy & Co., for the purpose of carrying on the business of banking, and this business has since been, and still is, conducted under this firm name. For several years Mr. Hardy has given a great deal of attention to agriculture and improved methods of farming, and in many respects has been a model farmer. He has also taken a great deal of interest in improving the breed of cattle and hogs. As the result of his business engagements and ventures Mr. Hardy has acquired wealth. He lives in a quiet, modest and retired way, in Covington, and all his surroundings give evidence of good taste and a love of the beautiful. In his manners he has the reserve which often belongs to men of intense thought and application, but is really very companionable and genial in disposition at home, and a most delightful companion abroad. He is a man of extensive and varied information, and of much liberality and breadth of view. Energetic and prompt in action, plain and direct in purpose, broad and comprehensive in plan and undertaking, and scrupulous and exact in keeping engagements, it is not flattery to say that James Q. Hardy is a representative of the best class of business energy, ability and integrity.