Hardee - William B. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

HARDEE, William B., grocer, Crawfordsville, was born May 19, 1849 in Union Twp, Montgomery County, Indiana. He is a son of Joseph H. and Mary WARE Hardee. Joseph came to Montgomery County about 1829 or 1830 and settled near Sec 16, Union Twp. Later his father came in 1837 and died. Joseph continued on a farm till 1871 when he and his wife retired to the city. Mrs. Hardee's people, Alexander and Elizabeth WARE came from Ky. in 1828 and settled part of School Sec 16 Union Twp. This was the principally settled place. Here lived the Wares, where they raised more snakes and nettles than anything else for awhile. Mr. Ware died in 1832 and his wife in 1843 on a farm they had bought adjoining Sec. 16.

Joseph Hardee's father, John Hardee and Mrs. Hardee's grandfather WAYMAN served in the Revolution. The Hardees and Wares did their part toward converting the wilderness of Montgomery County into its present cultivated condition. William B. Hardee, subject of this sketch, lived on the farm during earlier years. He spent a time at Wabash College. Leaving the farm he became clerk in the store of JT MACK for 3 years; then for JC FRY two years. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Hardee opened a grocery on S. Walnut St, and in the spring of 1880 he built a store room, 16 x 40 on Walnut St, between Perry and Chestnut and moved his stock. Here he carries on business and is generally known as the South Side Grocery. Mr. Hardee was married Sept 12, 1879 to Miss Isabel, daughter of JB & Elizabeth WHITSITT of Indianapolis. She was born Aug 6, 1858. They have had one child, Harry W, deceased. Both are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Hardee is an Odd-Fellow and a democrat. -- typed by kbz