HARDING, William H. - Putnam

William H. HARDING is an enterprising agriculturist of Adams Township Mrs. Harding owning a well-improved farm of 254 acres on Sec 2. She also has a fine residence in Rockville where they will probably pass their declining years. In the year 1884 our subject went to Kansas where he preempted 160 acres of land which he afterward sold to his son, Edward. Mr. Harding was born in Shelby Co KY March 2, 1833 and is a son of Josiah Harding who was born in Maryland 1801. The latter resided in his native state until attaining his 20th year when with his father, Nathan he removed to Shelby Co KY. Our subject's father married in that county Elizabeth daughter of Ellis Miller who was a farmer and stock raiser in Kentucky to which state he removed from VA about 1821. In 1835, Josiah Harding came to this county, locating in Greene Township where he entered 160 acres and lived there for about two years when he settled in Putnam county which was his home for 20 years. At the expiration of that time he moved to a farm two miles south of Crawfordsville where he died in April 1889. His widow is still living on the old homestead though she was born as long ago as March 12, 1806. Josiah Harding was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was politically a Republican. He owned 240 acres of land in Montgomery County at the time of his death. William H. Harding of this sketch is one of 5 children, 4 of whom grew to maturity. Charles W. is a retired merchant; John is a farmer of Union Township, Montgomery County; and Henry W. also resides in the last mentioned place. Our subject left home when 18 going to LaFayette where he learned the dry goods trade. 3 years later he went to NY city where he engaged in the wholesale millinery and fancy goods business with the firm of Cochran & Nickey and at the end of two years was taken into the firm, the title of which became Cochrain & Harding. When a couple of years elapsed, thereafter retired and went to Rockville, Indiana where he engaged in the dry goods business with BW Stark, under the name of Stark & Harding. Some time later our subject sold out to his partner and became a member of the firm Coffin & Byers. The senior member withdrew a year later, being following by Mr. Byers two years after. For six years succeeding the firm was known as Wiliam H. Harding & Co when our subject withdrew going into business for himself and continuing along 5 years. His business ventures were blessed with success from the start, and as he was always honorable and correct in his methods, his patrons became his friends. In 1856 occurred the marriage of William H. Harding with Adeline E. Ward, who is the daughter of Greenberry Ward, a native of Woodford Co Ky his birth having occurred in 1800. In 1821 he settled on land in Fayette Co IN where he remained 5 years then coming to Parke County and settling in the thick timber 4 miles south of our subject's present home. At that time the Indians were still plentiful in this locality and the nearest neighbor lived 9 miles distant. He erected a log cabin on his place which he soon brought under good cultivation. In 1832 he purchased a farm which is now the home of our subject and there he resided until his death when he owned 313 acres. Mrs. Harding is the youngest and only surviving member of the family comprising 3 children. Greenberry died Sept 21, 1891 age 91 years and 20 days. He was one of the hardy pioneers of this county and from 1867 to 1870 he had an interest in a dry good business. He was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rockville. Mrs. Harding was born and reared on the place where she now lives and by her marriage became the mother of 5, 3 of whom are living: Charles W, who resides on the farm; Edward H a druggist at Rockville and Frank B who runs the home farm. Politically, Mr. Harding is a Republican and religiously a member of the Presbyterian Church.