Crawford Co., AR - Biographies - Hardy Mattax

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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
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Hardy Mattax, a companion in hunting and friend of Tom Comstock, 
mentioned on a previous page, was born in Coweta County, Ga., in 1839, 
the son of H. H. Mattax. In 1841 the latter settled near White Plains, 
in Benton Co., Ala., where he lived until 1846, when his wife died, 
after which he returned to Georgia, Morgan County, the home of Hardy's 
grandfather. There our subject remained until nearly grown. In 1855, 
becoming possessed of a desire to see something of the world, he left 
home, and finally reached Cohutta Springs, Murray County, where some 
relatives were living, and here experienced the first pleasures of 
hunting, a pastime to which he has since been greatly devoted. Among 
his early successes was the killing of an immense bear, 600 pounds in 
weight, whose death only occurred after an exciting encounter. 
Entertaining a desire to attend school, he went to Benton, Shelby Co., 
Tenn., remaining as a scholar in schools there for six months. In 1859 
he was occupied for a time in teaching penmanship at West Plains, 
Howell Co., Ark., subsequently resuming his teaching in a little 
primary school in Fulton County, where he went in 1861. When the war 
broke out he went to Memphis, Tenn., obtained employment until the 
Federals took the city, after which he lived near there until 
hostilities ceased. On the last day of 1870 he landed at Van Buren, 
Ark., removing from this vicinity, however, in 1873, to a place 
sixteen miles north, on Lee's Creek, and one mile from the Cherokee 
line, where was a good hunting ground. Here his early desires for the 
sport were again cultivated, and before long an acquaintance sprang up 
between Mr. Comstock and Mr. Mattax, which has since continued to the 
pleasure of each. It is impossible to give, in the space allotted in a 
work of this kind, a detailed account of all the experiences undergone 
by them in their numerous successful expeditions, howbeit they would 
be full of interest. Thrilling, humorous and enjoyable excursions have 
been made in the pursuit of this favorite occupation, in all of which 
peculiar success seems to have crowned their efforts. Both are well 
known throughout this community. 

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