Jasper-Rockdale County GaArchives Biographies.....H.V. Hardwick July 14 1836 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carla Miles cmhistory@mchsi.com January 6, 2004, 5:00 pm

Author: Unknown - Taken from Memoirs of Ga. Vol II
Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., pages 821-822
Published by The Southern Historical Association in 1895


H.V. Hardwick, a leading and progressive citizen of Conyers, Rockdale Co., Ga., 
was born in Jasper County, July 14, 1836.  The Hardwick’s have the distinction 
of being descended from a noble English family, Mr. Hardwick’s great-
grandfather having been a member of the House of Lords during the reign of the 
choleric King George III.  Just before the War for Independence he was sent to 
America as a committee of one, to note and report the condition of affairs, 
with such recommendations as he thought necessary to the interest of England.  
It does not appear whether he himself was friendly to the colonists.  He 
brought along on the trip, however, three boys: Garland, George and William, 
the latter of whom concluded to remain in this land of freedom.  He married a 
Miss Parker, daughter of his father’s family physician, and became the 
progenitor of the Hardwick family of America.  He settled in Washington County, 
Ga., just before the Revolutionary War, in which he served during the entire 
seven years on the patriot side.  For this he was disinherited and left to the 
consequences of his choice.  William Hardwick had six sons: Garland, George, 
Charles, Robert, William and John W.  With this family he moved to Jasper 
County in about 1790, where he died a few years later.  John W., his youngest 
son, married Miss Mary Rivers Nally, an orphan girl who had lost her father 
before she was born, and her mother immediately after.  She, however, fell into 
good hands, Judge Hines Holt having been appointed her guardian, and who gave 
her every opportunity her means would allow.  She became a woman of rare 
ability and exalted piety.  She was a sister of Rev. Richmond Nally, whose 
tragic and touching death occurred while on a missionary tour to the early 
settlers of Louisiana.  One bitter cold day, while crossing a swollen stream, 
he became separated from his horse, and though reaching the bank in safety, got 
lost, and was found the next morning frozen to death at the foot of a tree, 
where he had knelt in prayer.  Mr. and Mrs. John Hardwick became the parents of 
seven children, and after a useful life, died in Jasper County.  The gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch was the third son of this marriage.  He was reared 
on the farm and on account of the financial embarrassment of his father had to 
depend on his own efforts for an education.  Naturally of a retentive mind, and 
with a love for books, he made rapid progress, and was a matriculate of the 
University of Georgia, when the Civil War put a stop to his further progress in 
that line.  He left school and joined the army, serving in the ranks till the 
seven days’ fight before Richmond, when he was taken very sick and sent home to 
die.  Recovering his health, he again reported for duty, and was given a detail 
in the Quartermaster’s Department, and was sent to the army of the west.  His 
duties were arduous and dangerous, and he experienced many narrow escapes from 
the enemy.  The close of the war found Mr. Hardwick almost penniless, but 
nothing daunted, he began the study of medicine and dentistry.  He soon entered 
the active practice of the latter profession, which he continued for fifteen 
years with excellent financial success.  Since 1891 he has been engaged in 
handling fertilizers and in farming, both of which he has been quite 
successful.  Mr. Hardwick married Miss Minnie Ward in 1867, she being the 
daughter of Maj. P.Z. Ward, of Henry County.  She went to her reward in 1883, 
leaving four children.  In 1884 Mr. Hardwick again entered the matrimonial 
state, being joined to Miss Kate Mallette of Thomasville, Ga., and who has 
borne him four children.  In politics Mr. Hardwick is a staunch democrat, ever 
ready to help a friend, but asking nothing for himself.  As a citizen he is 
true to every principle of right, and is ever ready to help to advance the 
public good.  He has been an earnest and zealous Methodist since his youth, and 
has filled all the offices of his church open to laymen – has been a delegate 
frequently to the district and annual conferences, and has served as Sunday 
school superintendent for thirty years.  He is a strong and vigorous writer and 
may yet be heard from through the public press, as he has several manuscripts 
incomplete that will make books of interest and profit.




This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/

File size: 5.0 Kb