Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-11-19

above is a very fair likeness of him.
The LEDGER takes pleasure in pub
fishing the following brief points in
his history:
Gov. Hardin is a native of Ken
lucky, having been born in that state
in 1920. His father came originally
from Virginia. but he removed from
that state at an early day to Ken
lucky, where he lived for many
years. But while Charles H. was
still in infancy the father removed to
Missouri and located in Boone coun-
ty, where young Hardin was reared.
Besides Charles II. there were two
daughters and two sons in his par
ents' family. Gov. Hardin's father
was a man in comparatively easy
circumstances, ana like most of the
early citizels- Rhia and Boone
county, he was ~sive 70 the i'm
portance of education. Excellent
schools were early established at Co.
lumbia, and to these young Hardin
had easy access From Columbia
young Hardin matrieulated at Miami
University, where he was subsequent
ly graduated with distinguished hon
or. He received the degree of A. B.,
and afterwards that of A. NJ. Hav-
ing, long prior to his graduation, de-
c,ded to devote himself to the legal
profession. immediately after his re-
turn to Columbia he began the study
of law under the late Judge James
NJ. Gordon, a prominent lawyer of
Columbia at that time. Pursuing
his studies with assiduity under
Judge Gordon, in due time, in 1913,
he was admitted to the bar, and the
same year located at Fulton and en-
tered actively upon the practice of
his profession. Early in his career
at Fulton young Hardin was called
to the office of justice of the peace,
the duties of which position he filled
with efficiency and with great salts
faction to the public. In 1874 he
was married to Miss Mary B.. a
daughter of Theodrick Jinkins, Esq,
a leading farmer and fine stock raiser
of Boone county. Five years after
his admission to the bar such was the
prominence to which he had risen
that he was elected prosecuting at
torney for the Third judicial Circuit,
his term of office being for a period
of four years, or to expire in 1852.
During his entire four years term no
indictment of his was ever ruled
against by the court. In 1859 he
was appointed one Of the managers of
the State Lunatic Asylum at Fulton,
and for twelve years acted as one of
the managers and as secretary of its
board In 1852 Mr.. Hardin was
elected to the legislature from Gala.
way county, and served that constit.
uency with great acceptability. He
was returned for a second term and
at the close of the session in 1855
! was chosen by the legislature in con-
nection with Hon. John W, Reid, oil
Kansas City, and Hon. Thomas G.
Richardson, of Scotland county, to
revise and complete the statutes of the
state. Mr.. Hardin was selected to
superintend the printing and publ
cation Of the statutes, a duty which
lie discharged with great credit and
ability. In 1858 he was for the third
time elected to the legislature. In
1860, after a service of six years con-
%secutively in the House of Represen'
tatives he was elected to the State
Senate from the district composed Of
Galloway and Boone counties, and
by a large majority. In 1861 Mr..
Hardin removed from Fulton to Mex.
leo, where he has since resided. Ii
1871 he retired from the practice o.
law, having for many years main
tanned a leading position at tue bar,
One year later he was elected to the
State Senate from the district com
posed of Audrain, Boone and Gala
way counties. He was made chair.
man of the judiciary commute, anc
also chairman of the committee on the
lunatic asylum. In 1874 Mr.. Har
din was nominated for governor, tt
which distinguished position he was
elected by a majority of nearly 40,
900. His administration was one o.
the best ever known in the history Of
the state. Since the expiration O
his term as chief executive of th'
state he has been living in retiremen
in this place, blessed with all the sub
stantial comforts of life and in tn,
|enioyment of the esteem of the PEG
pie. Gov. Hardin's whole life ha'
been characterized by unceasing in
dustry and answering integrity
By economy and good management
though never parsimonious, he ha'
accumulated a large estate. Gov
Hardin has long been a leading mem
her of the Baptist church, and biz
7 life has been in strict accord witt
3 the faith he processes. He is a mai
of large and generous charities. Hi
connection with Hardin College a
Mexico is known wherever the repu
: tation of that able and successful in
tstitution has gone. He first endowe'
this college with nearly $4,000 il
{ land and we'll secured notes, maxim;
safe provisions for the proper mar
agement of the funds for the future
o After the erection of the building
etc, a sum was left which now bring
Q to the institution in interest abou
$4,000 annually. Nearly two year
ago Gov. Hardin made another dc
a nation to this institution amountin
1 to s1S,750 in cash. Hardin Colleg
is one of the most 1ourishing an
ably conducted female institutions c
learning in the state, and it stands
monument to his name nobler than
column of marble and more endurin
8 than a statute of bronze. Althoug
, IN his sixty-ffth year Gov. Hardin
: still vigorous and well preserved
His mental faculties, strengthene
lby study and experience, are remark