The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-25
DEATH OF LAbAN HARDING
HE LIVED IN MARION COUNTY FOR
OVER EIGHTY YEARS.
Venerable Father of weIham N. and
Henry l.. Hardfng-Last Link Of
the Pioneer Generation.

The death of Laban Harding at his home.
I'VE miles west of the city, last night re-
moved the remaining link In the affairs of
Marion county between the present and the
pioneer generations. Mr.. Harding was pc
culiarly representative OF the county, for,
when he came here. child of five years.
the village of Indianapolis did not exist
except as a few scattered log cabins. His
widowed grandmother brought six of her
sturdy sons here from Fayette county in
1872. and of her thirteen children Eide was
the father OF Laban. The Hardings, who
have always BEEN recognized in pioneer
history. came TO the new settlement seek
Ing farms and not seeking to join in found
ing a city Laban Harding lived over
eighty years in Marion county, and never
IN the city.
He was born near Connersville in Fayette
county in 1917. His father. EIDE Harding,
was born and raised in Washington county,
Kentucky. region that was almost depop-
ulated by the migration TO Indiana soon
after its admission as a State. Eide Hard
ings brothers. who came to Marion coun-
~, were Eliakim. Robert. Laban, Samuel
and Israel. Robert Harding's second son.
Nordecai. was the first child born in the
new donation.
The Harding cabin was built on the
banks OF White river near where the Mer-
ritt wooden mill now stands. Laban Hard
ing remained there until he was twenty
one years old. His work was helping his
father In gristmill. In 1887 he was mar
ried 70 Miss Jemima McCray and pur-
chased sixty-five acres of land the
(rawfordsville road five miles west of the
city. There he remained until his death,
spending sixty-five years happily in the
spot OF his earliest independent effort. Dur
ING these years he increased the acreage
Of the farm TO 225 acres-one of the finest
farms in Wayne township-although for
many years he was incapacitated from CIV
ing any attention to It's supervision, which
was In the hands OF his Henry. The
Harding farm early became a Landmark
or the west section OF the county and re-
mains so to-day.
Mr. Harding's life was placid and unevent-
ful. 1t was the simple, homespun life OF a
pioneer farmer. He was never more nor
HE'S He had deep interest in political
smatters all his mature years. and was a
Republican since he cast his first vote for
William Henry Harrison. He was happiest
when his son. William Newton Harding
was nominated for mayor OF indianapolis.
Mr.. Harding was for over forty years a
subscriber TO the Indianapolis Journal. His
memory was treasury Of pioneer history
lie had eleven children. Of whom six
are now living. They are Mrs. Nancy Mont
xomery, William Newton Harding. Mrs.
John hiccleiland. Mrs. Lou Nelson. Mrs
1<tA <~faie anu fichhJ L. I1dTulus, formerly
county commissioner. all living I'm this
county His father. EIDE Harding died al
the home Of Mrs Sarah Ray, in Hendricks
county. In 1915. at the age OF eighty-two.
About four weeks ago Mr.. Harding
slipped on an icy porch and fell. In the
fall ne broke his hip and the shock Of this
accident gradually overcame his vitality
and caused death. All his children were
with him at the time He had been feeble
Tor year and had not visited the city
since last October. He had been speaking
hopefully before the accident of another
visit 10 the city, in which he took great
pride, during the coming spring.
The funeral will be held Friday morning
from his late home and the burial will be
~ the Mt jackson Cemetery.