Griffin Henry Hardin (1837 - 1922)

Born 15 Jul 1837 in Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ann Maggie Hough — married 21 Mar 1876 (to about 1880) in Trinity, Texas, United States

Died 25 Jul 1922 at age 85 in Diboll, Angelina, Texas, United States

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Biography

Griffin Henry Hardin was born July 15, 1837 in Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi. He was the son of Hiram Hardin and Parmelia "Pamela" Rester Hardin. He was named Griffin after his Grandpa Griffin Hardin and his Great Grandma, Comfort Griffin Hardin, his Grandpa's mother.

After the death of his mother, Pamela; and after his dad, Hiram, was on the run from the law, Griffin was taken to his Grandmother, Anne Harding Hardin Taylor, and her husband, Charles Taylor. His dad, Hiram, eventually turned him self into custody for the death of his wife, Pamela. He petitioned the court for a pardon stating that it was an accident what happened to Pamela, and that he was the sole provider for his young son. Many townsmen, 51, came to Hiram's defense, vouching for his character, and stating that Pamela had stated on her death bed, that it was an accident that caused her injury. Although there was a petition of 51 men asking Governor McNutt to pardon Hiram, and Hiram himself petitioned for clemency, the Governor would not pardon Hiram, and the sentence was carried out that the jury had decreed. Hiram was sent to the gallows to be hung in Columbia.

In 1840, Griffin was still living with his Grandma Anne and step-grandpa, Charles. Griffin was included in the census of that year, with his Grandma and step-Grandpa. In the household of Charles Taylor, his was listed as one male under 5. Charles was 60-69; and his Grandmother, Anne, was 40-49. 4 were employed in Agriculture; 4 were slaves, out of a total of 7 household members..

On September 16, 1850, Griffin was still living with his Grandmother and step-Grandfather in Columbia. Charles was listed as 78 years old, and his Grandma, Anne, was listed as 54 years old. Charles was occupied as a Miller. Griffin was only 12 years old at that time, and attending school in Columbia.

Based on all of the sources that I have found, and to the best of my understanding of those sources, the following are the events of Griffin's life after 1850. There are a lot of records for marriages for Griffin Hardin; therefore, if any do not apply to him, I apologize for not knowing that. This is what I found, based on the records that I found:

In 1852, Charles Taylor, Jr., Griffin's step-Grandpa, passed away. It was around that time, that Griffin wanted to move to Texas where other members of his family were. His Grandma, Anne, now a widow, went with him.

On February 17, 1859, there is a record stating that Griffin married Mary Ann Murry (Murray), in Homer, Angelina, Texas. (Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965).

On July 13, 1860, he lived in the First District, Homer, Angelina, Texas. He was listed as a 23 year old male, with a personal estate value of $ 300.00. He was a Farmer, and had been married within the year. His wife was Mary, described as a 21 year old female, who had been born in Alabama. (1860 census of The First District, Homer, Angelina, Texas, page 68, dwelling # 514, Family # 503, line 22-23).

His Grandmother, Anne, was living with Rebecca Stockstill Smith and her husband, Andrew Jackson Smith. Rebecca's sister was Annie Jane Stockstill Hardin Smith, who had been married to John B. Hardin, Anne's son. John B. Hardin had been executed May 30, 1851. John B. Harding and Annie Jane Stockstill Hardin Smith, had one daughter, Florida Ann Hardin. In 1860, Annie also lived in Homer, with her husband, Jeptha Smith and their children. Florida lived with them, and is listed in the census of 1860, as Florida Smith.

On September 1, 1861, Griffin enlisted into the 4th Cavalry Regiment of Texas, Company K, (Fourth Mounted Volunteers, First Regiment, Sibley's Brigade), Confederate State Army, during the beginning of the Civil War. May 26, 1865 Griffin was mustered in the 4th Cavalry Regiment of Texas. He mustered in as a Private in the Confederate State Army. When his service was done, he mustered out as a Private as well. (U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, film # M227, roll 15; U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865).

Griffin and Mary Ann must not have remained married, or something happened to Mary before 1866; because according to Ancestry Family Trees, he married in 1866 to Sarah Ruth Owings in Homer, Angelina, Texas.

On March 3, 1867, Griffin and Sarah had a son, William Henry Hardin, born in Homer. However, if he was born in 1867 as family trees list, he is not listed in the 1870 census with them.

On July 22, 1870, Griffin lived in the 9th Ward, Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. He was listed as a 34 year old farmer, born in Mississippi, with real estate valued at $ 100.00; and a personal estate valued at $ 100.00. His wife, Sarah, was listed as a 22 year old female, keeping house, who had been born in Louisiana. (1870 census, same place, page 129; line 26, dwelling 792; Family 792). No children were recorded as living with them.

After July 22, 1870, they had another son, John Hardin, who was born around that time, in 1870, also in Homer.

Griffin and Sarah did not remain married. They were divorced in about 1875, Homer, Angelina, Texas.

On March 21, 1876, he married again, according to Family Trees, to Margaret Ann Hough "Maggie", in Trinity County, Texas. They had children. On January 26, 1877, they had a son named Samuel William Hardin, born in Polk County, Texas. On about February 23, 1880, they had a daughter born, Eugenia Hardin, born in Polk County, Texas.

On June 16, 1880, Griffin was living in District 3, New Waverly, San Jacinto County, Texas. He was working as a Farm Hand in the household of Richard Hale and Elizabeth Hale, with their children. Griffin was described as a married man, age 45, who had been born in Mississippi. According to this record, he listed that his dad was born in Tennessee, and that his mother was born in France, and was a French Speaker. This was not the only time that he would record their demographics in this way.

However, according to all other sources, about his parents, they were not born in these locations. Because it happened more than once, it appears to have been his decision to describe them this way, but not based on fact. (1880 census of same place, page 30, S.D. # 4; E.D. # 3, Street # 147; Dwelling visited order # 224; Family visited order # 262). At this time, he may have been separated from his wife, since she wasn't with him.

On June 19, 1880, Griffin's ex-wife, Sarah Ruth Hardin, was living in the 94th of Subdivision 4, Limestone County, Texas. She was living there with their children, William Henry Hardin, about 14; and John Hardin, about age 10; and her other children from her marriage to Mr. Gann.

Griffin and Margaret's marriage did not last, and they divorced before 1887. On June 23, 1880, Margaret "Maggie", was living in the 69 East District, 148 District Texas, Polk County, Texas, with her parents, Samuel and Charlotte Hough. This record listed that she was either widowed, divorced, or separated. Hiram was alive, so she was likely separated. She was an assistant on a farm. Her children living with her were, William Hardin, who was listed as 3 years old; and Eugenia, who was listed as 4 months old. Likely, it had been recent that Griffin and Maggie had separated. They were likely not divorced until after November 1880 though, because they had a son named Cretho, who was born September 12, 1881.

On June 9, 1887, Griffin married Eliza Pierce in Diboll, Angelina, Texas. (Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965). They appear to have divorced by November 1887 in Diboll, Angelina, Texas.

Griffin and his ex-wife, Maggie, seem to have made amends and got back together; OR, the record for his marrying Eliza did not pertain to him. This appears to be a possibility either way, because they had a daughter named Nettie Viola Hardin, who was born September 9, 1888 in Montgomery County, Texas. However, in any event, they did not stay married, or together for that matter, because he married again.

On October 13, 1889 Griffin married Mary Jane Johnson in Diboll, Angelina County, Texas. On December 30, 1890 they had a daughter born, Mary Etta Hardin, born in Diboll. On January 14, 1892, they had another daughter, Ellen Elnora Hardin, born in Conroe, Montgomery, Texas. On February 3, 1865, they had a son born, Walter Lloyd Hardin, born in Diboll. On September 27, 1897, their daughter Mary Etta passed away. His daughter, Eugenia, also passed away, before June 22, 1900, in Justice Precinct 7, Montgomery County, Texas.

On June 22, 1900, Griffin's ex-wife, Margaret "Maggie" Hough Hardin, was living in Justice Precinct 7, Montgomery County, Texas, with her widowed mother Charlotte, and her children, Samuel William Hardin, 21 (listed as 19), Cretho Sanders Hardin, 17; Nettie Viola, 10, Ellen L., 7, and their daughter Eugenia was no longer living., and one other child was listed as not living as well. Maggie listed that 2 of her children were not living.

On May 2, 1910, Griffin was living in Justice Precinct 4, Diboll, Angelina, Texas. In this record, it lists that Griffin had been married only twice; however, with all of the marriage records found, that seems unlikely. His wife, Mary Jane, was listed as only being married once, to Griffin. It states they had been married for twenty years, making their marriage begin in about 1890, which is consistent to the date of marriage of October 13, 1889. Still living at home was their son, Walter Lloyd Hardin, who was 15. In this record, Griffin, or the otherwise informant, listed that his dad was born in Virginia. His Grandmother, Anne, was born in Virginia, so it could have been a mistake in this case. However, in this case, it is once again stated that his mother was born in France, and was a French speaker. It has been written in other biographs about Griffin, that he did not like to talk about his childhood or about what happened to his parents. Therefore, perhaps it was easier to say they were from different places than where they actually were from, This is based on the other primary sources that list where his parents were born. Griffin is described as a Farmer, working on a general farm, and renting the farm that they lived on. It also states that he could not read or write, and that he was a survivor of the Civil War, of the Confederacy. Their son, Lloyd, was a farm laborer on a home farm, and worked for wages. He and Griffin are both listed as unable to read and write; but his mother could. Griffin's nephew, Wright Johnson, was also living with them. Wright was a 36 year old, single man, who worked as a Laborer at a Saw Mill, and worked for wages. He could read and write. It may have indicated that Wright suffered from some sort of deafness and bad vision, because for the listing of deaf, dumb, and blind, and survivor of the war; it gave him a number listed, 5 (1910 census of J.P 4, Angelina, Texas, sheet 4; S.D. # 2; E.D. # 6; line 36, dwelling 220; family 220).

On January 12th, 1920, Griffin lived in part of Justice Precinct 1, Diboll, Angelina County, Texas. He lived with his son Lloyd Harding, who was the informant speaking to the enumerator. Lloyd was described as a 24 year old married male, who could read and write, and was born in Texas. He was a Farmer on a general farm, who was employed on his own account, farm schedule # 33. Its lists his dad was born in Tennessee and his mom born in Alabama. Griffin; however, was not born in Tennessee. Lloyd's wife, Mary, was described as a 16 year old female, who could read and write, but had not attended school within that year. She was born in Mississippi, and her parents were born in the United States. Griffin was listed as Henry G. Hardin, which represents Henry Griffin Hardin. His first name; however, was actually Griffin. He is listed as Lloyd's father, and described as a 99 year old married male. However, he was not that old yet. It lists that he could read and write. His demographics describe him as being born in Tennessee, his dad born in Virginia, and again, that his mom was born in France, and was a French speaker, who could speak English. Records for the Rester Family does not describe them as being French; therefore, it seems as if Griffin either thought his mom was French, he wanted to describe her that way, or some other mistake had been made. Nonetheless, records found for the Rester Family, does not describe them as French, but as Americans living in North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia. Assuming Family Trees are correct for her parents being Gideon Rester and Sarah Mason Rester, it does not appear she was French. Lloyd's mother, and Griffin's wife, Mary Jane Hardin, is described in this census as a 68 year old female, who could read and write, and was born in Alabama to parents who had also been born in Alabama. It was here in Diboll that Griffin passed away. He died July 25, 1922.

On August 13, 1922 Mary Jane Hardin filed for a widow's pension claim for her husband's service in the Civil War. The form was filed in Diboll, Angelina County, Texas. The claim was approved on August 14, 1922, and was allowed retroactively to begin from June 1, 1922. Comptroller of public accounts was Lou. A. Smith. (Widow's Application for a Pension, Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, U.S., Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958).

Children of Griffin and Mary Jane Johnson:

1. Mary Etta Hardin, born December 30, 1890 in Diboll, Angelina, Texas; died September 27, 1897 in Diboll, Angelina, Texas; buried at Ryan Chapel Cemetery, Diboll; memorial Find A Grave # 48951237; Row 141, Grave 53. (U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current).

2. Walter Lloyd Hardin, Sr., born February 3, 1895 in Diboll, Angelina, Texas; died March 27, 1967 in the Plains, Yoakum County, Texas; buried in Diboll. He was married to Mary Bell Reeves (1902-1995), in about 1919 in Homer, Angelina, Texas. Their children were: William Henry Hardin (1920-1992); Addie Lee Hardin (1921-2003); Griffin Hardin (1923-1929); Walter Lloyd Hardin Jr. (1926-1978); Richard Wesley Hardin (1928-1997); Eugene Hardin (1931-2004); Ray Edward Hardin (1935-1935); and Thomas Wayne Hardin (Living).

(End of this bio by T.B., August 3, 2021).

Sources

1. U.S. Federal Census 1840, Columbia, Marion, Mississippi; Household of Charles Taylor.

2. U.S., Federal Census 1850, Columbia, Marion, Mississippi: Household of Charles Taylor; line 38; order of visitation dwelling and family by enumerator, # 61.

3. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current.

4 Texas, U. S., Marriage Index, 1824-2014; Eliza Pierce m. June 9, 1887, Angelina County, Texas, to Griffin Hardin.

5. Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965; Griffin Hardin m. Mary Ann Murry, February 17, 1859, Angelina, Texas; FHL film # 1035039.