William Franklin Harding (1835 - 1904)

Born 14 Jun 1835 in Sangamon, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Died 14 Oct 1904 at age 69 in Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States

Biography

William was born in 1835 in Sangamon, Illinois. ^[1]

^[2]Wm. Harding was born in Ill., and married Isabella Adelline Forrest 23 Dec. 1858 in Linn, Mo. They moved to Denver, Colorado where they started their family. Charles Wesley was born about 1864 as was Flora.

The Civil War started, and William enlisted Sep. 1, 1864 in Company A, Colorado 3rd Cavalry Regiment for a special unit that was to run for a total of 3 months, until Dec. 31, 1864. The unit's sole responsibility was to engage with Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians camped at Sand Creek, Colorado. Col. Shoup lead the 450 mounted men of the regiment against the Indians. More men from Col. Chivington's troops completed their expedition to form a total of 1,000 men. The troops marched from Ft. Lyon 40 miles to Sand Creek and surprised the Indians, who were routed after a great slaughter. Isabella had applied for & received a pension for his service. William's military service is recorded in a U.S. Am. Civil War Regiment report. The troops drove out the remaining Indians, and the men had no other opportunities for combat. Wm. was mustered out 31 Dec. 1864 at Denver, Col. ^[2]

He returned home, and their family continued to grow, adding Carrie F. in 1866, Mary about 1866, Francis in 1869, & Nora in 1872.They moved to Bevington, Iowa, then Des Moines, and Daisy Lee, born was born in 1874, George Washington was born 1878, and twins Bessie & Jessie were born in 1879. Unfortunately, they both died in 1879 and are buried alongside their parents in Woodland. Electra was born in 1884, and Orpha in 1882. There was a total of 12 children. ^[2]

Electra worked as a stenographer in a dental supply company, & married Rae Deyoe Arnold an electrician and raised a family. Daisy Lee became a teacher in a private school in Calif., and died 6 Nov. 1954 in San Bernadino, Calif. Charles became a farmer, married and raised a family. He died 20 Sep. 1916 in San Francisco. Carrie also moved to Los Angeles, and died there. Mary's location and death date weren't found. Nora became an osteopath and was a family practice physician in Los Angeles and married an unknown gentleman w/ the last name of Bates. She was cited as being a widow by the time she was 26 yrs., and never remarried. Her mother, Isabella, resided with Nora before her death. Nora died 3 July 1949, her FAG report no. is 85345293.. Unfortunately, there were no FAG reports found for any other of the family who were buried in Calif. Flora married George B. Thompson, a teamster. Their dates and places of death are unknown. Orpha's information other than date of birth was not found. Francis Harding married a gentleman named Fredrickson, then after his death, remarried to Paul Benson, a carpenter. She died 1 Apr. 1944 in Alameda, Calif. She had become a trained nurse. Mr. Harding's occupation was a painter His father was Johnson Harding 1808-1837 and Phyatra Goddell 1813-?^[2]

Military

Pvt. William Harding served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug. 16, 1864 - Denver
Mustered out: 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co A 3rd Regiment Colorado Cavalry

Regiment was involved in Sand Creek Massacre, Nov. 29 1864.

Nickname: the "Bloodless Third"

Descriptive Card information: Co.A 3rd Regiment Colorado Cavalry

Aug. 16, 1864 Denver

Born: Sagamon, Illinois

Age: 29

Occupation: Cabinet Maker

NOTE: There are in deed 2 William's that served with the 2 different Colorado Regiments so we do need to place the correct military data on the correct man. And sorry to say it is the military that combined them. The Colorado 2nd William is stated to be "age 16, born in Missouri." So the Illinois born 1835 will come off William T. Harding and all of that data will be changed to match born 1848 Missouri.

This William T. Harding died 1914 in Washington D.C as per Pension Index attached (this belongs on the 16 years profile)

ALSO: Co.A 2nd Regiment, Colorado Cavalry

United States Civil War and Later Pension Index

Name William T. Harding

Event Date 18 Jan 1914

Event Place Colorado, United States

Military Regiment 2

Military Unit Cavalry

Military Rank P.

Shipping Company Unas

File Name 8186308

^[3]

1900 Des Moines Township, Precinct 2 Des Moines city Ward 2, Polk, Iowa

Household

William F Harding Head M 56 Illinois, Occupation Traveling Avis Agt.

Issabella Harding Wife F 57 Missouri

children: 12 / 7 living

George W Harding Son M 24 Iowa

Electa F Harding Daughter F 16 Iowa

Orpha L Sherwood Granddaughter F 14 Iowa

Years Married: 41 --Marriage Year (Estimated): 1859

Father's Birthplace: Virginia--Mother's Birthplace: New York

^[4]

Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Plot Block: 1 Section: Lot: 00034

photo of headstone

Sources

1. ↑ "Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23N-3NLV : 17 March 2018), William F Harding, 1861-1949; citing Iowa, United States, Military Service, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,487,412.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 20 January 2021), memorial page for William F Harding (14 Jun 1835–1904), Find A Grave: Memorial #30155129, citing Woodland Cemetery, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by Katie Lou (contributor 46950342) .
3. ↑ Citing this Record: "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVW-JMK : 24 March 2016), William T. Harding, 1914.
4. ↑ Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9LH-QFY : accessed 21 January 2021), William F Harding, Des Moines Township, Precinct 2 Des Moines city Ward 2, Polk, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 72, sheet 3B, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records -- Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,453. Indexing Batch: N00869-5 ---Digital Folder Number: 004120116-- Image Number: 00937

• FamilySearch Tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LH81-FV9

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Harding-1293 created through the import of Goodell's.ged on Aug 29, 2012 by Fred Goodell. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Fred and others.