Willis Edgar Harding (1903 - 1981)

Born 29 Aug 1903 in Johnson, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 23 Apr 1981 at age 77 in Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, United States of America

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Biography

Early Life

When Willis Edgar "Willie" Harding was born on August 29, 1903,^[1] in Johnson, Missouri^[2]his father, Edwin, was 34 and his mother, Anne, was 29. He was the 6th child born to the couple.

In 1910, his family lived in Montserrat, Missouri. His father and older brothers,Elmer Harding and Franklin Harding, worked as coal miners and Willis attended school. ^[3]

In 1920, his brother, Elmer Harding, was widowed and lived with the family, along with his young son, Elmer Harding Jr. At 16 years old, Willis no longer attended school, but the census doesn't mention him having a job. His father now farms, but his brothers working in the coal mines, except for Ezra Harding who works teaming dray wagons.^[4]

Marriage and Family

Sometime between 1920 and 1924, Willis marries his wife, Ethel. He works for Warrensburg & Pertle Springs Water Company at the pump station. ^[2]

In 1940, they have no children. See the Conflicts heading below for more information.^[5]

Community and Interests

• Willis Harding was a Mason. His headstone bears the Masonic emblem. ^[6]

Death and Burial

He passed away on 23 April 1981^[7] and is buried in Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Warrensburg, Missouri. ^[6]

Conflict

They may have had a son named Will around 1924. Or, there is another Will and Ethel Harding. On the 1930 census, that Will says that his father was born in Ohio, and his mother in England. However, that is not correct. And that Will is a shoe repairman. Then, on the 1940 census, Willis and Ethel do not have a son with them and he is working with the waterworks again. ^[8]

While his birth and death are recorded in the family Bible, his marriage and whether or not he had children is not.

Sources

1. ↑ Family Bible: Births - Second Record Set
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Ancestry Record 2238 #15931398 The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Missouri, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 134 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
   • Name: Willis Edgar Harding
   • Gender: Male
   • Race: White
   • Age: 38
   • Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
   • Birth Date: 29 Aug 1903
   • Birth Place: Johnson, Missouri, USA
   • Residence Place: Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, USA
   • Registration Date: 15 Feb 1942
   • Registration Place: Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, USA
   • Employer: Warrensburg & Pertle Springs Water Co
   • Weight: 180
   • Complexion: Light
   • Eye Color: Blue
   • Hair Color: Brown
   • Height: 5 8
   • Next of Kin: Ethel Harding
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2YT-C9F : accessed 11 August 2020), Willis Hardin in household of Edwin Hardin, Montserrat, Johnson, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 114, sheet 5A, family 64, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 793; FHL microfilm 1,374,806.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8HT-H3V : accessed 11 August 2020), Willes Harding in household of Edd Harding, Montserrat, Johnson, Missouri, United States; citing ED 119, sheet 2B, line 93, family 39, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 930; FHL microfilm 1,820,930.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7Q1-QL4 : 23 December 2019), Willis E Harding, Warrensburg Township, Johnson, Johnson, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 51-27, sheet 2B, line 63, family 37, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2120.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 August 2020), memorial page for Willis E. Harding (1903–1981), Find a Grave Memorial no. Find A Grave: Memorial #82798226, citing Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by WLC (contributor 47397806).
7. ↑ Family Bible: Deaths - Second Record Set
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHJW-ZWG : accessed 11 August 2020), Will Harding, St Louis (Districts 251-500), St Louis (Independent City), Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 300, sheet 13A, line 34, family 320, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1229; FHL microfilm 2,340,964.