BIO: Hardy, J. J. - Barren Co "HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC." CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884. GREENE CO., IN. RICHLAND TWP PAGE 342 J. J. HARDY, proprietor of the National House, was born in Brown County, Ky., February 6, 1823, and is one of five children born to Benjamin F. and Amy (Pedigo) Hardy. Benjamin F. was a native of Paris, France, and a Lieutentant in the British Army during the war of 1812. He was wounded at New Orleans, and at this battle succeeded in deserting and joining the American troops. He was a blacksmith by trade, and after the war settled in Barren County, Ky., where he married our subject's mother, who was a native of Virginia. In 1830, while returning from a neighbor's to whom he had sold a farm for $3,000, he was murdered and robbed. His widow and children moved to Mooresville, Ind., in 1832, in a four-horse wagon, afterward removing to Lawrence County, where Mrs. Hardy died in 1865. At ten years of age, J. J. Hardy began life's battle for himself. Until seventeen years old, he was clerking in Springville, after which he learned blacksmithing, and in 1844 settled at Point Commerce, where he remained two years working at his trade. In 1845, he married Frances M. Gainey, and in 1848 went to Bedford and worked at carriage and wagon making until 1862. In August of this year, he helped recruit Company G, Fourth Indiana Cavalry, of which he was made Commissary Sergeant. Mr. Hardy saw much hard service during the late war, and is credited with being a fearless soldier and a prudent officer. He was in the battles of Shelbyville, Apline, Summerville, Chickamauga, Jonesboro, Chattanooga, Franklin and Nashville, besides numerous skirmishes and engagements. In September, 1864, he was examined by the Military Board and was commissioned Lieutenant of the Fifteenth United States Colored Troop by the President. Shortly after this, he took command of 200 independent scouts, and continued in command until being mustered out of service April 7, 1866, as brevet Major. Maj. Hardy was three times wounded, the worst of these being at Cedar Hill, Tenn., where he was shot through the neck, from the effects of which he is yet a sufferer. After the war, he embarked in the livery business at Bedford, but in July, 1868, came to Bloomfield, where he has since resided. In 1874, he started in the livery business here, and two years later built his present stable. In 1881, he erected the National House, of which he is the present popular proprietor. By his fist wife he was the father of one daughter -- Laura E. In 1868, he was married to Mrs. Julia A. (Ferguson) Milam, to which union is born one daughter -- Jennie E. Mrs. Hardy was the widow of ex-County Clerk, John I. Milam, by whom she had four children, only one yet living -- Mrs. Nettie Beaty. From: "Diana Flynn" Date: 25 Jun 1998