A portrait of James Marklin Hardy II. Courtesy of EHardyJ on Ancestry.com.
Genealogists researching their ancestors in the United States have very few records at their disposal in comparison to Italian records. Their greatest source is the census. I freely admit that I am a novice genealogist when it comes to American genealogy. But I would like to think that the skills I have developed researching my own family for almost 4 years has allowed me to be reasonable at tracking down American records. One eludes me still and while I hope that something will lead me to the answers that I want. Let’s be more specific.
In the 1900 United States Federal Census, in District 0070, Montgomery, Monroe, Arkansas there is a Jas Heardey listed. Other documents and Hardy family genealogists have concluded that this is actually a misspelling of James Marklin Hardy, who was born on the 12th of November, 1875 somewhere in Arkansas. In this Census the most interesting clue to where the Hardy’s originated is given: Ireland was listed as his father’s birthplace. Unfortunately due to a combination of destroyed census’ and a general lack of records in Arkansas and the United States during this time, I cannot locate James’ father James Marklin II. And this is such a shame considering the wealth of records in Ireland, and the deep history this country has. It would be particularly interesting to discover the story behind James M II’s journey to America.
Here is the 1900 Census:
- 1900 Federal Census. Montgomery, Monroe, Arkansas.
I know not everybody is going to want to enlarge that census and find Mr “Jas Heardey” for themselves so here are snippets of the important things:
Jas Heardey and his wife Susie.
Ireland listed under his father’s birthplace; Arkansas listed under his mother’s birthplace.
James was head of the household, white, male, born Nov 1875. 24 years old at his last birthday. Married.
He could read. He couldn’t write. He spoke English.
He was a farmer, who had not been unemployed.
I would very much like to delve into what I know about James Marklin Hardy but unfortunately it is limited and I would prefer to do some more in-depth research before presenting everything that I have. Most importantly, he was married to Susan Rebecca Crisp on the 6th of August, 1896 in Monroe, Arkansas. He had three sons with her: Willie Lee Hardy, Earl Hardy and James Marklin Hardy III. When Susan died James remarried. Lettie Lovell Berry bore him two children: Burns Hawkens Buck Hardy and Margaret Armetha Hardy.
James Marklin Hardy II died sometime in 1926. He is buried in Connell’s Point in Monroe, Arkansas.