HARDIN.
The family of Hardin occupied a position of some prominence
in the county at the beginning of the century. Its
head was Isaac, who, after living on different places, finally
settled about 1785 on the plantation near Greenwood Depot,
recently owned by Thomas C. Bowen. Here he resided until
his death in 1820, at the age of eighty-four. His wife was
Elizabeth, daughter of William Brown, and his children
Mary, the wife of Samuel B. Smith, whose sons removed to
Tennessee, Benjamin, Elizabeth, the wife of Gideon Morgan,
Sarah, the wife of Nathaniel Landcraft, Nelson, Isaac B.,
Lucinda, the wife of William Scott, Berry M., and John.
About 1808 Nelson emigrated to Mississippi Territory, and
Isaac to Tennessee. Berry M. died in 1826.
For many years Benjamin was a conspicuous figure in the
western part of the county. He bought in 1805 the brick
house about a mile west of Ivy Depot, which was at first the
nucleus, and soon the whole, of the town of Morgantown.
Here he kept a tavern having the name of Albemarle Hotel
until 1826. From time to time he bought up a few lots of the
projected town, as their owners endeavored to realize a return
from their investment; but as they lay unmarked amidst the
trees and bushes of the forest, it is surmised the great mass
of them quietly lapsed in his hands, totally forgotten by
those who held the title. Hardin was a fancier of fine horses,
and kept a number of racers. It is likely the temptations
connected with such pursuits involved him in undue expense,
and led to a neglect of his proper business; at all events in
1827 all his property was sold under deeds of trust. He
then removed to Nelson County. In January 1899, his son,
Dr. Charles W. Hardin, died near Longwood, Rockbridge
County, in the eighty-fifth year of his age.
