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HARDIN, John, soldier, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, 1 October, 1753; died on Ohio river in April, 1792. His father removed when John was twelve years of age to an unbroken wilderness near the Pennsylvania line, where he became so skilful a marksman that he was greatly feared by the hostile Indians. He was ensign in Lord Dunmore's expedition against the Indians in 1774, and served as a scout. At the beginning of the Revolution he joined the Continental army as lieutenant in General Daniel Morgan's rifle corps, and refused a major's commission, saying that he could do his country more good in the capacity in which he was serving.

He removed to Kentucky in 1786, and in the same year volunteered under General Elisha Clarke on the Wabash expedition, and was appointed lieutenant-colonel of militia. He was in every expedition against the Kentucky Indians from 1787 until his death, except that of General Arthur St. Clair. In April, 1792, he was sent by General James Wilkinson with overtures of peace to the Miami Indians, and while he was bearing a flag of truce neat" Shawneetown, his fine horse and equipments attracted the cupidity of the chiefs, who treacherously shot him to obtain these spoils. The county of Hardin, which was formed in 1792, was named in his honor. --

John's son, Martin D. Hardin, lawyer, born on Monongahela river, Pennsylvania, 21 June, 1780; died in Frankfort, Kentucky, 8 October, 1823, was educated in the Transylvania academy, Kentucky, where he removed with his father at six years of age. He studied law, practised in Franklin county, served several terms in the legislature, and in 1812 was secretary of the state. When war was declared with Great Britain he joined the northwestern division of the army under General Harrison, and was promoted major of the Kentucky regiment of volunteers. In 1816 he was elected to the United States senate as a Democrat to fill the unexpired term of William T. Barry, who had resigned. He was distinguished for legal knowledge and ability, and practised his profession with marked success, he published "Reports of Cases in the Kentucky Court of Appeals" (Louisville, 1810).

--John's nephew, Benjamin Hardin, statesman, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1784; died in Bardstown, Kentucky, 24 September, 1852. He removed to Kentucky in childhood, received a primary education, stud-led law, was admitted to the bar in 1800, and began to practice at Bardstown. He served in the state house of representatives in 1810-'11 and 1824-'5, and in 1815 took his seat in congress, having been elected as a Whig, and served till 1817, and again from 1833 till 1837. In 1844 he was appointed secretary of state of Kentucky, held office till his resignation in 1847, and was a member of the State constitutional convention of 1849. He was distinguished as a debater, and his style was pungent and sarcastic. John Randolph, of Roanoke, described him as "a kitchen-knife, rough and homely, but keen and trenchant."--Martin D.'s son, John J., lawyer, born in Frankfort, Kentucky, 6 January, 1810; died in Buena Vista, Mexico, 27 February, 1847, was educated at Transylvania university, studied law, and removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he practiced his profession. For several years he was prosecuting attorney, and a member of the legislature in 1836-'42. In 1842 he was elected to congress as a Democrat, and served one term. He volunteered when the Mexican war began, was appointed colonel of the 1st Illinois regiment, and was killed on the second day of the battle of Buena Vista, while leading his men in the final charge.

On 3/18/2007 at 9:21 PM Robert E. Cairns robtcairns@cs.com> wrote:

Your information on John Hardin has some incorrect facts and some omission of facts, based on the original official documents and letters from the period. Hardin joined the Continental Army as a member of the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1776. He was temporarily assigned, along with approx. 100 other members of the 8th Pa., to Daniel Morgan's Rifle Corps for the 1777 Campaign. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Stillwater, NY.

He continued his service in the 8th Pa. through 1779, when he resigned after taking part in the Brodhead Campaign against the Indians of W. Pa./SW N.Y. He was a Pa. militia officer on the Crawford Expedition against the Indians of W. Ohio in 1782. He was also with Gen. Harmar as a officer of Ky. militia against the Indians of the NW Territory in 1790 and St. Clair in 1792.  He was killed by Indians April 1792.

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