Rev. James Hardie

  General Notes:

Although his Memoria Inscription records his birthdate as 28 Dec 1821 he was actually born on 24 December 1820 and bpatised on 31 December 1821.

At the time of the 1841 Census he was living with his parents in Newarthill, aged 20 and he was recorded as being born in the County.

In 1851 he was living with his wife and young family Newarthill, just up the road from his sister Margaret and her family. He was aged 29, a Grocer and Coal Miner born in Bothwell. Living with him were his wife, Marion, aged 27, son Peter, aged 3, daughter Jean, aged 8 months (both born in Bothwell) and Janet Hardie Tenant, a niece, aged 10, also born in Bothwell. The 1855 Valuation Rolls record that he was still a Grocer and a tenant living in a house owned by William Hamilton, Farmer in Holytown. The annual rent was 11 pounds. However, his son Alexander Gardner Hardie was born in Pennsylvania, USA in about 1853, if his age on the 1860 Census is correct.

The niece, Janet, is the daughter of James' sister Christian, who married Alexander Tenant in Bothwell on 3 Jun 1838. At the time of the 1841 Census they were living almost next door to Peter Hardie and his family with their surname recorded as "Tannent". Alexander is recorded as an Iron Miner aged 20 and born in the County, Christian aged either 20 or 24 and born in the County, and they had a 2 year old son, James also born in the County. At this stage I believe Alexander and Christian were deceased as their other 2 children were living with James' sister Agnes and her family.

James and Marion appear to have named their first 4 children after the children's grandparents, and subsequent children were probably named after their own siblings with Marion having sisters Helen (Ellen?) and Agnes, and James having a sister named Mary (married name Cullen).

At the time of the 1860 Census he was living at Broad Top, Pennsylvania. He was a Miner, aged 38 born Scotland with a personal estate valued at $300. Living with him were his wife Marion, aged 36 born Scotland, and children Peter S. aged 12, Jane Gray, aged 9 both born in Scotland, Alexander G. aged 7 born in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth C aged 4 born in Illinois, Marion Ellen aged 2, born in Pennsylvania and Mary C. aged 1 month born in Pennsylvania. I am guessing that Elizabeth C is Elizabeth Cowan (after James' mother) and that Mary C is Mary Cullen (after James' elder sister, Cullen being her married name).

At this time also, James' sister Agnes Taylor and her family were also living in Broad Top.

The 1865 Census records that the family was living at Elmore, Faribault, Minnesota, where they would spend the rest of their lives. (The index at FamilySearch incorrectly records his name as "Jainy" and son Peter S. (named as PS) is incorrectly recorded as a female. A person named David Coswell is also recorded in their household.

By 6th July 1870 James was a Farmer living in Elmore, Faribault, Minnesota. He was aged 48, owned Real Eastate valued at $1000 and Personal Estate valued at $800. He was recorded as a Citizen of the US. Living with him were his wife Marion, aged 47, "keeping house", and children, all "at home": Jane G aged 19, Alexander G. aged 17, Elizabeth C. aged 14, Marion E. aged 12, Mary C. aged 10, and Agnes (perhaps L?) aged 7 born Pennsylvania.

In 1878 he was a Justice of the Peace in Elmore.

By the 14th June 1880 James was still living at Elmore. Aged 58, he was still a Farmer. Living with him were his wife Marion aged 56, and their unmarried daughters Jean aged 29, Elizabeth aged 24, Ellen aged 22 and Agnes aged 17.

IN 1885 James was still living at Elmore. He was 63. Living here also was his wife Marion aged 63 and daughter Jean aged 34.

James was 73 at the time of the Minnesota State Census in 1895 and employed as a Farmer. By this time he was widowed as Marion had died in 1886, and he was living with his son Alexander and his family in Elmira, Faribault, Minnesota. He had lived in this district for 3 years. Alexander was a 43 year old farmer who had been a resident of the State and District for 30 years.

He is buried in the Pilot Grove cemetery in Faribault county, as is his wife Marion. His headstone reveals that he was born 28 Dec 1821 and died 2 June 1898.

Interestingly he is referred to as "Rev. James Hardie" on his headstone. Although there has been no reference to him being a church Minister in any of the foregoing documentation, I did come across a bio for him at a cached website which seems to be a reproduction of an old book with brief biographies of church Ministers in the US which reads as follows:

"Rev. James is a native of Scotland, his parents being Peter and Elizabeth (Cowan) Hardie. His early ministry was with the Presbyterians of his native country. During the discussions incident to the "Morrison controversy" he became convinced of tLie [sic] general atonement and by his Greek Testament he was, as he says, cured of "baby sprinkling" so that on settling in Minnesota he was prepared to connect himself to the Free Baptist. He united with the Chain Lake Q.M. about 1880, and has continued with the Elmore church."

So that is very convincing evidence that he was.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided at the time of the Census with his parents in 1841 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of the Census in 1851 in 33 Hamilton Rd, Newarthill, , Lanark, Scotland.

• He resided at the time of the Census on 8 Jun 1860 in Broad Top, Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA.

• He worked as a Coal Miner at the time of the Census in 1841 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Grocer & Coal Miner at the time of the Census in 1851 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland.

• He worked as a Miner on 9 Jun 1860 in Broad Top, Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA.

James married Marion Gardner, daughter of Alexander Gardner and Jean Gray, on 20 Jun 1842 in Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland. (Marion Gardner was born on 27 Apr 1823 in Bathgate, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, christened on 27 Apr 1823 in Bathgate, Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, died on 29 Mar 1886 in Elmore, Faribault, Minnesota, USA and was buried in 1886 in Pilot Grove Cemetery, Faribault, Minnesota, USA.)