Veteran Bio

Mrs. Cynthia Hardin, wife of the late Col. Frank Hardin of Liberty died yesterday at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Davis, in Oak Cliff. She was one of the first settlers in Liberty back in 1827.

HARDIN, FRANKLIN -- Born in Franklin County, Georgia, January 25, 1803, son of Swan Hardin. He moved with his parents to Tennessee in 1806. Mr. Swan Hardin and his five sons -- William, Augustine, Blackburn, Franklin, Milton Ashley and Benjamin Watson Hardin -- came to Texas in 1825 and settled in what is now Liberty County. All of the boys became prominent in Texas affairs and as a result a county in Texas was named in honor of the Hardin family. Augustine B. Hardin was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

It was at the home of William Hardin at Liberty that the main body of Mexican prisoners captured at San Jacinto were guarded until released.

On May 12, 1831 Franklin Hardin received title from Commissioner J. F. Maden for one-fourth of a league of land situated in the present county of Liberty. On February 1, 1838 he received a Headright Certificate for one-twelfth of a league of land from the Board of Land Commissioners of Liberty County. In the certificate it is stated that he came to Texas in 1825.

Franklin Hardin served in the Siege of Bexar in 1835. He was appointed First Lieutenant of Infantry by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas, November 29, 1835 and was First Lieutenant of Captain William M. Logan's Company at San Jacinto. He was issued Donation Certificate No. 287 for 640 acres of land June 5, 1838 for having participated in the battle. He commanded a volunteer company from July 7 to October 7, 1836. A muster roll of his company is on page 57 of the army rolls in the General Land Office at Austin. He was issued Bounty Certificate No. 3579 May 25, 1838 for 640 acres of land for having served in the army from March 6 to November 17, 1836.

Captain Hardin in 1834 was appointed surveyor for the Municipality of Liberty. He located and surveyed much of the land granted by the Mexican Government to members of the colony of Joseph Vehlin. In 1837 he was elected by Congress surveyor of Liberty County. At a public election held September 6, 1841, he was chosen Colonel of the Second Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Militia of the Republic. He was a member of the House of Representatives from Liberty County, of the Seventh Legislature, in 1867. He died at Liberty, Texas April 20, 1878, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association.

Colonel Hardin was married to Cynthia A. O'Brien at Liberty Texas, August 15, 1839. Mrs. Hardin was born in St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana November 1, 1889.

Children of Colonel Hardin and Mrs. Hardin were Camilla Gertrude, who married Judge George W. Davis; Cynthia A. Kaleta who married Captain John F. Skinner; Helen Berwick, Christie; and William F. Hardin

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