Charles Henry Hardin

Charles Henry Hardin (July 15, 1820 – July 29, 1892) was an American attorney and politician who was Governor of Missouri served in the Missouri Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He founded Hardin College and was one of the eight founders of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.<ref name=":0" />

Early life

In 1820, Charles Henry Hardin was born to Charles and Hannah Jewell Hardin in Trimble County, Kentucky.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 1820, his family moved to Missouri and eventually settled in Columbia, Missouri.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> Following his father's death in 1830, Hardin worked in the family's tannery business.<ref name=Dictionary>Template:Cite book</ref>

Hardin began his secondary education in 1837 at the Indiana University Bloomington.<ref name=":0" /> He transferred to Miami University in 1839 and graduated in 1841.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> During his time at Miami University, he helped to found Beta Theta Pi fraternity.<ref name=Dictionary />

After college, he studied law with James M. Gordon in Columbia and passed the Bar.<ref name=":0" />

Career

Hardin opened a law practice in Fulton, Missouri in 1843.<ref name=":2" /> From 1848 to 1852, he was a circuit attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit of Missouri.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He served in the Missouri House of Representatives, with terms starting in 1852, 1854, and 1858.<ref name=":0" /> He was a Democrat.<ref name=":0" /> He was a member of the commission that revised and codified the state's statute laws.<ref name=":3" />

In 1860, he was elected to the Missouri Senate 9th District, with a term lasting until 1862.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> As a state senator, he attended Claiborne Fox Jackson's secessionist meeting in Neosho, Missouri and was the only senator present to vote against secession.<ref name=":3" />

During the Civil War, he returned to the family farm in Audrain County, Missouri in 1862.<ref name=":2" /> After the war, Hardin and his family moved to Mexico, Missouri, where he established a new law practice and co-founded Mexico Southern Bank following the close of the war.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

In 1872, Hardin was again elected to the state senate for a term lasting until 1874.<ref name=":0" /> In 1876, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Missouri.<ref name=":1" />

He ran for governor of Missouri and was elected on November 5, 1874.<ref name=":0" /> He served as 22nd Governor of Missouri between January 1, 1875, and February 8, 1877.<ref name=":0" /> During his term, a new constitution was approved.<ref name=":0" /> Hardin also reduced Missouri's debt from the Civil War and state funding for railroad expansion by ending wasteful practices and refinancing bonds.<ref name="Dictionary" />

Hardin established Hardin College and Conservatory of Music in Mexico, Missouri. In 1873, Hardin gave land worth $60,000 to the college and afterward served as the president of its board.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Personal life

Hardin married Mary Barr Jenkins in 1844.<ref name="Papers">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />

Late in life, Hardin was in poor health.<ref name=":3" /> In 1892, he died from conditions relating to old age in Ringo House in Mexico, Missouri.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> He was initially buried in a private graveyard in Audrain County, Missouri, but was later re-buried at the Jewell family cemetery in Columbia, Missouri.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Honors

Charles H. Hardin is the namesake of the small city of Hardin, Missouri.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

External links

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