Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S.  "An Illustrated History of Umatilla
County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 569
 
DAVID N. HARDMAN

     When the esteemed pioneer and Moved citizen whose name appears above,
passed from the walks of earth the entire county felt that a friend and
benefactor had been taken from them, and his demise was universally mourned in
every class. Mr. Hardman was a man of rare ability and most excellent Christian
character, having spent his entire life in the amelioration and kindly
assistance of his fellows, and no man went from his door without sympathy,
advice or material aid, as was the need.
     His birth was in Indiana and as early as 1852 he crossed the plains to the
Willamette valley, whence later he removed to Umatilla county, where he engaged
in farming and stock raising until 1869, when he migrated to Waitsburg,
Washington, buying there a farm and giving his attention to its cultivation for
a number of years. It was in 1878 that he removed to the section now known as
Morrow county, taking up government land, where his widow, Mrs. J. H. Johnson
now resides, one and one-half miles east from the town of Hardman. His energies
were spent here in tilling the soil and stock raising until 1882, securing then
a postoffice, which he operated for several years, and laying out the town of
Hardman, where he embarked in a commercial life, operating as a general
merchant. In this business he continued with gratifying Financial success until
the time of his death, which occurred on August 30, 1893. He was laid to rest in
the Odd Fellow's cemetery in Hardman, thus ending the career on earth of a noble
Christian man, of whom it may be truthfully said, he sought ever to exemplify
the excellent virtues of his Lord and Saviour, that One Who went about doing
good. Mr. Hardman was a member of the Methodist church and a very active
supporter of his faith and the interests of the church. He was also a member of
the I.O.O.F. in Hardman and a public-spirited and broad-minded man, whose life
was a light to his fellows.
     The marriage of Mr. Hardman and Miss Nancy, daughter of William and
Elizabeth  Royse, natives of Indiana and Kentucky, respectively, was solemnized
on August 1, 1869, in the town of Weston. They became the parents of two
children, V. Ellen, wife of David H. Jenkins, of this county, and her twin
sister, who died in infancy.
     Mrs. Hardman's parents crossed the plains from Missouri to the Willamette
valley in 1864, remaining there until 1868, when they came to Weston, which then
contained but three houses. Mrs. Hardman has always been very active during her
career here, devoting much energy to the advancement of the church, the
Methodist, where she is one of the leading members, also has been an active
worker in the cause of education.  She has been called to discharge the arduous
duties of  the pioneer's wife. that often are much more burdensome than is
generally understood, entailing much hardship and self-denial, while she has
been the faithful "helpmeet" to her husbands in their labors. When she first
came to her present home her only companions were her husband and two sisters-in
law, the latter being the only while women she saw for a long-time. The nearest
neighbor was two and one-half miles distant and the next six miles away.  She
assisted in the organizing of the first Sunday school, being the leading spirit,
and later was instrumental in starting one in Hardman. She is highly respected
and esteemed by all the community, being a faithful and noble Christian
character.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2009 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.