Henry Harding

HARDING, HENRY W.; Farmer; born in the city of Peoria, February 25, 1853, the son of John J. Jane (Greenough) Harding. The father was born at Bratton Fleming, Devonshire, England, June 3, 1819, and the mother in Lancashire, England, July 14, 1830. The paternal grandparents, John and Mary (Gill) Harding, were also natives of England. The grandmother lived to be ninety years old. The maternal grandfather was James Greenough, of England, who came to America in 1842 and settled in Brimfield Township, Peoria County. John J. Harding left England for America, April 4, 1845. After landing at New York he came to Chicago by the water route, and then to Peoria by wagon, reaching here on June 24. For some time he was a clerk, in a commission house, but in 1861 he moved to Logan Township and settled on an "eighty" in Section 3. Later he bought an eighty in Section 32 in Rosefield Township, and subsequently one hundred and fifty acres in Sections 30 and 31, where he now resides. He was twice married. He married Sarah Tucker in England March 29, 1845. She died in Peoria in September, 1847. There is no living child of this marriage. For his second wife on January 9, 1850, he married Jane Greenough, the daughter of James and Jane (Pilkington) Greenough. Six sons were born of this marriage, all of whom are living: John J., Henry W., Robert G., Eleazer E., William W., and Adoniram J. Henry W. Harding has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land with a new house and new barns. He married Henrietta Pinkerton at the old Peoria House in Peoria, September 28, 1875. She was born in Peoria County September 30, 1856, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Mclntyre) Pinkerton. The father was born in Ohio, the mother in Canada, and they were married in Peoria County. The father had a store in Peoria which he sold and located on a farm in Logan Township, where he farmed and raised cattle. He died in 1873, the mother in 1899. Four children have been born to Henry W. Harding and his wife; Minnie B., born June 22, 1876; Eliza J., born May 2, 1879; Henry J., born November 8, 1884, and Ada H., born November 22, 1894. Mr. Harding is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a Republican, and has been Township Clerk four years, has been School Director some fifteen years, and is now Supervisor. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 46. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Peoria; of Memento Lodge. No. 42. Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Farmington; of Ferguson Lodge, No. 4732, Modern Woodmen of America at Hanna City, and of Hanna City Camp. No. 139, Knights of the Maccabees at Hanna City.