WILLIAM HARDING, Sr.
From The Bryan Press, July 14, 1892, page 2 and
The Bryan Democrat, July 14, 1892, page 8.
HARDING - On Thursday, July 7th., at the age of 83 years, William HARDING, SR. Wm. HARDING, Sr., was born in Padbury, Buckinghamshire, England, April 5th., 1809. He sailed from Liverpool, March 30th, 1832, and arrived in New York Harbor, May 1st.
On January 8th, 1834, at Springfield, Onida county, N. Y., he united in marriage with Miss Matilda BAYLIS, a native of Finmore, Oxfordshire, England. She bore him nine children, four of which died in early childhood and one, Mrs. Charlotte PERKINS, died in Kansas last fall. Three sons, Geo. W., of Bryan, William, od Defiance, and Joseph, of Kansas, and one daughter, Mrs. Noah DALLY, of Bryan, and B. F. REPP, to whom he was a father since his eighth year, yet survive to mourn his loss and cherish his memory. His devoted wife died about twenty years ago, and he married Mrs. Maria (FREEMAN) BAKER, who also preceded him into the "land of the majority."
At the residence of his son, George, on East Butler st., after an illness of but eight days, in the presence of his sons George and William, and daughter Mrs. DALLY, and others, on last Thursday evening, he peacefully departed for the land of eternal youth. Thus after 83 years, 3 months and 2 days, Father HARDING is no more in the flesh.
For the past 55 years he has been a citizen of Ohio. The first twenty-six years of this he lived in Knox and Licking counties and the last twenty-nine in Williams county, coming here on July 10th, 1863 - twenty-nine years ago to the day of his funeral. The only public office he ever held was township trustee for one term, soon after coming to this county. The funeral services were held on last Sunday at 3pm., in the English Lutheran church, of which he was the oldest and one of the most esteemed members.
We wish through your paper, to thank our neighbors and friends who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of our father. - G. W. HARDING and Family.