More Information:

About John R. Hardy:

I have not seen any original records which show John's middle name. Several family sources give it as "Riley", and that is likely correct. Also, a Civil War veteran who served in the same company as John referred to a "Rile Hardy" in his recollections.
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Civil War Record

John R. Hardy was a veteran of the Civil War. From copies of John's Service Record and his Confederate Pension Application, and other historical sources on the war, I was able to piece together a portion of his Civil War experiences. John R. Hardy enlisted in the Confederate Army at Magnolia, Arkansas, originally as part of the "Invincible Guards of Magnolia", a company of volunteer infantry from Columbia County. This unit was disbanded in September, 1861, and the members returned home and joined regular army units. In October, 1861, John joined Company A, 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Johnson's). He fought in the battle at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, and was captured by Union forces on 16 Feb 1862 when Confederate forces surrendered. He was sent to a Union prison camp at Camp Butler, Illinois, and on 23 Sep 1862 he was paroled and sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi to be exchanged. At that point in the war, the two sides were exchanging prisoners of war.

After being paroled, the regiment was reorganized, and formed part of the Confederate force defending Port Hudson, on the Mississippi River in Louisiana. After a 48 day siege which began on 21 May, 1863, the garrison surrendered. John, rank shown as Corporal, was captured on 9 July, 1863, and paroled three days later. On his Confederate Pension Application, John stated that he suffered a gunshot wound to the back in this battle, the ball entering below his right shoulder blade and exiting near the point of the shoulder. Only 92 men out of the original 484 from the 15th Regiment survived the battle, with 81% becoming casualties. The record shows John on a list of Confederate soldiers sent from Port Hudson to New Orleans on the Steamer "Suffolk" on July 14, 1963 (this may be a mistake, since generally, only officers were sent to New Orleans). Possibly he was in a hospital in New Orleans. It is assumed that he was paroled shortly afterward, but the record does not show when.

After his release John returned to Arkansas, and on 1 Jan 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Hardy's Arkansas Regiment, at Camp Bragg, Arkansas. This unit was involved in several engagements in Louisiana and Arkansas, but John's participation is not know. It is believed that he served with this unit until the end of the war.
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Found in 1870 Census - Ark., Columbia Co., Buena Vista Township, Page 363, img. 75:
John R. Hardy 31 M Farmer Miss
Margaret J. Hardy 27 F Miss
William R. Hardy 11 M Ark (This is William Wheeless, the son of Margaret by a previous marriage.)
Martha E. Hardy 4 F Ark
Albert L. Hardy 2 M Ark (This is a mistake, name should have been Robert L.)
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Found in 1880 Census - Ark., Nevada Co., Georgia Township, Page 19 : John R., his wife Margaret, and seven children.
John R. Hardy 41
Margaret J. Hardy 37
Martha E. Hardy 14
Robert L. Hardy 12
John R. Hardy 9
Leona E. Hardy 8
Emma J. Hardy 5
Henry H. Hardy 3
George B. Hardy 1
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John was ordained a full Minister of the Gospel on July 6, 1888 at Macedonia Baptist Church in Nevada Co., AR. Records show he served as pastor at several churches in Nevada and Pike Counties. His name appears many times in the yearly bulletin of the Red River Baptist Association between 1898 and 1903, indicating he was very active in church affairs.
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U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971

Name: John R Hardy
Post Office Location: Arp, Pike, Arkansas
Appointment Date: 28 Aug 1890
Volume #: 56
Volume Year Range: 1881-1892
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In the 1900 Census, AR, Pike Co., Saline TS, p. 86A, sh.15, there is a very hard-to-read entry for a Hardie (or Hardy), John (possibly R.), which I think is the right person, although the age and birthplaces are wrong. He is living alone, and it appears to say that this person is a widower, which would be correct. This is the right area for John to have lived in, and there are no other John Hardy's there. It's possible that someone else may have answered the questions, and didn't know his exact age, etc.
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From "Pike County Marriages, 1895-1910"

Male Age Co. Female Age Co. Date
HARDY, J.R. 64 PIKE DUKE, LIZZIE 28 PIKE 06-17-1903
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Application for Confederate Pension

I have a copy of John's applications. John filed the original application, #9154, on Aug. 18, 1902. He stated that he served in Co. C, 15th Ark. Infantry until April, 1865. He described his gunshot wound received at Port Hudson in the war. Two fellow soldiers, H. C. Stewart and T. N. Jamison gave statements as proof of service. His pension of $25 was approved. He applied for increases in pension in 1908, 1910, and 1913.

His widow, Phoebie Elizabeth Hardy filed a Deceased Pensioner's Widow's Application on Aug. 17, 1921. On Feb. 17, 1932, she completed a questionaire required to continue receiving her pension.
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Found in 1910 Census, AR, Pike Co., Pike City Township, Page 280B.

Hardy, John R. Head 71 M2 6 MS TN MS
Hardy, Pheby E. Wife 34 M1 6 1 1 GA GA GA
Hardy, Alton A. Son 5 S AR MS GA

This record shows John R., his second wife, and son by his second wife. It shows that this is his second marriage, and he has been married for 6 years, and they have one child. It indicates that John R. was born in Mississippi, his father was born in Tennessee, and his mother was born in Mississippi. However, the 1880 Ark. Census indicates his father was born in VA, which I believe is correct.
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About Margaret Jane Greer:

I have been unable to determine for certain the parents of Margaret Greer. An obituary states that her birthplace was Claiborne Parish, LA, but all of the Census records show it as MS.

There is a Margaret Greer, age 10, in the 1850 Census, LA, Claiborne Parish, TS22, Ward 7, page 149. Living with John Wood, 65, Mary Wood, 60, and others. Margaret's birthplace is shown as MS. The age is wrong, Margaret Jane Greer would have been 8 at that time. This could be the future wife of John R. Hardy, unproven.

There is also a Jane Greer, age 4, born LA in the 1850 Census, LA, Claiborne Parish, TS24, Ward 1, Page 96. Living with parents Irah and Nancy Greer and siblings. This could be her but the age is wrong, She would have been 7 or 8 in 1850.
Irah Greer 34 KY Planter
Nancy Greer 29 KY
Rachel Greer 11 MS
Jane Greer 4 LA
Robt J Greer 2 LA
Curtis A Greer 4/12 LA

This family (w/o Jane but with a "Amin d e. (or J.) , age 14) was also found in 1860 Census, LA, Natchitoches, Co., Natchitoches P.O., p.12.
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Obituary from Red River Baptist Association, 1898:

"Sister M. J. Hardy, wife of Eld. J. R. Hardy, who was born in Cleburn Parish, La., August 14, 1842, aged 56 years, having died March 24, 1898, and at the time was a member of the Pike City Baptist Church."

(They probably meant Claiborne Parish instead of Cleburn Parish.)
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All census show Margaret's birthplace as Mississippi.
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