A History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 
800 Biographical Sketches, J. H. Spencer, Manuscript Revised and 
Corrected by Mrs. Burilla B. Spencer, In Two Volumes.  Printed For the 
Author.  1886.  Republished By Church History Research & Archives 1976 
Lafayette, Tennessee. Vol. 2, pp 132-134 [Madison County]

DAVID HARDISTY was a preacher of more than ordinary ability, was better 
educated that most of his contemporaries in the Baptist ministry, and 
was a popular and eloquent pulpit orator.  He was born in the State of 
Delaware, about A. D., 1773.  At an early age he joined the Methodists, 
and soon became a traveling preacher among them.  About the beginning of 
the present century, he was transferred to Kentucky.  A few years after 
his removal to this State, his wife died, and, in 1808, he married Mrs. 
Elizabeth Hutchens, daughter of Leonard Taylor, of Madison county.  For 
marrying "an unawakened person," he was silenced from preaching, for a 
term of six months.  He devoted his time to studying the Bible, and 
comparing with its teachings, the doctrine and discipline of his church.  
About the time he should have been restored to the functions of his 
office in the Methodist church, he and his wife united with the Baptist 
church at Stone meeting-house (Tates Creek), in Madison county.  They 
were baptized by Thomas German.
	Mr. Hardisty was soon ordained, and entered the pulpit as a 
Baptist minister.  After preaching a few years, he unfortunately fell 
heir to a small estate.  Having been quite poor, and being encumbered 
with a large family of children, he became ambitious to acquire 
property.  Mistaking himself for a business man, he moved to Lexington, 
and entered into a mercantile establishment.  His business did not 
prosper, and soon became embarrassed.  Meanwhile, he neglected his 
religious duties.  He soon contracted the habit of drinking too freely, 
and was excluded from the church.  He struggled, for a time, with fickle 
fortune, but he finally became bankrupt.  Like the Prodigal Son, he now 
came to himself, repented of his sins, and was restored to the church 
and to the ministry.
	About the year 1825, he moved to Washington county, and became a 
member of the Springield church.  He was pastor of this church, as well 
as that of Bethlehem, and, perhaps, two others.  He was very popular 
among the churches, and continued to preach, with their warm approval, 
till 1834, when Springfield church was dropped from the Association, on 
account of its having adopted Campbellism.  Mr. Hardisty, though he 
professed not to have adopted that system himself, was, like poor Tray, 
found in bad company, and had to suffer the consequences.  However, the 
Association, in 1838, advised that any one of her churches might restore 
him.  Accordingly, he was received into Bethlehem church, and became its 
pastor.  He continued to serve this and some of its neighboring 
churches, till he became too feeble and blind to labor.  In 1851, he 
lost his eyesight entirely.  A few months before his death, he was 
brought to Bethlehem church, where he peached for the last time, to a 
large and tearful assembly.  He died at his home in Perryville, about 
1855.

Hardisty Hutchens Taylor German
=
DE Lexington-Fayette-KY Washington-KY Perryville-Boyle-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/madison/hardisty.d.txt