Rev. William B. J. Hardman

William B. J. Hardman, of Harmony Grove, Ga., was born in Oglethorpe County, Ga., November 23, 1822, and is a son of Elbert and Lottie (Barnett) Hardman. Elbert Hardman was also a native of Oglethorpe County, Ga., and was born November 15, 1793, was a planter and merchant and died in May, 1884. He was a son of William J., who was born in Virginia, and he a son of Charles, a native of England. Mrs. Lottie Hardman was born in Madison County, Fa., August 1, 1801 and died in January, 1886. She was a daughter of Benjamin Barnett, who was born in North Carolina, but who, when a child, was taken to Georgia by his parents, who settled in Madison County. He was a son of William Barnett. His great-grandmother was Eufan Tate. She married John Gast.

William B. J. Hardman received a good preparatory education in his native county and then studied under Dr. Willis Willingham. After the usual course of reading under this preceptor he attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in March, 1850. He settled at Harmony Grove and practiced his profession until 1877, when he felt himself to be called to another sphere of usefulness and has since devoted himself to the Baptist ministry, and has had the charge of four churches – and the same four – ever since. He has also served as a moderator of the Sarepta Association eleven years in succession.

In January, 1851, Dr. Hardman married Miss E. S. Colquitt, daughter of Henry and Mildred (Pinson) Colquitt, of Georgia; and of the children that have blessed this union, eight are living, viz.: Henry E., L. G., F. Ethleen, Robert L., W. B. J., Jr., T. C., J. B., and M. E.

Henry Colquitt, the father of Mrs. Hardman, was born in Oglethorpe County, and was a son of Robert Colquitt. Her great-grandfather was a native of England. The Rev. Mr. Hardman weighs one hundred and sixty pounds and measures five feet, eleven inches in height; his wife, Mrs. E. S. Hardman, is five feet, seven inches high, and weighs one hundred and eighty pounds.

BIOGRAPHICAL SOUVENIR OF THE STATES OF GEORGIA & FLORIDA
Containing biographical sketches of the representative public
& many early settled families in these states
F.A. Battey & Company, 1889

Contributed by Jeanne Arguelles