Individual Details

Breckinridge County Deed Book B, p.282 15 April 1807. Power of Attorney from Benjamin Hardin Sr and Sarah his wife of Washington County to Benjamin Hardin Jr to dispose of land in Breckinridge County. Recorded 20 Apr 1807.
This is Congressman Ben Hardin.

Fort Wayne Times and Peoples Press, Ft. Wayne, IN, 29 Sep 1852
Kentucky papers state that the Hon. Ben Hardin is lying at the point of death. Mr. Hardin has been a prominent man in Kentucky for more than a third of a century. He was in Congress for many years, where he acquired considerable reputation. He was a ready and effective speaker but he lacked sensibility and bon hommie, and his manners were rough and rude. John Randolph likened him to a "jack-knife, sharpened on a brickbat.". He was disagreeable and over bearing in the House, and took delight in embarrassing and annoying young members, whom he thought it safe to domineer over. Occasionally he was unfortunate in his assaults, and the withering rebuke administered to him by Mr. Cushing in the early stage of that gentleman's Congressional career, was long remembered in Washington. Mr. II held the office of Secretary of State in Kentucky a few years since. - Buff. Com. Adv.

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
HARDIN, Benjamin, (cousin of Martin Davis Hardin), a Representative from Kentucky; born at the Georges Creek settlement on the Monongahela River, Westmoreland County, Pa., February 29, 1784; moved with his parents to Washington County, Ky., in 1788; attended the schools of Nelson and Washington Counties, Ky.; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1806 and commenced practice in Elizabethtown and Bardstown, Nelson County, Ky.; settled in Bardstown in 1808; member of the State house of representatives in 1810, 1811, 1824, and 1825; served in the State senate 1828-1832; elected as a Republican to the Fourteenth Congress (March 4, 1815-March 3, 1817); reelected as a Republican to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses (March 4, 1819-March 3, 1823); elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1833-March 3, 1837); secretary of state of Kentucky 1844-1847; member of the State constitutional convention in 1849; died in Bardstown, Ky., September 24, 1852; interment in the family burying ground near Springfield, Ky. (Washington Co KY)

Republican, Wilmington
Friday Morning Edition, 1 Oct 1852
Mr. Ben Harden died at his residence in Bardstown, Kentucky, on Friday last. He has for many years occupied a prominent position in State and National affairs.

Toledo (Ohio) Blade, Thursday, Apr 13. 1916
p.5 "Questions and Answers"
Ben Hardin
Will you please give a sketch of the life of Ben Hardin in these columns?
I.D.I., Kelseyville, Cal.
Ben Hardin, lawyer and legislator was born in Pennsylvania on February 29, 1784 and died at Bardstown, Ky., on September 24, 1952. Young Hardin was educated in the frontier schools of Kentucky where his parents had moved. He studied law under his cousin, Martin D. Hardin, of Richmond, Ky., and continued with Felix Grundy of Bardstown. He was admitted to be the bar in 1806. During his career Hardin attained the reputation of being one of the ablest lawyers west of the Alleghanies in all branches of practice. Previous to becoming representative in congress in 1815, Hardin was a member of the Kentucky state legislature and served as presidential elector on the Whig ticket. He was a member of the 16th, 23rd and 24tth congresses.
In 1844 he was appointed secretary of state in Kentucky, resigning three years later. In 1849 he was a member of the Kentucky constitutional convention, and originated a number of new articles. In 1806 Hardin was married to Elizabeth Barbour of Washington county, Kentucky.

Birth	29 Feb 1784
Marriage	31 Mar 1807	Washington County, Kentucky - Elizabeth Pendleton Barbour
Death	24 Sep 1852	Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky

Spouse	Elizabeth Pendleton Barbour (1788 - 1852)
Child	Lucinda Barbour Hardin ( - )

Father	Benjamin Hardin (1739 - 1816)
Mother	Sarah Ellen Hardin (1743 - 1826)
Sibling	Catherine "Kate" Hardin (1766 - 1839)
Sibling	Lydia Hardin (1768 - )
Sibling	Sarah Hardin (1770 - )
Sibling	Rosannah Hardin (1773 - )
Sibling	Mary "Polly" Hardin (1775 - )
Sibling	Cassandra Hardin (1778 - 1799)
Sibling	Martin L. Hardin (1780 - 1848)
Sibling	James Hardin (1782 - 1782)
Sibling	Warren Hardin (1786 - 1866)