More Information:

About John Hardy:

NOTE: Although I have searched extensively, I have been unable to determine the parents of either John Hardy or his wife Charlotte Bridges, both supposedly born in VA. I would appreciate any information which would help with this research.
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From Goodspeed's Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas; Columbia County, Arkansas, 1890; sketch of William A. Merritt, Page 497:

"Mrs. Merritt (Sarah J. Hardy) is a daughter of John R. and Charlotte (Bridges) Hardy, native Virginians who came to the state of Arkansas about 1838, being among the earliest settlers of this county. Mr. Hardy helped survey and lay off nearly all of the public roads and otherwise assisted in improving and building up the county. There were no flouring mills in the county at that time, but on nearly every settlers place could be found the old steel implements for making bread. His wife, who died in 1844, bore him eight children, five now living. Beverly (a resident of Texas), J.R. (residing in Howard County, Arkansas), Sarah J. (wife of Mr. Merritt), Caroline (wife of J.P. Thomas of this county) and Martha (wife of J. R. Winkley of Columbia County). After the death of this wife, Mr. Hardy formed an alliance with Elizabeth (Jones) Holloway and by this wife became the father of four children. W.E. and J.W. of this county only and being alive. Mr. Hardy passed from this life in 1859."
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COLUMBIA CO., ARK., FEDERAL LAND RECORDS

This file was compiled from the Bureau of Land Management
land records and includes Homestead and Cash Entry Patents
before 1908 for what is now Columbia Co., AR.

L Name F Name MI Sec No T R Acres Date Remarks

HARDY JOHN 19 18S 21W 40.19 1855/03/01
HARDY JOHN 19 18S 21W 40 1856/05/01
HARDY JOHN 19 18S 21W 80.73 1856/05/01
HARDY JOHN 30 18S 21W 40.11 1856/05/01
HARDY JOHN 30 18S 21W 40 1859/07/01

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Found in the 1850 Census, Ark., Lafayette Co., Clark Township, page 184a, image 35:

Hardy John 33 M Farmer VA
Hardy Elizabeth 30 F Ala
Hardy Beverly D. 16 M Farmer Tenn
Hardy Molias 13 M Tenn
Hardy John R. 11 M Miss
Hardy Jessy 9 M Miss
Hardy Sarah J. C. 8 F Miss
Hardy Susan C. 4 F Ark
Hardy Martha H. 1 F Ark

Census taken on 30 Nov. 1850.
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Found in the 1860 Arkansas Mortality Schedule:

Hardy, John Columbia Co., Age 46, Male, Nov., BP Va., Pneumonia
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1854 Tax List, Columbia County: Hardy, John - 1 Poll, 80 A.
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Columbia County Wills and Administrations:
John Hardy, 1859
Elizabeth Hardy, 1872
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In the 1880 Arkansas Census, John R., his son, gave his father's birthplace as Virginia.

John's birthplace was given as Tennessee on the 1910 Pike Co. Arkansas Census record for his son John R. Hardy, I think this was in error.
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Some of the info on John Hardy and family obtained from Mormon site, http://www.familysearch.org/
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Descendants of John Hardy

About Elizabeth R. Jones:

Found in 1860 Census - Arkansas, Columbia Co., Magnolia Township, Page/Image 121:
Elizabeth Hardy 38 Farming Ala.
Caroline Hardy 14 Ark.
Martha Hardy 12 Ark.
William Hardy 9 Ark.
James Hardy 7 Ark.
Charlotte Hardy 3 Ark.

Census taken 30 August 1860.
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Found in 1870 Census - Arkansas, Columbia Co., Buena Vista Township, Page 366/Image 81:
Elizabeth, 48, sons William, 18, and James, 16. Charlotte not present, she had presumably died. Also in the household: Elizabeth Lindsey, 23, MS; Nancy Lindsey, 16, AR; Thomas Lindsey, 10, TX. Relationship of Elizabeth to the Lindseys is unknown.
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According to the Goodspeed article from 1890 referred to in John Hardy's notes, John and Elizabeth had four children, two of which were living at that time. That would indicate there was one other child (besides Charlotte) who died young for whom no record has been found.
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About Charlotte C. Hardy:

Only record, 1860 Census; not shown in 1870 Census, must have died prior to this.