Harding - William Simpson
William Simpson Harding
Source: Crawfordsville Journal, Monday, January 7, 1952
William Simpson Harding, 82, a pioneer designer of county and state highways, who served 16 times as Montgomery county surveyor, died Saturday noon at his home, 105 Wallace avenue. He had been ill since last September 27, when he fell at his home after a group of friends had honored him on his 45th wedding anniversary. Born May 7, 1869, at the old Harding farm, two miles south of here where he spent his boyhood, Mr. Harding was the son of John A. and Elizabeth Farrow Harding. His father was a native of Kentucky, while his mother was born in Putnam county. His birthplace is the present Leslie F. Widener farm. One of the first Methodist churches in west-central Indiana was built by Mr. Harding's great-great-grandfather, James I. Nelson. The church occupied a site at the northwest corner of what is now U.S. 36 and State Road 43, 19 miles south of here. Mr. Harding who probably had as wide acquaintance in Montgomery county as any Crawfordsville resident, began his career as a public official in 1896 when he was appointed deputy surveyor of Montgomery county. After four years in this capacity, he became an engineering consultant for the firm then engaged in building the Crawford hotel. Levels used during the construction of the hotel were the work of Mr. Harding. Mr. Harding first became Montgomery county surveyor at the turn of the century. A few years later he was employed by the state to lay out highways in west-central Indiana. It was during this period that several of the present state highways in this section were surveyed by Mr. Harding. Among the principal routes he laid but were State Road 43 from Lafayette to Spencer; State Road 32 from Westfield to the Illinois line and U.S. 36 from State Road 43 west to the Illinois line. Except for the slight variations made necessary for modern-day methods of transportation each of these highways follow closely the routes laid out by Mr. Harding while he was a state engineer. In addition to serving as county surveyor, deputy county surveyor and state highway engineer, Mr. Harding also was a former city engineer. He was appointed to this post by Dumont Kennedy, when he became mayor in 1926. He served until 1930 when he was succeeded as city engineer by Lex B. Clore, appointed by Dr. Thomas L. Cooksey in his initial term as mayor. Mr. Harding was then re-appointed city engineer by Dr. Bert E. May, when he became Mayor in 1934 and served until 1938. As city engineer Mr. Harding laid out most of the driveways now used in Milligan park. Mr. Harding was a member of the First Methodist church and Montgomery lodge No. 50. F and A.M. He also was trustee of the Masonic cemetery for 35 years. He attended Wabash college with the class of 1892. Mr. Harding had served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the First Methodist church for the past 25 years or more. Mr. Harding was married September 22, 1906, to Maude McIntosh who survives. Also surviving is a cousin, Chase Harding, a prominent Crawfordsville attorney. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Miss Mary Harding and Miss Addie Harding. Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Bright funeral home, with burial at the Masonic cemetery. Rev. Buel E. Horn, pastor of the First Methodist church, will be the officiating minister. Friends may call at the funeral home.
File Created: 3 September 2010 -- thanks, Kim