HARDY, Chas & Martha (Layton) - 60
Source:
Mattoon Illinois Journal Gazette Wed 18 Feb 1931 Wed p 6
Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Hardy, for 59 years residents of this city passed their 60th
wedding anniversary at their home, 2304 Champaign avenue. A two-course dinner,
with relatives and friends of this city in attendance was held Sunday at their
home to observe the anniversary. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hardy are at present in fair
health. They have lived a retired life for many years. For over 20 years they
resided at 1421 DeWitt Avenue, moving a few years ago to their present
address. Mrs. Hardy, as Martha Layton
was born in Union County, Indiana Aug 6, 1853 a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George
Layton. When a few years of age, she and her parents moved to Putnam County,
Indiana. Later they moved to Hendrix (sic) County near Coatsville, Ind where
she lived during young womanhood. Mr. Hardy, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J.
Hardy, was born in Hillsboro, NH near Manchester on Dec 21, 1842 making him
over 88 years of age. On May 9, 1861 when the Civil War broke out, Mr. Hardy
enlisted in Co I of the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. During
the war he fought in both the first and second battles of Bull Run, the Siege
of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, 7 Day’s Fight, Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Swift Creek, Fair Oaks and the Fall of
Richmond. He figured also in several
other minor engagements. During his period of enlistment, Mr. Hardy was never
wounded fighting under such generals as McDowell, Prescott, McClellan, Grant
and Sheridan. He was however, captured on July 2, 1862 and was lodged in Libby
Prison in Richmond, Va. Mrs. Hardy’s brother was also a prisoner in that
dungeon. Mr. Hardy was “traded” by the confederates for another prisoner. He
then got back into battle in Amielton, Md and later finished his
enlistment. Returning to the north, Mr.
Hardy came to Indiana and after a short time met Miss Martha Layton in
Coatsville. They were married in that town on Feb 16, 1871. They first moved to
Indianapolis but after a short stay there, moved to Mattoon, where they have
since lived. In 1900, Mr. Hardy had a
position in the treasury department at Washington and worked there for four
years, returning to this city in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have five children,
17 grandchildren and one great grandchild. There are three daughters, Mrs. John
Williams of Bloomington, Mrs. Clara Parra of Buenos Aires and Mrs. John Beem of
this city. The sons are Charles N. Hardy
of Belen, NM and Clifford Hardy of Paducah, Ky.