Today’s story will be a continuation of the Hardy/Hardee family which was introduced in last week’s column. The family migrated from Georgia to Monroe County, Ala., during the early 1800s, and then spread to Conecuh and Covington Counties as well as other areas. This particular Hardy/Hardee family lineage immigrated from England and Wales and settled first in Virginia and North Carolina.

In the previous column, the Hardee lineage was brought down to the generation of John Ziba Hardee (1782-1862) and his two wives, Margaret “Peggy” (Mitchell) and Tabitha (Brooks). John and his first wife had two sons and a daughter: Joel, b. 1814, d. 1897, m. (1) 1835 Isabella Elizabeth Coker (2) 1850s Elizabeth Ann Devane; John, b. ca 1815, m. Subbetha Brooks; and Elaphare Susan Hardee Fore. It is believed the young family moved to Alabama during the Winter of 1817 and settled in Monroe County. Some years later they moved north into Coosa County when land was made available. The two sons, Joel and John later returned to Monroe County. In later years John Ziba and most of his family moved on to Van Zandt County, Tex., where he lived out his life, and most of the family made the area their permanent home.

John Ziba Hardee and his second wife, Tabitha Brooks, were the parents of the following children: Sarah Jane, b. 1830; Martha Ellender “Ellen,” b. 1834, d. 1914; James Edward, b, 1835, d. 1903; William Thomas, b. 1836, d. 1893: Samuel B., b. 1840, d. during WBTS before 1865; Bryant Stidwell, b. 1840, d. 1922; Thomas, b. 1844; Sibatha Caroline, b. 1845, d. 1917; Julia Ann, b. 1848; Pinkney Taylor, b. 1851, d. 1917, m. 1892 Mary Elizabeth Bryant (1851-1932); and Missouri Elizabeth, b. 1854, d. 1947.

John Ziba’s son, Bryant Stidwell, is believed to be the B.S. Hardee who served in the Confederate Army as a private in Company A, 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment. There was a note of the son, Samuel B. Hardee, dying during the war before 1865, but no record was found of his rendering service.

John Ziba’s oldest son, Joel Hardee, was born in 1814 and moved with his parents to Monroe County, Ala., during the Winter of 1817. Sometime during the 1830s, the family moved to Coosa County, Ala., seeking better farming land; however, some years later, Joel and his brother, John, returned to Monroe to make their homes. Joel has been described as a very large man, weighing 300 pounds and standing over six feet, six inches tall. He became prominent in the area and was elected to serve as tax collector for Monroe County for a time. He also became a Justice of the Peace and served in that role for more than 50 years. He was active in the Home Guards during the War for Southern Independence as a member of Dailey’s Company, Monroe County Militia. He was a dedicated member of the Methodist Church.

Joel Hardee was married twice, first in 1835 to Isabelle Elizabeth Coker. They were the parents of the following six children: Nathan Ziba “Dick,” b. 1836, d. 1924, m. 1858 Mary Susan Mixon; Cynthia Susan, b. 1838, d. 1910, m. 1857 Asbury D. Sirmon (1838-1862); Amanda J., b. 1840, m. William H. Patrick (1867-1943); James Marion “Jim,” b. 1842, d. 1919, m. 1867 Mary Elizabeth Sirmon (1849-1937); Mary Isabel, b. 1844, d. 1910, m. 1873 James T. Sirmon (1851-1911) and John Hamilton “Hamp,” b. 1846, d. 1938, m. 1869 Frances Susan Brown (1852-1918).

Joel Hardee was next married to Elizabeth Ann Devane (1827-1865). They became the parents of three children: Margaret Elizabeth, b. 1854, m. B.T. Heydon; William, b. 1857, d. 1865; and Sarah, b. 1859, d. 1865.

John Ziba’s second son, John Hardee, was born circa 1815 in Georgia before the family moved to Monroe County, Ala. In 1850, John was a farmer in Monroe County, and his wife’s name was Subbetha. They were both listed as being 34 years of age with no one else in the household. In 1860, they were both 44 and residing in the Burnt Corn community. In 1870, John was 54, and his wife was listed as Libba at 53 years of age. Also, in the household was another female, Milley Hardee, who was 65. No children were found for this couple.

Joel Hardee’s oldest son, Nathan Ziba Hardee, was born in 1835 and was married in 1858 to Mary Susan Mixon. They were the parents of the following 14 children: Phariba, b. 1859, d. 1932, m. 1883 John Allen Garrett (1862-1929); James M, b. 1860, d. 1861; Aros Columbus, b. 1861, d. 1941, m. 1884 Carlie Almira Middleton (1867-1933); Joel Lee, b. 1864, d. 1945, m. 1893 Louise Saphronie ?; George, b. 1866, d. 1932, m. (1) Mamie Mims (2) Mattie Snowden; Mary Virginia, b. 1867, d. 1914, m. Calloway D. Mixon; Isabella, b. 1869, d. 1949; Albert Sidney, b. 1871, d. 1952, m. Mary Middleton; Susan J., b. 1873, d. 1915, m. 1899 Daniel Malachi “Bud” McNeil; Margaret, b. ca 1875, m. Andrew Smith; Marion Fletcher, b. 1876, d. 1899; John Wesley, b. 1878, d. 1966, m. (1) 1907 Madie Virginia Brooks (1890-1924) (2) ca 1929 Cora May Mooney; Ina Virginia, , b. 1880, d. 1966, m. 1900 H. Dennis Smith (1879-1953); and Jehu Scott “Buster,” b. 1883, d. 1951, m. Mattie Z. Andrews.

Joel Hardee’s oldest daughter, Cynthia Susan Hardee, was married to Asbury Daniel Sirmon. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth Virginia “Bettie,” b. 1858, d. 1895, m. Charles Mallard Williams (1855-1902); Isabella Lucretia, b. 1860, d. 1884, m. Thomas Charles Williamson (1855-1916); and Matilda A., b. 1861, d. 1885, m. John Cameron Williamson.

Joel’s daughter, Amanda Hardee, was married in 1866 to William Hiram Patrick, and they were the parents of one daughter, Emma Lee, b. 1867, d. 1943, m. 1885 John Estell Cobb (1868-1939).

Joel’s son, James Marion Hardee, was married to Mary Elizabeth Sirmon. They made their home in Conecuh County, Ala., but they moved to Louisiana in later years. They were the parents of the following children: John Hennings, b. 1868, d. 1941, m. 1890 Anna Elizabeth Smith; Joel Richard, b. 1871, d. 1941, m. 1924 Jeanette Uhl; Daniel Asbury “Crocket,” b. 1872, d. 1949, m. 1911 Ida Mae Evans (1885-1966); Luther Emery, b. 1875, d. 1938, m. (1) 1904 Lillie Adeline Hair (2) Lillie Mae Hundley (1895-1968); Laura, b. ca 1878; Sallie, b. 1880, d. 1959, m. 1903 Dr. Charles Gulatt Pattison (1875-1955); Mettie Floy, b. 1882, d. 1937, m. 1904 Dr. Walter Morton Jackson (1880-1925); Sam Jones, b. 1885, d. 1975, m. 1914 Maude Tayler (1889-1980); Maude Matilda, b. 1887, d. 1983, m. Richard Thomas “Tom” Sirmon (1861-1944); and Alice Elizabeth “Bessie,” b. 1892, d. 1977, m. 1914 Isaac Edwin “Ed” Baer (1889-1977).

Joel’s daughter, Mary Isabel Hardee, was married to James Tillman Sirmon, and they later made their home in Louisiana. They were the parents of the following children: Joel Wilson, b. 1873, d. 1910 ,m. 1907 Anna Josephine Smith (1883-1964; Lucy Virginia, b. 1874, d. 1952; unnamed son, b. 1877, d. 1878; Rufus E., b. 1878, d. 1899; George Ellis, b. 1881, d. 1971; and Clara Lee, b. 1885, d. 1886.

Joel’s son, John Hamilton “Hamp” Hardee, was married to Frances S. Brown, and they began their marriage in Monroe County, but soon moved to Blount County, Ala. Circa 1883, the family moved to Sabine Parish, La., where the family finally settled. They were the parents of the following children: Robert, b. 1870, d. 1882; James F., b. 1872, d. 1882; Thomas W., b. 1875, d. 1944, m. 1904 A. Alberta Pullen (1876-1942); Emma L., b. 1877, d. 1908, m. William B. Barr (1871-1931); Virginia, b. 1880, d. 1940, m. Fred Horace Walker (1877-1968); Emmett H., b. 1882, d. 1947, m. Ella Morgan (1897-1973); L. Lou, b. 1884, d. 1960, m. James Beard Rembert (1874-1935); Conrad Cooper., b. 1886, d. 1966, m. Eugenia Gibbs (1891-1964); Mary Eula, b. 1889, d. 1913, m. W.T. Moore; Blanche, b. 1891, d. 1969, m. John Floyd Knott; Clara, b. 1894, m. Ray Vernon Thomas (1882-1949); and Nina Estelle, b. 1896, d. 1977, m. Thomas Lee Dykes (1892-1973).

No data were found on Joel’s youngest three children who were by his second wife. However, there is considerable genealogy available on this Hardee family, especially in the book, The Known Descendants of John Ziba Hardee (1782-1862) and Nathan Sirmon (1786-1850) of Conecuh county, Alabama and Monroe County, Alabama. This book along with Ancestry.com served as the source for today’s family story.

Anyone who might discover an error in the above is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.