Ten miles southeast from Peck is the fine estate of Mr. Hardman. When he took this land under the homestead right, in February 1896, the country was very different in its appearance from the present time, as is also his farm. Then no roads crossed the country, nor fences, no families, except two in remote places, and everything was wild as from the hands of nature. Mr. Hardman displayed good judgment in selecting a fine piece of land and in April following his location; his family came to take up the pioneer’s life with him. They were victims of the panic in the years just previous to that and so came with very little of this world’s goods. At once they set to labor and so well have they wrought that now the farm is one of the finest about. Four hundred bearing trees, the farm is all fenced, good buildings are in evidence and the annual returns of bounteous crops are the due reward of the industry and thrift bestowed.
A more detailed account of Mr. Hardman’s life is desirable. We note that he was born in Davis County, Iowa, on February 18, 1860, being the son of George and Jane (Calvert) Hardman, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New Brunswick. They were married in Iowa and the father died in i860. In 1864, with his mother and her parents, our subject was brought across the plains to Walla Walla. The trip was made by ox teams and consumed six months.
Albert lived on a farm near Walla Walla with his mother until he was seventeen and then went to Adams, in Umatilla County, and settled on lieu land. There, on October 13, 1881, Mr. Hardman married Miss Lucy, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Kees) Gallaher. Mr. Gallaher came across the plains in 1848 to western Oregon, from Iowa. His wife came with her parents from Missouri and they were married in Linn County, Oregon: later they removed to Umatilla County, where Mrs. Hardman was born December 7, 1864. In 1889 Mr. Hardman brought his family to Fairfield, Washington, where he farmed until the time when he came to the reservation, as mentioned above. The mother of Mr. Hardman is now living in Adams, Umatilla County. Mrs. Hardman’s parents are living near Kamiah. To Mr. and Mrs. Hardman there have been born four children, Royden L., born June 19, 1883; Carroll P., born July 23, 1885; William A., born November 15, 1887; and Owen M., born March 21, 1890. M
r. Hardman and his faithful wife are devout members of the United Brethren church and are worthy citizens who exert a good influence in the community where they are highly respected.
Source: An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho; Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903