Histories

Abner Field Hardin applied for a homestead on or about April 19, 1879. He settled on the 160 acres of property on May 1, 1879 on the same day established residence.

By June 15, 1888 he had built a 16’ X 24’ Sod house, A framed 16’ X 24’ house, a stable, sheds, Hen house, a well, and a root cellar. He had 30 acres in cultivation

The documents show Abner claimed 6 years 11 months 23 days of residency.

This calculates to living there starting June 23, 1881.

By June 15, 1888 the document states he had a wife and three children.

Abner was married 15 Sep 1881 his first child, Clara Hardin was born December 26, 1882, the second child was Elmer Evan Hardin, born September 19, 1884 and the third child was Laura Lentha Hardin born March 12, 1886. There is no doubt all three of these children were born on the homestead. Abner’s homestead was virtually in the middle of nowhere. The nearest town was Cambridge, 5 miles away in Furnas County, Nebraska.

Witnesses to prove continuous residency

James Rowe was James K Polk Rowe b. NOV 1844 married to Margaret R Caldwell b. DEC 1844 • Ohio

James Caldwell

Hiram Walton

E.T. Ellis

We know from the documents Abner first built a 16 foot by 20 foot sod house and later built a 16 foot by 20 foot frame house. It is reasonable to assume he and his family would not have continued to live in the sod house after the frame house was completed.

The photo below is the Sod house of Abner Field Hardin and Lentha Elvira Danielson. Note what appears to be a baby carriage at the right side of the house. It also appears Lentha is holding what appears to be a baby. Based on this I estimate this photo was taken between the birth of daughter Clara E Hardin December 26, 1882 and his son Elmer Evan Hardin September 19, 1884.

For many years, the birth location for Abner and Lentha Hardin’s children has been given as Cambridge, Furnas County, Nebraska. This was due to Cambridge being the nearest populated town 5 miles north east of their homestead. However Cambridge was not where they were born and was not even the same County in which they were born. The location even today is remote and can only be identified by Latitude: 40°14'27.73"N Longitude: 100°13'40.79"W.

In 1886 Sylvanus B. Rowe born December of 1840 brother of James Rowe also homesteaded near Abner. Abner was a witness to his continuous residency.

The homestead documents state Abner was absent for a period of four months from the homestead. It appears this was a period in which he was in Iowa and married most likely married Lintha Elvira Danielson

Lintha Elvira Danielson was born in Calhoun, Harrison, Iowa January 27, 1857 Abner was born in Calhoun, Harrison, Iowa March 12, 1855. There is no question these two knew each other even as children. Calhoun, Harrison County was a very small village more importantly both their fathers served in the   Regiment and same company during the Civil War, Co ‘H’ 15th Infantry. Also in the same unit was Lintha’s uncle.

Abner and Lintha married September 15, 1881 in Lewis, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It is unknown why the location of Lewis was made but it can be speculated they may have chosen to take the Oregon Trail once married to make their way to their homestead and Lewis was a good place to cross the Missouri River. Their trip from Calhoun, Harrison County, Iowa to Lewis, Pottawattamie County, Iowa would have been about 35 to 40 miles. They would then cross the Missouri River then 250 to 300 miles to their homestead. A trip like this via covered wagon would have taken about a month and a half. We know from the homestead documents Abner was absent from his property for about 4 months around 1881.

It appears Abner and his family left Nebraska and were in California by 1905, He is listed in a 1905 city directory for Pomona, California. Living in the same home his son Elmer Evan Hardin, his daughter Laura Lentha Hardin. Living next door is his mother, Lentha Ames Boynton, listed as a widow.

Abner’s oldest daughter, Clara was married in 1905 in California to George L Baker Their daughter Ada was born in Pomona March 19, 1906.

Abner remained in Pomona till his passing November 1, 1928. Abner’s wife, Lintha Elvira Danielson, remained in Pomona or the Pomona area until her death in 1937.