John Hardin, merchant and stock dealer, was born north of Greeneville, October 4, 1839, the son of Cornelius and Annie (Cox) Hardin, the former born in 1809; John was the name of the next two direct ancestors. The great-grandfather was killed in a charge against the Indians near the site of Chattanooga. He was a captain, and made the charge against his own judgment, knowing it was certain death. His dying message to his wife was that their unborn child might be given his name, and that boy became one of the pioneers of Greene County, and served in the war of 1812. He died, in 1845, a prominent man. The father, a farmer and stock dealer, died August 18, 1873, esteemed by all. The mother, a daughter of Eliacom Cox, a native and leading citizen of Greene County, was born in 1813, north of Greeneville, near where she now lives. She is a Methodist. Our subject was educated at Greeneville Academy, and farmed until April, 1863, when he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Federal Infantry. In the fall he was captured at McMinnville, but was paroled at once. He joined his command at Knoxville, and served until August 18,1865. He has since been farming and stock dealing with success. The firm of Trim & Hardin, merchants, began in 1887. July 4, 1861, he married Malinda, a daughter of John Kidwell, and born near Greeneville in 1841. Their children were Robert A., born May 17, 1862; Charles, born July 17, 1866; Cornelius, born October 14, 1871; John K., born October 6, 1875, and Lillian, born January 23, 1883, deceased November 3, 1886. He and his wife are Methodists.
