Berry C. Hardiman

BERRY C. HARDIMAN is a son of William J. Hardiman, and was born in Charlotte County, Va., June 5, 1839. The father came to Tennessee in the fall of 1856, by wagon, the journey lasting seven weeks. He was married to Mary A. Irvin, who was born in Virginia in 1816, and died in Giles County April 4, 1865. Our subject in youth received the advantages the common schools afforded. He served in the Fifty-third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, three years, and was captured at the fall of Fort Donelson, but escaped by swimming the Cumberland River. He then joined Wheeler's Cavalry, and after being exchanged at Vicksburg returned to his former regiment. He was at Port Hudson, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the almost continuous battle from Dalton to Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville, where he was wounded and disabled for further service until the close of the war. He was married, February 12, 1868, to Mattie M. Barnes, and seven children blessed their union, six of whom are living- William, Mary A., Ozellar, Mattie M., Bevy L., and Ethel B. Mrs. Hardiman was born in Giles County, April 9, 1845, the thirteenth of fifteen children born to Jeremiah and Marilla (Gooch) Barnes.    Mr. Hardiman was a Whig, but since the war has voted the Democratic ticket, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He owns 253 acres of good land, and is doing well financially. Uriah Hardiman, grandfather of our subject, served throughout the Revolutionary war.

From: Goodspeed's History of Giles County