Brigadier General Abner Clark Harding, (USA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abner_Clark_Harding

Abner Clark Harding (February 10, 1807 - July 19, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Biography

Born in East Hampton, Connecticut, Harding attended Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Oneida County, New York, about 1827. In 1838, he moved to Monmouth, Illinois, and continued practicing law. He served as member of the State constitutional convention in 1848, and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives the same year, serving until 1850.

During the Civil War, Harding enlisted as a private in the Union Army in the Eighty-third Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Later, he was commissioned as a colonel, and was promoted to brigadier general in 1863.

From 1865 to 1869, Harding served as a Republican member of Congress. During the 39th Congress, he served as Chairman of the Committee on the Militia. However, he was not a candidate for reelection in 1868 after serving in the 40th Congress, and later engaged in banking and railroad building. He died in Monmouth, Illinois on July 19, 1874, and was interred in Monmouth Cemetery.

Civil War Union Brigadier General, US Congressman. A native of East Hampton, Connecticut, he and his family migrated to Plainfield, New York where he spent his formative years. His adult life involved moves to various cities where he was involved in business ventures, banking and teaching. With his subsequent reading of the law and admittance to the bar, Monmouth, Illinois became his residence and place of law practice for the remainder of his life. He was an 1848 constituent of the Illinois Constitutional Convention and his interest in politics cumulated in his membership in the 1848 to 1850 Illinois Legislature. The decade preceding the war, he became heavily involved with the emerging railroad industry and promoted its expansion for the betterment of the state of Illinois. At the age of 55 years old and regardless of his social status, he enlisted as a Private in the 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry in August 1862. Soon thereafter, he was elevated in rank to Colonel and Commander of the 83rd and would lead the newly organized regiment to Cairo, Illinois, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, Tennessee. The latter place would be the highlight of his service to the Union cause. His command repulsed an 8,000 strong Confederate force led by two of the South’s leading Chieftain’s, Generals Joseph Wheeler and Nathan B. Forrest. The Confederate effort to regain that vital garrison was repulsed with heavy losses and was forced from the field. For his gallant conduct during this action, he was promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers to rank from March 13, 1863. His brief service in the Volunteer Army ended on June 3, 1863 with a forced resignation due to the deterioration of his eyesight and health. With his return to private life, he ran for and was elected to represent the citizens of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1865 to 1869. Retiring from public service, he once again became influential in the promotion and development of the Illinois railroad industry. Of generous nature, he freely gave monetary assistance for the advancement of education by providing an endowment for a professorship at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois. Surviving the war less than 10 years, he died a very wealthy and prosperous gentleman in 1874 in his adoptive city of Monmouth, Illinois. (bio by: [fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46536634" target="_blank Stonewall)] Maintained by: Find A Grave Record added: Oct 26, 2001

Find A Grave Memorial# 5894481

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 28 2017, 19:18:37 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 28 2017, 19:54:01 UTC
• Residence: Warren county, Warren, Illinois, United States - 1850
• Residence: Monmouth, Warren, Illinois, United States - 1870
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 19 2023, 15:34:51 UTC