WILLIAM H. HARDIN, one of the leading and wealthy men of McLean County, was born January 4, 1832, in Jefferson County, Ky., now Oldham County, and is a son of William J. and Emily (Brown) Hardin, of Oldham County; the former was a son of Henry and Mary (Smith) Hardin. The father of our subject, William J. Hardin, settled in McLean County in 1847, where subject was brought up on a farm, and received a common school education. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in the mining and lumbering business for four years, and then he returned to Kentucky and engaged in farming, which he has carried on ever since with good success. In 1876 he commenced merchandising and dealing in leaf tobacco in Beach Grove, in which he has also been successful. He owns six farms in McLean and Webster Counties, and operates two stores in Beach Grove. He was captain of the first company organized in this community for the protection of their homes during the Rebellion. He was married February 10, 1858, to Mattie J. Boston, of Jefferson County, a daughter of William and Virginia (Oglesby) Boston. They have had born to them eight children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Edward E., Katie, William J., Emma V., Marcus R., Anna M. and Edith; Frances M. is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hardin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Mason; was master of the Grange; was elected justice of the peace in 1863; re-elected in 1867, and elected police judge of Beach Grove 1882, for one term. He cast his first presidential vote for Fillmore in 1856, and has voted the Democratic ticket since 1864.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mclean/hardin.wh.txt

Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885, McLean Co.