. Ben Hardin: his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. culture, and chosen intellectual pursuits, he wouldhave made his mark. *Mrs. Kate Riley. BIRTH AND YOUTHFUL SPRIGHTLINESS. 13 Benjamin Hardin (or Ben Hardin, as he was always called), sochristened for his father, and third in descent of the same Christianname, was born at Georges creek settlement, on the Monongahelariver, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 29, 1784. He was thesixth of the seven children of his parents. He early gave indicationof decided vigor of body and mind. Not unnaturally, he was a favorite in h
. Ben Hardin: his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. culture, and chosen intellectual pursuits, he wouldhave made his mark. *Mrs. Kate Riley. BIRTH AND YOUTHFUL SPRIGHTLINESS. 13 Benjamin Hardin (or Ben Hardin, as he was always called), sochristened for his father, and third in descent of the same Christianname, was born at Georges creek settlement, on the Monongahelariver, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 29, 1784. He was thesixth of the seven children of his parents. He early gave indicationof decided vigor of body and mind. Not unnaturally, he was a favorite in his immediate family, and hismost commonplace performances were deemed worthy of note. Whenthe emigrant boat that bore the Hardin family down the Mononga-hela, in March, 1788, started on its voyage to Kentucky, a marriedsister, who remained behind, remarked afterward that the last sightshe caught of little Ben, then four years of age, he was sitting on abarrel beating lustily on the head of it, unconscious and uncaringwhither he went or what the future had in store for lost in the Wilderness. On one occasion a young gentleman of a heroic turn of mindproposed to write Mr. Hardins biography, and asked for the incidentsof his early life. Mr. Hardin thereupon related an adventure of hischildhood for the benefit of his would be biographer. The latter,however, expressing the opinion that he could not make use of sucha trivial circumstance, further communication was declined. Therejected adventure was this: When about seven years of age (afterremoval to Kentucky), he was sent by his mother from his home in 14 BEN HARDIN. the wilderness on an errand to the house of one of the nearest neigh-bors, some few miles distant. Road there was none—merely a path,and that dim from infrequent use, yet distinct enough when closelyobserved. Having accomplished his mission, on his return, by inattention, hemissed his way. He soon found himself in the trackless woods withno conception of the di
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