Have you ever looked at some of the facts that you have entered for a person and questioned whether you had mixed up two people of the same name? That was my situation when I was researching descendants of William Gillies Harding, including his son, Abel Harding.
I had accepted an Ancestry hint indicating that this Abel Harding had served for the state of Wisconsin during the civil war. Knowing that there were other Hardings, including an Abel Harding, living in Wisconsin, I decided to do some research on those Harding.
The elder Abel Harding in Wisconsin is a brother to William Gillies Harding. Thus, their sons, both named Abel, are first cousins.
I was able to locate an obituary for Abel G. Harding of Racine, Wisconsin. This obituary not only proves that it was the Wisconsin cousin who served during the civil war, but will help me with future research of these two men and their families.
Abel G. Harding Called by Death
“Abel G. Harding Called by Death,” Racine Journal (Racine, Wisconsin), 17 September 1920, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 30 September 2021).
Well Known Old Time Lake Captain and Veteran of Civil War Passes Away Early Today
Capt. Abel G. Harding, aged 86, soldier of the Civil war, prominent retired lake captain, pioneer citizen and former member of the local police department, died about 9 o’clock this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clara Steffens, 1522 Phillips avenue.
He was born in New Brunswick and came to Racine when a lad 16 years of age and lived here to the time of his death. When a young man he was a sailor on the Great Lakes and because of his ability rapidly rose to the position of second mate, then first mate and captain and for many years commanded some of the largest sailing vessels plying between Lake Michigan ports and Buffalo, and other eastern ports of entry. He was considered a very careful navigator.
When the civil war broke out he enlisted in Company K. forty-ninth Wisconsin infantry, going in as a private and coming out as corporal. He was a brave and courageous soldier and took part in most of the battles of his regiment.
Capt. Harding was a member of the local police force for some years, and he was also superintendent of construction of sewers and other public work in Racine and other cities for the E. R. Harding company.
In the death of Capt. Harding another pioneer passes to the majority. He was a progressive citizen, honest and upright and always ready to assist in anything that was fair and honorable.
He is survived by three children — Edward R. Harding and Mrs. Clara Steffens, of this with, and William Harding, of Chicago, also six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
