John J. Hardin
Major General, U.S. Army

John J. Hardin was born on 6 January 1810 in Frankfort, KY.

Hardin pursued classical studies and was graduated from Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in Kentucky in 1831 and commenced practice in Jacksonville, IL. He served in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War 1831-32. He was Brigadier General in command during the Illinois Mormon War in Hancock County, IL, in 1844. He later attained the rank of Major General. He was appointed prosecuting attorney of Morgan County in 1832. He served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1836-42. His son, Martin Davis Hardin, was born in 1837.

Hardin was co-editor/founder of the Illinoisan newspaper in Jacksonville in 1837. He was credited with helping to avert a duel between Abraham Lincoln and State Auditor James Shields.

Hardin was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-Eighth Congress (4 March 1843 - 3 March 1845). He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1844. During the Mexican-American War, he recruited the First Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commissioned Colonel.

Death and Burial

Major General John J. Hardin was killed in action on 23 February 1847 during the Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico. He is buried at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville, IL