Abner Hardin, a farmer of Nineveh, was born January 15, 1842, in Oldham County, Ky., son of Henry and Emma (Ritter) Hardin. The father was a native of Kentucky, born February 14, 1816, and departed this life April 20, 1844; the mother was a native of Kentucky, born July 18, 1817, and departed this life July 7, 1855, and was of German descent. Our subject came to Indiana with his mother in 1852. He received a good common school education, and after the war, he attended school at Hopewell six months. At the age of thirteen years he began life for himself as a farmer, and at the age of nineteen years he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Indiana Volunteers. At Port Republic, he was wounded in the shoulder and taken prisoner. He was in the hospital at Charlott[e]sville, Va., about two months, then taken to Belle Isle, where he remained about one month, and was paroled, and then went back to his company, and served until September, 1864, when he was discharged at Indianapolis. He was with his company in all its battles after he returned to it after being a prisoner. April 6, 1865, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Keaton, a daughter of William and Sarah (Johnson) Keaton, both natives of Virginia. This union was blessed with the following children: John H., born March 27, 1866; Benjamin F., June 29, 1868; Emma B., October 27, 1870; Laura B., March 28, 1873; Lizzie Grace, December 27, 1882, and Nellie C., May 23, 1885. The mother of these children was born August 1, 1840. She is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, he was formerly a republican, until the birth of the greenback party, with which he was identified about four years; since that time he has been a republican. He served as trustee of his township four years, thus demonstrating the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his township. He now owns 333 acres of fine farming land in Nineveh Township, which is in a good state of cultivation. In connection with farming, he has been giving considerable attention to the breeding of short-horn cattle, and for about ten years he bought and shipped stock. He contracted rheumatism in the war, and for about two years has been unable to follow his chosen vocation.