My Genealogy Hound

JAY HARDY, one of Rockport’s leading dry goods merchants, was born in Henderson County, Ky., June 19, 1855, being the only issue to the marriage of T. R. Hardy and Kate Semonin. After his mother’s death, when he was yet an infant, Jay lived with his grandmother in Kentucky until the age of eight years, when he came to Rockport to live with his father. He was here educated, and when fifteen years old began clerking in his father’s store. On attaining his majority he embarked in the dry goods, clothing and gentlemen’s furnishing trade in Rockport, continuing the same until 1877, when he began a similar business at Carmi, White Co., Ill. Three years later he returned to Rockport, Ind., and assumed the management of his father’s store, in which occupation he has continued to the present time. In 1884 he accepted the position of secretary and treasurer of the Rockport Knitting Factory, and is filling that position in connection with his other duties. Mr. Hardy is a member of the K. of P. of Rockport. October 16, 1877, he married Sophia B. Ayer, of McLean County, Ky., and Ida M. is the name of their only child.