William Thomas and Juda Frances Lee
Hardee son
John Perry Hardee
We first find John Perry Hardee at age three in the 1880
census of Johnson Co., Texas. That would make his birth year about 1877. He
lives with his widowed father William and nine siblings. John’s mother Juda
Frances Lee died the year before in 1879 so he never knew his mother. I can
only guess that his older siblings helped raise him. Also living in the
household are two older cousins. Joseph and Archie Favors are the children of Archibald
and Jane Lee Favors. Jane Lee was a younger sister of Juda Lee Hardee, John
Perry’s Mother.
There is no 1890 census so we next find John Perry in the
1900 census still living in Johnson County in the city of Cleburne. He lives
with his cousin Joseph Favors. In the household is Joseph’s wife and two sons
and his mother-in-law. John Perry is 24 years old, is single and works as a
section hand. It is marked that he can read and write.
In 1904 there is an arrest record for J. P. Hardee. He pled
guilty for theft of a horse. He was sentenced Feb. 22, 1904 and was discharged
on Feb. 24, 1909. His records state he was 26 years old, 5’7 ½”, 136 lbs, dark
completion, gray eyes and dark hair. He had two scars on the back of his neck,
a scar in the pit of his back and two scars on the right side of his rump. He
wore size 5 shoe, was married, used tobacco, had no education, was born 1879 in
Texas. I am unsure of who he was married to but it may have been Lula Walker.
In 1910 he has moved to Delaware Township in Caddo County,
Oklahoma and lives next door to his older sister Annie Mayfield and her husband
and son. He is listed as age 30, widowed, born in Missouri and parents born in
Ohio. He is a general farmer and can read and write and rents his farm. When I
look at the census, the family below him has the head of household from
Missouri and parents from Ohio, so I think this is an error on the census
takers part. John Perry was born in Texas and parents were born in Alabama.
At some time after 1910 he returns to Texas and married
Gertrude Bodine on June 1, 1914 in Ellis Co., Texas. They are listed in the
1915 city directory for Cleburne, Texas in Johnson Co. They live at 818 N.
Wilhite and he is a laborer.
On June 1, 1916 they have their first son, John Thomas Hardee
in Cleburne. Their second son dies hours after birth on Dec. 2, 1917 in
Cleburne.
In 1918 John Perry registers for the World War I
registration draft. He stated he is 39 years old and was born March 19, 1879.
The 1880 census shows he was 3 which would make his birth year 1877. He works
for the rail road in Cleburne and Gertrude Hardee is his nearest relative. He
says he has blue eyes and black hair. I do not believe he ever served in the
military.
John Perry and Gertrude have two more sons: Floyd Hardee
born Feb. 12, 1920 and Zibe Brooks Hardee born March 28, 1921.
On July 25, 1923 this notice appeared in the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram on page 17:
Child
Accidentally Killed
CLEBURNE July 25—A bullet from a
large caliber pistol which he knocked from a buggy caused the death at Keene
yesterday of Floyd Hardee three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Hardee.
In December of 1924 John Perry pleas guilty of “Transporting
intoxicating liquor. Possessing intoxication liquor for purpose of sale.” He is
discharged August 9, 1925. His arrest record states, he is 45 years old, 5’ 6
7/8” has hazel eyes and brown hair, size 5 shoe size, married, uses tobacco,
illiterate and cannot read or write, no schooling, born in 1879 in Texas and
parents born in Alabama. Employed at rail road.
Their only daughter Norma Hardee was born December 23, 1927 in Texas.
The family is then found on the 1930 census living in Rush Springs, Grady Co., Oklahoma. John Perry is listed as 50 years old, born in Oklahoma and parents born in Kentucky. We know this is incorrect, I wonder if he did not trust the government and gave incorrect information or they weren’t home that day and a neighbor gave the information. We will never know.
He rents his house and works as a farm laborer. Also
in the household are his wife Gertrude and children J.T (John Thomas) age 13,
Brooks age 8 and Norma age 2.
William Roy Hardee 24 of 3501 Alice, was shot and
killed early Sunday during a fight with a 66-year old man. The assailant
suffered a fractured skull in the altercation and was taken to City-County
Hospital. Detective Lieutenant Cobb who investigated described the older man as
a three times convict. The 66-year-old man who told Cobb that Hardee came to
the Alice Street address about 4 am Sunday and started making coffee. He said
Hardee walked to his bedside a blackjack in hand and that he was slugged
several times. He then obtained a revolver from beneath his pillow and shot
Hardee through the chest. Justice Hurley returned an inquest verdict of murder
and said Hardee apparently died instantly. The older man was booked at city
jail where officers noticed the seriousness of his head injuries and took him
to the hospital.
Detective Lt Cobb said Monday afternoon that
circumstances surrounding the altercation Sunday at 3501 Alice in which William
Roy Hardee 24 was killed and a 66-year-old ex-convict suffered a fractured
skull will be presented directly to the county grand jury. Funeral services for
Hardee will be held Tuesday at Bridgeport Assembly' of God Church with burial
in West Bridgeport Cemetery. His parents, six brothers and four sisters
survive.
