Joseph Harding

Joseph Harding, son of Joseph Harding and Emma Brooks was born 9 Oct 1879, London, England, died 9 Mar 1958 Miami, Dade CO, FL, married 20 Oct 1907, Globe, Gila CO, AZ, Margaret Lucy Martin, dau of Owen Young Martin and Mary Jane Frost, born 11 Aug 1878, London (Kent), England, died 22 Mar 1976, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL. Both buried Hope Cemetery, now Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens, Flagler CO, FL.

Joseph Harding came to America in 1905 and worked in Chicago, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin before going to Globe, Arizona where he worked for the Miami Copper Compan as chief engineer. Margaret Martin came to United States in 1906 and a year later she and Joseph Harding were married in Globe, Arizona. While there, she threw the first shovel of coal in the furnace at the Miami Copper Company to start the operation.

In the later part of 1908 they moved of Kenosha, as they were expecting their first child. There, a representative of the St Johns Development Company met Mr. Harding and accompanied him to St Johns Park. He bought 10 acres of land cleared part of it before returning north.

After working in the north for a while, he returned to Florida in 1909. Mrs. Harding and the baby came down in 1910 and the family lived with the Willard Warner family until Mr. Harding completed his home.

The family is listed on page 66 of the 1910 census of St. Johns County with his occupation given as "Machinist - Farm," and on page 33 of the 1920 census of Flagler County with his occupation given as "Farmer - General."

He never pursued his career as an engineer after moving to Florida but farmed, had a citrus grove, cut cross ties, worked in a saw mill and planing mill, worked in a brick factory, did carpentering and helped others on their farms. In 1928, he acquired the Dale Brown Store and named it "Joe's Cash Store," and in 1932, he contracted the school bus route from Shell Bluff to Gilbert School. In 1945 they moved from St. Johns Park to Bunnell where he was employed as a carpenter until his retirement. They were the parents of five children;

1. Joseph Richard Harding, born 31 Dec 1908, Kenosha, Kenosha CO, WI, died 28 Aug 1990, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married Phyllis Mae Knight, born 02 Mar 1920, died 15 Sep 1971, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL. He delivered ice in Bunnell, drove a school bus, worked in Holden's Pharmacy, then was with Walgreen's Drug Stores in Tampa and Jacksonville. Issue;

(1) Richard Harding, born Jul 1941, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, died Oct 1941, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, buried 14 Oct 1941, Edgewood Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

(2) Linda Harding, married Sandy Sanders. Issue;

A. Joseph Houston Sanders

(3) Richard (Rickey)Harding, married, lived in Tallahassee, Leon CO, FL, had two children.

2. Margaret Myrtle Harding, born 20 June 1911, St Johns Park, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 02 Sep 1990, Flagler CO, FL, married FNU Taylor.

She graduated from Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach as a registered Nurse. She nursed in hospitals in Miami and Jacksonville. During WW II she was a Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, serving in England and Germany. She worked as a public health nurse for Flagler County. Her husband was lost on a government mission. Issue;

(1) John Charles Taylor b 29 Feb 1952. He was a helicopter pilot in the U. S. Army.

3. Martin Charles Harding, born 17 July 1913, St Johns Park, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 01 Jan 1997, Volusia CO, FL, married 1951, St Johns CO, FL, Betty Lydia Kelly (Div-25 Feb 1957).

He was in the Civilian Conservation Camp; drove in a car motor-pool; worked at Lehigh-Portland Cement Company; farmed; then owned and operated heavy equipment for land clearing and filling. He served in the Seabees during WW II in the islands in the Pacific including the Solomon Islands. Issue;

(1) Patricia Irene Harding, born 08 Mar 1953, married 28 Nov 1980, Flagler CO, FL, John Michael Kelley, born 27 May 1953. Issue

A. James Patrick Kelley, born 02 Oct 1983

(2) Charles Martin (Chuck) Harding Jr, born 2 May 1956, married 12 Sept 1980, Flagler CO, FL, Gina Bonena Brown, dau of Paul A Brown, born 18 Oct 1960.

Martin Charles Harding married 2nd, 23 Jan 1960, Frances Aileen Dunson, dau of Walker Lee Dunson and Margaret Elizabeth Brown, born 12 Feb 1927.

Frances Aileen Dunson was married 1st, John Charles Matthews and 2nd, Charles Mathew Akins. See sketch on Walker Lee Dunson for more information on these families

4. Albert Hamilton (Bert) Harding, born 27 Jan 1916, St Johns Park, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 07 Dec 1997, Flagler CO, FL, married 23 Oct 1937, Court House, Cordele, Crisp CO, GA by Judge Fleming to Mary Magdaline Mann, dau of Henry Lee Mann and Clara Ryland, born 29 Sept 1920, Cedarbluff, Cherokee CO, AL, died 03 Oct 1993, Volusia CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

Bert lived his entire life in St Johns Park with the exception of the period he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in North Carolina and a short stay in Miami.

He attended St Johns Park School, Gilbert School, and Bunnell High School. He was a farmer, growing potatoes and cabbage, raising cattle. He also did carpenter work.

She grew up in Georgia and was staying with her sister and brother-in-law, Aileen and Oscar Winifred Timmons on the Whitaker Dairy in Bimini when she met Bert. Issue;

(1) Joan Margaret Harding, born 21 Nov 1941, Mary Lawson Sanatorium, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, died 11 Dec 1996, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married, 04 Jun 1965, William Henry Powell.

Joan Margaret Harding married 2nd, 02 Sept 1966, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL, Jacob Charles Hume (Div). Issue;

A. Hamilton Daniel (Danny) Hume, born 30 Oct 1967, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, married 28 Feb 1988, Flagler CO, FL (unknown)

B. Joseph Wendell (Joey) Hume, born 12 Aug 1972, Putnam Memorial Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL

C. Wayne Hume

Joan Margaret Harding married 3rd, Larry Grover Hamblin Jr, son of Larry Grover Hamblin and Mossie N Penley, born 12 Sep 1935, Harlan CO, KY, died 08 Feb 1998, Flagler CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. He served as a private in the U. S. Marine Corps during Korea.

She was a secretary of Z. D. Holland, Superintendent of Public Instruction, then a secretary for the Florida State Road Department in Bunnell (Sep 1966) and Palatka. After marrying Larry Hamblin, they lived in the Phroda Pellicer for two years and then moved Leesburg. She worked in the Barnett Bank in Eustis and was later an assistant branch manager at their bank in Leesburg. He worked as an outboard motor mechanic. After living in Leesburg for a while, they returned to St Johns Park.

(2) Gloria Clarette Harding, born 09 Jan 1945, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, m 21 May 1965 First Baptist Church, Bunnell to George William Twigg, born 07 Jan 1941, Dade City, Pasco CO, FL, died 09 Sep 1978, Lake Padendena, Dade City, Pasco CO, FL (drowned). They resided in Brooksville, Ft. Myers, Dade City and Bunnell. She was a secretary (Div 1976).

I (Claude Sisco Deen, Jr) worked with Gloria on the board of the Pioneers of St. Johns Park (1995-1996) where she served as secretary and I served as president. She really got projects pushed through the Flagler County Commissioners (restoration of the St Johns Park Community Center for example) - - when they saw her coming they knew they were going to have to deal with a county girl with an attitude.

George Twigg and Gloria resided in Brooksville, Ft. Myers, Dade City and then Bunnell, where George worked as a tree surgeon. She worked as a secretary in Dade City and Bunnell.

She filed a petition in 1978 to have the children's surnames changed to Harding. Three days before the court, George drowned in Lake Padendena, just out of Dade City, FL.

The judge granted her petition and the Twigg's are now the Harding's. Issue;

A. Casandra Michele (Sandee) Twigg-Harding, born 04 Jun 1966, FL, died 14 Jan 1989, Flagler CO, FL, married 23 Feb 1985, Flagler CO, FL, Jeffrey Eugene Hersey, son of Eugene Hue Hersey and Doris Lee Malphurs, born 06 Jun 1963, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, died 14 Jan 1989, Flagler CO, FL. Both are buried at Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. They died in an automobile accident.

B. Wendee Renae Twigg-Harding, born 05 Aug 1967, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, married 26 Jul 1986, Flagler CO, FL (unknown)

C. James Gary Twigg-Harding, born 12 Jul 1970, Dade City, Pasco CO, FL, married 30 Jul 1994, Flagler CO, FL (unknown).

Gloria Clarette Harding married 2nd, 1976, John Averly Brown, marriage was annulled six weeks later.

Gloria Clarette Harding married 3rd, 08 Dec 1978 Donald Mark Kuhn of Holly Hill. He was a carpenter.

5. Daniel Owen Harding, born 20 Feb 1918, St. Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL, died 14 Jan 1997, Volusia CO, FL, buried Hope Cemetery, now Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens, Flagler CO, FL, married 15 July 1944, Methodist Church, DeLand, Volusia CO, FL, Dorothy Eloise Shamblen, dau of George Arnold Shamblen and Lottie Emily Milam, born 22 Dec 1924, St. Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL.

Danny attended Gilbert School and graduated from Bunnell High School in 1938. He drove a school bus until he joined the US Army in 1941. He was given a discharge after injuring his back in training.

He recuperated at home for a year then farmed for two years, then secured work at the post office in DeLand for two years. He worked for the state as an engineer for three years before working for a highway construction company in Lakeland.

He then worked for Fellow’s Construction Company in Holly Hill, FL from 1952 until 1968 as foreman and superintendent. He next worked as a carpenter with the union until he retired in 1978 because of health.

In 1997, he and his wife, Dorothy lived on State Road 305 on the old Riley Malphurs place, just two and one half miles from where he was born.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns, Florida; 1920 United States Federal Census, Saint Johns, Flagler, Florida; Kentucky Birth Collection, 1852-1999; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; WWI Civilian Draft Registrations; U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001; Social Security Death Index Record; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006; “Unto This Land, A History of St Johns Park,” edited by Mary Ketus Deen Holland, sketch by Danny Harding, Dorothy Harding and Gloria Harding Kuhn; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 16 Oct 1941, 04 Dec 1941, 27 Apr 1944, 11 Jan 1945, 18 Jan 1945, 19 Mar 1953, 13 Mar 1958, 09 Jun 1966, 15 Sep 1966, 10 Aug 1967, 24 Aug 1972 and the U.S. Public Records Index.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com