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Native Born Australians |
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George Albert and Henry James Harding were brothers, the sons of James Harding and Penelope Bridges (nee) Harding, both born in England and both the sons were born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; George Albert in 1843 and Henry James on Aug. 9, 1846. The Harding brother migrated to the United States and on to Oregon in 1857. After the American Civil War erupted, both brothers eventually enlisted in December 1864 as Privates in “E” Company, 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry; to fight for their country in the American Civil War. The database roster, however, does not reveal either the date of enlistment or their departure dates. The American Civil War Research Database says George enlisted as a Sergeant, but the U.S. National Parks Soldiers and Sailors Database reveals he enlisted as a Private, was promoted to a Sergeant and was then discharged. Henry, on the other hand, enlisted as a private and was discharged at the same rank. The Union Oregon Volunteers were organized from November 11, 1864, to January 2, 1865 and ordered to Fort Vancouver in the Washington Territory on December 19, 1864. They then saw duty in the District of Oregon, by Detachments at Fort Vancouver, Fort Klamath, Fort Yamhill, Fort Steilacoom, Fort Dalles, Fort Walla Walla, Colville, Fort Hoskins and Fort Boles in the Idaho Territory; covering Boles, the Snake River Country and the Owyhee gold Mines from Indian Raids. They were mustered out on July 19, 1867; after the American Civil War had ended. It is assumed 1864 was their enlistment date 1867 was their discharge date. Both are recorded as Civil War Veterans in the Oregon county records. Upon their arrival in Portland where they enlisted they were given a tin cup of black coffee and one slice of bread; without butter, after having made the trip to Portland by boat. That extravagant meal was served them in a building between Adler and Morrison Street in Portland, which was the headquarters for the volunteers. Bunks for them were constructed on each side of the building, which were anything but comfortable. Each man was allowed 32 ounces of bread, but only received 18 ounces. If they ate their bread allotment for breakfast, the soldier had to do without the next two meals. No one complained though, they had signed up to fight for their country and after two months in Portland, the company, composed of 75 men from Oregon City and Astoria together with Company “D” from Portland, were transferred to Vancouver Barracks in Washington; there being ten companies in all at that fort. At Vancouver Barracks and being only 17 years of age, Henry was detailed to assist in the Bake shop and was allowed 50 cents extra each day for his services. That amount, along with his monthly salary was sent each month to his widowed mother in Oregon City. George also sent his monthly allowance to his mother regularly. The soldiers from Oregon City were not forgotten by their comrades in the bake shop, being remembered from time to time and was presented with extra loaves of bread. At the time it was decided by officials to allow the sale of bread from the bake shop with the proceeds to be used in the purchase of delicacies for the soldiers. Each day Henry would turn over to the commissary department money from the sale of the bread, but the money somehow always disappeared; the soldiers never seeing any rewards from it. As such, the soldiers went without their promised delicacies and were instead served with poor food. The Vancouver Barracks allowed for visitors to see the soldiers, but few ever arrived. Money was scarce and few could afford the boat fare to see them. The soldiers while there were kept busy, some of the time cutting large slabs of ice from the stream nearby, for consumption by officers families in the summer time. The work was hard and tedious, but was done without complaints. At night, the work of guardsmen was not pleasant either. It was lonely and cold and the big forest at the fort was patrolled during the night by a few guardsmen who were relieved in the early morning by others. In addition, the soldiers who stood guard duty during the night were always poorly fed and often weak with hunger. They often thought of the cupboards of food and warm fires at home; but none deserted. At Vancouver Barracks the soldiers received their first pay, a $100 Government Bounty, a $50 State Bounty and three months pay. Privates received $16 a month, paid in greenbacks, but when he was given his pay he was only allowed 35 cents on the dollar; thus making only a small amount due him at the end of each month. Officers and soldiers alike waited patiently for months at Vancouver Barracks, expecting daily to be call East. Finally they were ordered to The Dalles and later to Walla Walla. The Dalles was the end of the land route of the biannual “Express” between Fort Vancouver and York Factory and later figured as the last stretch in the Oregon Trail. In the fall of 1849 United States Army troops arrived in the new Oregon Territory and established a military outpost at The Dalles, with a log fort finished in 1850 and named Fort Dalles. In 1864, the U.S. Congress appropriated money to build a U.S. Mint in The Dalles that was to use gold from Canyon City for coinage. The supply of gold from Canyon City began to dwindle, however, and other problems, such as cost over-runs, workers leaving to work the gold fields, and flooding from the Columbia River, also contributed to the project running two years behind schedule and led eventually to the project's demise. The trip to The Dalles was made partly by boat and partly on foot. They walked over rough roads, forded streams and they were not even supplied with tents. Henry, when asked, “What did you do for tents” replied “The sky was our tent”. Night after night the soldiers remained out in the rain and snow without protection. Upon finally reaching The Dalles, the soldiers remained for a few days and a member of Company “E” went out ‘forging’. Upon returning he presented them with fresh eggs, beef steak and onions. The smell of onions cooking on a campfire brought other soldiers to their camp, but shortly afterwards a sand storm came up and within minutes everything cooking on the campfire was ruined by blowing sand. Upon reaching Walla Walla they found barracks in excellent condition; bringing a sigh of relief from the soldiers. To reach Walla Walla, however, they had to cross the Touchet River. There were no bridges or boats and it was left up to each soldier to make his way across. The river, being some 30 feet wide, the soldier had to wade across in cold water up to their necks; many suffering from its effects. The soldiers remained at Walla Walla for some eight weeks after which they were transferred to Fort Colville, Washington. After the Spokane country was reached the soldiers decided it was time to have some meat to eat. They said they were “hungry for meat and determined to have it”. While marching along one of them spotted a bull and another suggested they shoot it. They happened to stop for a rest about that time and during the absence of their Captain, F.O. McCowen of Oregon City, the bull was shot and divided among the companies. Meat was had all over camp. Upon the Captain’s return and his investigating where all the meat came from, he became enraged at his men, as the bull was found to be a prize animal owned by a local Catholic priest. After spendinf six months at Fort Colville, the soldiers were ordered back to Fort Vancouver; where they were mustered out of service. The only man lost during their campaign was a young soldier who fell from a boat after leaving The Dalles and was drowned. His relatives were unknown. The troops returned to Oregon City in 1865 with great fanfare. Relatives gathered at the wharf and a brass band gave the returning soldiers a great welcome home. Uniforms that had once been bright and attractive were then worn and faded. They had been made of the best material of navy blue, heavy overcoats with brass buttons and their large black hats adorned with black ostrich feathers at the side; all now worn and faded. A reception was given them at the Washington Hall and a banquet was enjoyed by all. During the absence of the Oregon boys the women at home gave weekly entertainments in what was known as ‘Washington Hall’ near where the old Armoury stood. The proceeds from the entertainment had been sent to the Oregon soldiers to be used in purchasiong delicaies; but the money never reached them. It had been appropiated in some manner before it reached the boys in blue. George Albert married Jennie Barlow (nee) born on June 30, 1853 and they had six children living at the time of George’s death. Imogene who married Edward Everett Brodie who was Publisher of the Oregon City Enterprise; Nella who married Henry McKinnon; Evelyn who married William Wallace Laxton; George Lee who married Helen Louise Ferrer; Lloyd O. who was nicknamed Ben and was the Mayor of Oregon City, Oregon and Carlton B. Harding. George Harding ran a drug store in the Portland, Oregon, area. In Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, Henry Harding worked as a retail grocer and later took a position with the Crown-Willamette paper Company; retiring in 1923. He was a long time member of Meade Post No. 2, the local Grand Army of the Republic Veterans Post. Henry James died at home in Oregon City on August 16, 1925 at the age of 79 and he was buried in Mountain View Cemetery on Oregan City, Oregon; 1st Addition, Block 20, Grave 2. His survivors included his widow, Mrs. Belle Fields (nee) Harding of Oregon City; his brother, George A. Harding, also of Oregon City; and three grandsons. Funeral services were held on a Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock with the Rev. John A. Cleland, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church from 1922 t0 1933, officiating. He was buried in Mountain View cemetery in Clackmas County, Oregon. Henry and Susannah Harding had 6 children at the time of his death: Imogene (Mrs. Edward Everett Brodie-Publisher of the Oregon City Enterprise); Nella (Mrs. Henry McKinnon); Evelyn (Mrs. William Wallace Laxton); George Lee (who had married Helen Louise Ferrer); Lloyd O. nicknamed Ben and who was Mayor of Oregon City and Carlton B. Harding. George Albert died fourteen months later on September 23, 1926. He had been a prominent businessman, a member of Meade Post No. 2 Grand Army of the Republic and Post Commander. Funeral services were held from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Oregon City and patriotic organizations represented included the Meade Post, Grand Army of the Republic, Women's Relief Corps and Susannah Lee Barlow chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. He was laid to rest beside his wife Jennie Barlow Harding, who had died six months earlier. Jennie Barlow Harding was born in Canby, Clackamas County, Oregon, and when a child with her parents moved to Oregon City. She was the wife of George A. Harding and daughter of John Lawson Barlow and Mary Elizabeth Barlow, Oregon pioneers. She was one of the leading flower culturists of the state of Oregon, one of the promoters of the first rose show of Oregon City, through her efforts the rose society was formed, of which she served as president, was a member of the Oregon City Woman's club establishing the McLoughlin park, a member of the McLoughlin association, past regent of Susannah Lea Barlow chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, served as department president of the Women's Relief Corps, president of Oregon City, for the past 17 years, secretary of St. Paul's guild of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and a member of Clackamas County Humane society for some 25 years. Jennie Barlow Harding died in Oregon City on March 22, 1926; survived by her husband, George A. Harding, her daughters, Mrs. Edward E. Brodie of Oregon city, Mrs. Henry McKinnon of Baker of Oregon, Mrs. William Wallace Laxton of Oregon city, her sons, George Lee Harding, Carlton B. Harding of Portland, Oregon and Lloyd O. Harding of Oregon City. Also interred
in the Mountain View Cemetery AT 500 Hilda Street George Lee Harding, son of George Albert and Jennie Barlow, was born in January 1880 He was the grandson of John Lawson Barlow and Mary Elizabeth Barlow, Oregon pioneers. George Lee Harding married Helen Louise Ferrer, born March 16, 1887 in New York City, the daughter of Dr. Paul T. Ferrer. She was the daughter of Dr. Paul T. Ferrer and had been a resident of Portland, Oregon for 30 years at the time of her death. Helen Louise died at 48 years of age on July 30, 1935 in Portland Multnomah County, Oregon and George Lee died 32 years later in 1967; at 87 years of age. |
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American Civil War Research Database Betty Joe Armstrong, Mountain View Cemetery Bruce Tabb. Special Collections Librarian, University of Oregon Craig Humes, Oregon David L. McMonigle, Oregon Etta Stone, Oregon Researcher History of Union Oregon Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records J.M. Favata, Oregon Mountain View Cemetery Records, Clackamus County, Oregon National Archives, Film Number M553 Roll 1 Oregon 1st Infantry Regimental Rosters Oregonian, newspaper, July 9, 1916 U.S. National Parks Soldiers and Sailors Database 1930 U.S. Census Records, Oregon 1890 Veterans Census, Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon |
