Hardin was an early settler in Texas, coming to Liberty County in 1828 with his family after his brothers Augustine, Benjamin and William were indicted for murder in Tennessee. He served as a lieutenant with the Liberty volunteers during the Texas Revolution and used his land grant from his service to start a cotton plantation and became a successful farmer and rancher. He sold some his land in Polk County to the Texas Indian Commission that is now the current Alabama Coushatta Indian Reservation. He died in Cleburne in 1894. Hardin County and Hardin, Tex., were named for the Hardin family.
