Joseph P. Hardesty and Mary Godwin Hardesty of Washington, Iowa, came to
   Kansas in Cloud County and to this union 13 children were born, 7 boys and
   6 girls. Mr. Hardesty served in the Civil War. They came to Corwin, Kansas,
   in the late 80's.
      One of the boys, my father, Franklin J. united in marriage to Della V.
   Ford in 1901 in Anthony, Kansas. Later they moved to Hazelton, where he was
   a farmer and livestock trader. He purchased lots of cattle as far south as
   Dover and Kingfisher, Oklahoma, driving them overland to Harper and Barber
   Counties.
      My parents had two children, A.J. "Punk," was born March 21, 1905, and
   Hazel L. on November 2, 1908. We were both born in Hazelton in a little
   four room green house just south of the Stewart Livery Stables. we both
   graduated from Hazelton High School.
      I well remember the storm that went through Hazelton about 1911, setting
   fire to the north side and burning it out. Several years later there was
   another fire that wasn't so bad.
      Mable E. Hoffman and I were united in marriage on May 26, 1928. I worked
   for my father for several years. We were blessed with two lovely daughters,
   Carolyn Marie and Nancy Jo. We have 4 grandsons, David and Frank Simon of
   Weatherford, Texas, and Stacy and Aaron Barnes of Dodge City, Kans. Two
   granddaughters, Cynthia Simon Slater of Alvarado, Texas, and Angela Barnes
   of Dodge City, Kansas. Two great grandsons, Billy Bob and Christopher Lee
   Slater of Alvarado, Texas.
      Hazel married Oscar A. Schulyer, and they live in Denver, Colo. They have
   one son, one granddaughter, and one grandson.
      Mable and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in May, 1978, and
   have lived in Hazelton all but eleven years of that time.
      I started working for the Kansas Corporation Commission in 1933 at
   Manchester, Oklahoma, and was transferred to Kiowa, where I worked 4 years.
   We moved to Compton, Calif., in September 1937, where I worked for Fry
   Roofing Manufacturing Company. In 1941 I was transfered to North Kansas City,
   Missouri, and in 1945 to Memphis, Tennessee.
      We wre happy to move back to Hazelton in 1946. I bought the Hoffman Ice
   Business and sold and delivered ice for 2 years. Then I worked in 2 lumber
   yards in Kiowa and the OK Co-op Grain Co. for 15 years. After working for
   the Farmers Cooperative Business Association in Hazelton, I retired.
      I have always been interested in most sports, and I do like my fishing.
   Umpiring and bieng a Santa Claus helper for the past 27 years has been
   rewarding too.
      About my Mable, she has been a very lovely mother, homemaker, and provider.
   She worked in several positions in Hazelton and retired from the Farmers 
   State Bank a few years ago.
      We are both attentive to our United Methodist Church and willing to lend
   a helping hand to those in need. We enjoy working in the Retarded Citizens
   program. I have been active in Masonry and the Eastern Star.
      The Hardestys are very thankful for the health and strength we have been
   permitted to enjoy in Good Old Hazelton.
      May God Bless Everyone.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 218 
     Submitted by:A.J. Hardesty