George Harding

     George Harding was born on 17 December 1837 at Barre, Massachusetts. On his father's farm which was two miles from Coldbrook.^{1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10} He was the son of Alpheus Harding and Catharine Muzzy Wheeler.^1,2 George Hardingappeared on the US Census of 1850 in the household of Alpheus Harding and Catharine Muzzy Wheeler at Barre, Massachusetts.¹¹ George Harding, age 45 years, appeared on the Massachusetts State Census of 1855 in the household of Alpheus Harding and Catharine Muzzy Wheeler.¹²

George Harding, age 21, married Ruth Melinda Delvey, age 20 , daughter of Joseph Delvey and Mary Wheaton, on 1 June 1859 at Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts. After their marriage, George worked on his father's farm for a few years.^{13,3,6,14,15,7,10} George Hardingappeared on the US Census of 1860 in the household of Alpheus Harding and Catharine Muzzy Wheeler at Barre, Massachusetts.¹⁶ According to the Federal Census in 1860, George was a farmer.¹⁶ George registered for the draft in 1863 at Warwick, Massachusetts.¹⁷ George and Ruthmoved to Brush Valley, Warwick, Massachusetts, circa 1864. There he worked in a shop. George Harding, 27 years, appeared as Head of Household on the Massachusetts State Census of 1865 at Warwick, Massachusetts.¹⁸ George, age 32 years, and Ruth, age 31 years, appeared on the US Census of 1870 at Warwick, Massachusetts.¹⁹ According to the Federal Census in 1870, George was a worker in a brush handle factory.¹⁹ George, age 42 years, and Ruth, age 41 years, appeared on the US Census of 1880 at Warwick, Massachusetts.²⁰ According to the Federal Census in 1880, George was a worker in a brush handle factory.²⁰ Georgemoved to Orange, Massachusetts, in 1885. George and Ruth moved to Orange, and there they lived the rest of there lives. During Geroge's father's last illness, George and Ruth spent much of their time in Barre. He, age 62 years, appeared as head of household on the census of 1900 at 78 North Main Street, Orange, Massachusetts.³ According to the Federal Census in 1900, George was a house carpenter.³ He, age 72 years, appeared as head of household on the census of 1910 at 77 North Main Street, Orange, Massachusetts.²¹ George and Ruth appeared in the 1910 Orange, Massachusetts, City Directory on 77 North Main Street.²² He died on 25 April 1910 at home on 77 North Main Street, Orange, Massachusetts, at age 72 from a paralytic stroke.^2,23,5,7,10 George's obituary of 30 April 1910, reads:

George Harding 72 a retired contractor and builder died in his North Main street home Monday from the effects of an apoplectic shock Besides his wife he Is survived by three daughters Mrs E D Whitney anil Mrs E D Ward of Orange and Mrs Ella A Eddy of Worcester Mr Harding was a native of Barrs where the body was taken for burial after the funeral in the home Thursday.⁷ He was buried at Riverside Cemetery, Barre, Massachusetts. George's epitaph reads: