Wesley
Hardin was a small boy in 1799 when he emigrated from Virginia to Fayette
County, Kentucky with his father. He grew up in the central Bluegrass
on the
Leestown
Pike near the Scott County line. As a young man he came to Frankfort
and on October 18, 1808 he married Frances Bartlett, daughter of Henry
Bartlett,
who
had been Sheriff of Franklin County.
Charles
Hardin in the settlement of his estate in 1810, gave Wesley certain slaves,
and other properties. Using his inheritance, Wesley purchased a tract
of land
containing
104 acres from George Mason. This land was situated on the hills a
short distance northwest of the South Fork of Benson Creek. In 1813
he erected a
two story
double cabin, which included a tavern. In 1816 he enlarged it with
a rear three-story stone addition. The tavern was located on high ground
facing north on
the "Big
Road" west of Abraham Bailey's tavern.
Wesley
obtained a reputation of a fine man of sensible reasoning and responsibilities,
particularly as a civic leader. He operated a first class road side
hotel. He
renewed
his tavern license with the Franklin County Court annually until 1818. The
new Turnpike Road was imminent and Wesley sold his property and founded the
new village
of Hardinsville, now Grafenburg on the west side of Big Benson in Shelby
County. Wesley soon erected a new road-side tavern. He sold lots
and overly
invested
in the Turnpike Company stock. He returned to his old neighborhood
of South Benson, financially depressed. And in 1821 he died in
obscurity.
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the design of format
is a personal creation and is subject to the laws of copyright. If you have
any questions concerning
the information published on this
page or at the Franklin
County, Kentucky ALHN website, please feel free to email
me,
Anne H. Lee,
and I will be glad to address your questions and or
comments.
© 1999 - 2010 Anne H. Lee
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