Isaac E. Hardesty - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Isaac Hardesty, often called "I. E.," was mostly a Paulding County man, but he was faithful in his service to the Bishop G.A.R. Post in Defiance. He served in various offices in the organization.

His military service was in Company E, 99th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, in which he enlisted on August 26, 1862 and was discharged on August 18, 1863.  The 99th was organized in Lima and was present from Chickamauga to Atlanta.  Many men in this regiment were downed by sickness caused by the hot weather and hard marches.  Isaac reported on the 1890 Veterans Census that he suffered from scurvy and piles.  His obituary noted that he was ill when discharged.

In all the censuses up to 1910, Isaac and his wife, Nancy Henderson Hardesty, were enumerated in Auglaize Township, Paulding County.  Isaac was a farmer with land near Arthur, Ohio.  His children included: Alice Viola, Mary Josephine, and Kate Jeannette.  In 1910, Isaac, at 68, and Nancy, at 66, were enumerated from their home at 826 Perry Street in Defiance, along with their unmarried daughter, Mary (Josephine) who was 44.  

Isaac Hardesty died in 1917 and is buried at Riverside Cemetery.  His address, at that point, was 307 Jefferson Avenue.

 His wife, Nancy, lived just three more years until 1920.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)