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Note: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado, is one of the largest businesses of its kind in the Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska area. It owes its origins to the activities of Marion Willford Hardman, who was not only a leader in the lumber industry but in political and municipal affairs and in the Masonic world. Though the business is today headquartered at Osborne, Mr. Hardman centered his activities at Phillipsburg, a city which he served as Mayor. He was born at Rochester, Iowa, on August 26, 1868, the son of Nathaniel Marion and Ellen (Willford) Hardman. His father was born in the same city on February 5, 1846, his mother at Beloit, Wisconsin, on December 26, 1851. The father died when Marion Hardman, the oldest son, was in his early teens. The family was large and theoldest son, in accordance with tradition, was expected to provide for it. Always the kind of individual who accepted responsibility without hesitation, Marion Hardman left school and went to work. Somehow he entered the lumber industry and there, through a display of ingenuity and business acumen, found and made a fortune. In 1887, he became the manager of a lumber yard at Sheridan Lake, Colorado. He held this post for two years. He had previously been in Downs, Kansas, adn on his return to that community worked for the E.P. Craney Lumber Company. In 1892, he, H.H. Welty and W.H. Noll organized the Central Lumber Company ofDowns. The partnership was dissolved some years later with a division of the holdings among the three men. Mr. Hardman's share consisted of the firm's yards at Phillipsburg, Osborne and Wakeeney. These became part of the organization which is today the Hardman Lumber Company. Joined by his brothers, C.L. and A.G. Hardman, Marion Hardman established a chain of lumber yards in Kansas, Nebraska,Oklahoma and Colorado. He became president of the board of directors of this company. He was also a director of the State Bank of Downs and the Glen Elder State Bank; the latter is now part of the Traders State Bank at Glen Elder. At Phillipsburg, Mr. Hardman achieved such prominence as to be elected mayor. His leadership in the fraternal world made him one of Kansas' best known Masons. A Master Mason, he joined the Downs Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, onAugust 23, 1890, and was the first member to recieve the fifty-year service button.He held all offices in the Phillipsburg Commandery, Knights Templar; was advanced to the thirty-second degree in the Topeka Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; became a Noble of Isis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles ofthe Mystic Shrine, Salina, and served as patron of th Downs chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. He also belonged to the Concordia Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Hardman married Geme Edick in Downs on February 6, 1895. She was the daughter of Amos and Mary T. (Wilkins) Edick. Her fatherwas born at West Green, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 1843, her mother at Miller's Eddy, Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Hardman became the parents ofthree children, all natives of Phillipsburg: 1. Dwight Harrison Hardman,who was born on February 19, 1897, and died April 29, 1955. One of Kansas' leading lumber men and an outstanding citizen in many other ways, he was presidentand general manager of the Hardman Lumber Company and its affliated corporations and the subject of a separate biography in this volume. 2. Marian Willford Hardman, born on May 29, 1900. 3. Mrs. Mary Isabel Hardman Ogren, who was born on September 22, 1906. Marion Willford Hardman died at Downs on March 22, 1945. A vast business which helped and continues to help in the development of theWest andthe Middle West is his legacy to the nation. This business was reorganized andenlarged to its present size by his son.
Note: "The Hardman Lumber Company and its affliated corporations, operating in
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