Rufus Hardy (December 16, 1855 – March 13, 1943) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

from the state of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

Early years

Hardy was born

Monroe County, Mississippi Monroe County is a county on the northeast border of the U.S. state of Mississippi next to Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,989. Its county seat is Aberdeen. History The county is named in honor of James Monroe, the fift ...

to George Washington and Pauline J. (Whittaker) Hardy. The family moved to

Millican, Texas Millican is an unincorporated area and former municipality in Brazos County, Texas, United States. The population was 240 at the 2010 census, up from 108 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bryan–College Station metropolitan area. Millican i ...

in 1861. Texas State Historical Association Hardy enrolled at Somerville Institute in

Noxubee County, Mississippi Noxubee County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, its population was 11,545. Its county seat is Macon, Mississippi, Macon. The name is derived from the ...

in 1871, and received his

L.L.B. Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

from the

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

in 1875. In 1876, he opened his law practice in

Navasota, Texas Navasota is a city in Grimes County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,643 at the 2020 census. In 2005, the Texas Legislature designated Navasota as the "Blues Capital of Texas" in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native an ...

, and moved to

Corsicana, Texas Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45, 56 miles northeast of Waco, Texas. The population was 23,770 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Navarro County, and an important Agri-busines ...

in 1878.

Career in public service

From 1880 to 1884 he served as a prosecuting attorney of

Navarro County, Texas Navarro County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,624. Its county seat is Corsicana. The county is named for José Antonio Navarro, a Tejano leader in the Texas Revolution who signed th ...

. He served as District Attorney for the Texas 13th Judicial District 1884–1888, and as District Judge of the same district 1888–1896. Hardy was represented Texas in the United States House of Representatives 1907–1923. Upon retirement from Congress, Hardy returned to private practice in Corsicana.

Personal life

In 1881, Hardy was married to Felicia E. Peck. He died in Corsicana on March 13, 1943 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Mrs. Hardy followed him in death just 17 days later and is buried by his side.

Fraternal memberships

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868, originally as a social club in New York City. History The Elks began in 1868 as a soci ...

Knights of Pythias The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded in Washington, D.C., on . The Knights of Pythias is the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded ...

Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta (), commonly known as Phi Delt, is an international secret and social fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, along with Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad ...

Bibliography

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Rufus 1855 births 1943 deaths People from Monroe County, Mississippi People from Corsicana, Texas County district attorneys in Texas Texas state court judges University of Georgia alumni Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas People from Brazos County, Texas