Zachariah Hardy's Family Group Record

Zachariah Hardy Gave His Life for His Friends

Zachariah Hardy

1799-1846

Zachariah Hardy felt the chill that cold and icy night in February, 1846.  He was ferrying the fleeing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to safety across the icy Mississippi river.  The flat boats took skill to maneuver, especially in this terrible ice storm.  Zachariah possessed the skills necessary to do this difficult work.     

Zachariah was born in Belfast, Maine in 1799 into a long history of seafaring men. He was the oldest of 4 children. His father, Joseph Hardy Jr., was a sea captain in a large fishing and trading vessel that traded primarily between New York and Maine. Joseph Jr. also built ships, teaching his sons the carpentry and seamanship trades. As a boy, Zachariah watched the fishermen sail out into the sea and return with the catch of fish, the fishermen’s food staple. Their tales of adventure fascinated him. Zachariah eventually became the captain of a large boat, just like his father.

Life seemed beautiful, especially after Zachariah married Eliza Philbrook in 1822. Then their life was turned upside down by the arrival of Elder William Hyde in August 1840 in Maine. Elder Hyde taught and baptized the whole Hardy clan in Searsport, Maine. Early the next year, they left their farms and comfortable homes to join a group of converts gathering in Nauvoo. They sold most of their possessions and used money inherited from Zachariah’s grandfather’s recent death to make the trip. Three generations left for Nauvoo: Zachariah’s parents, their children and spouses, and their families, including several small children. The journey took a long time because of Zachariah’s parents’ poor health.

When they finally arrived in Nauvoo in 1841, the first person to greet them was the Prophet Joseph Smith. Zachariah was chosen to be a body guard for the Prophet shortly after they arrived, a position he held gratefully until the Prophet’s death. They settled in La Harp, Illinois, an area bordering the city of Nauvoo and also bought land up on the hill near Nauvoo.

This was a happy time for the whole family as they helped build Nauvoo into a beautiful city. The saints knew the city of Nauvoo would be complete when they finished the temple of God. Persecution against the saints intensified, and the Hardys, along with the body of the saints, mourned when the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred. It is said that Zachariah was one of the first to arrive in Carthage when word of his death reached the saints in Nauvoo. When the Nauvoo temple was completed, Zachariah and his wife Eliza were among the saints who received their endowments and had their marriage sealed for time and for all eternity. This strengthened him and Eliza for what lay ahead.

Brigham Young, now leader of the saints in Nauvoo, asked Zachariah to be one of the first to leave Nauvoo with the advance parties heading west. Zachariah’s duty would be to help build bridges and rafts along the way, as rivers would be swollen in spring along what would become the Mormon Trail. But, because of his seamanship skills, Brigham Young later asked Zachariah to stay and run the ferry across the river. This was a relief to the family, especially Zachariah’s wife, who gave birth to Mary Ann Hardy on February 8th, 1846. The couple rejoiced in the fact that this child was born sealed to them for time and all eternity.

It must have been hard for Zachariah to watch the saints lined up along Parley Street, waiting to be ferried across as early as February 4th, knowing that they needed his help, but his wife needed him first. Now that Mary Ann had safely arrived, on February 9th, 1846 Zachariah took up his post on the ferry, beginning what would become three days of constant ferrying. He was never relieved of his duty. The chilly winds of winter were terrifying, but Zachariah never wavered from his task. Halting only long enough to comb the ice out of his hair and beard he worked until all that were ready, including his own family, were ferried safely across the river.

On February 11th, a terrible storm arose, taxing what remained of Zachariah’s strength. When his ferry didn’t return from one of its trips, the saints grew worried and sent a rescue party onto the river, who found him lying on the ferry, feverish and frozen to the deck. His hair and beard had to be cut from the ferry floor before they could carry him to his family. They laid him in the wagon box at the side of the Mississippi river near Montrose, Iowa, where his family was staying under the canvas until they could move further west. Zachariah died of pneumonia two days later, on February 13, 1846. He was only 47 years old. His brothers quietly buried Zachariah back in Nauvoo under the cover of darkness the next night, as the mobs were still terrorizing the city. Fortunately for the rest of the travelers leaving Nauvoo, the river froze over on February 14th, allowing them to cross the river on firm ice.

Although a man of the Maine sea, Zachariah returned to the rough waters of the stormy Mississippi to help the saints find safety from the mobs in Nauvoo. Others might have lacked the courage to take on such a task, or given up when exhaustion came, but Zachariah was willing to serve until all readied wagons had been safely ferried to the other side.  This led to such exhaustion that he gave his life in the process. The Savior taught in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Sources:

__________, "History of Zachariah Hardy and wife.  Hardy or Hardie." Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record #14453, pgs. 16-17.
__________, "Zachariah Hardy's History" Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record #14453, pgs. 13-15.

Charlene Stoddard Buchmiller, "History of Zachariah Hardy , His Wife Eliza Philbrook" Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, File folder, pgs. 16-17.

Melis, Arlene Ellis, "Life Story of Ezekial Wells Cheney and Lucy Elizada Hardy Cheney" found on June 6, 2012 at http://tthompsonmedia.com/cheney/getperson.php?personID=I00627&tree=Cheney

Smith, Linda, "Zachariah Hardy Biography" Linda's Hardy Ancestors and Cousins webpage, found on June 6, 2012 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smithhouse/andergen/hardyfam/aqwn04.htm


Wadsworth, Martha Ann Hardy, "A brief Sketch of Hardy History" L. Tom Perry Special Collections; 20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts; 1130 Harold B. Lee Library; Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah 84606; http://sc.lib.byu.edu/; found on June 6, 2012 at http://findingaid.lib.byu.edu/viewItem/MSS%20SC%20185

Wadsworth, Martha Ann Hardy, "Biography of Eliza Ann Hardy Wadsworth" in Abiah Wadsworth:  His Wives and Family, 1810-1979.  1979, pages 32-36.

Eliza Philbrook Hardy Made it to the Land of Promise

 
Eliza Philbrook Hardy

1807-1881

What is this song? It played out in her mind again, all seventeen beautiful verses, clearly and brightly. It was the song she heard when she had that dream the other night. She sang it aloud again, for her children. It was her personal testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true and she would never forget it.

When Elder William Hyde came to Maine teaching of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, Eliza just couldn’t believe it. Her husband, Zachariah, didn’t have any trouble believing the missionaries that came preaching this new doctrine. But Eliza was a staunch Methodist, and it just didn’t fit in with her current beliefs.

Then Elder Hyde had left the Book of Mormon with her to keep while he visited the next town. He had said, “Now I don’t want you to read this. Just keep it for me until I get back.” And that was enough to get her curiosity going. All other attempts to encourage her to read it had failed. She proceeded to read it to find out why he wouldn’t want her to read it. She was fascinated by what she read and the more she read, the more interested she became until she was completely convinced of its sincerity and truth. That was when she had the dream.

In the dream, she saw the saints in their Temple white clothing with Joseph Smith. A song came into her mind so clearly that she knew all seventeen verses by heart until the day she died in her seventies. After this manifestation, she was convinced that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. She and her husband Zachariah were baptized in August 1840.

Eliza and Zachariah made preparations to gather with the body of the saints in Nauvoo, selling their possessions to pay for their provisions. They left their home and Zachariah’s business behind and journeyed from early 1841 over mountains and rivers until they arrived in Nauvoo in October 1841. They settled in a little cottage and began to take part in the building up of Nauvoo and the construction of the temple. Eliza was a skilled knitter and seamstress, and she made clothing for Joseph Smith’s family. They became good friends of Emma and Joseph Smith. Nauvoo was thriving and life was good.

All was not perfect, though. There were always those in opposition to the growth of the church. Over time, persecution against the saints built higher and higher until the biggest shock came: their dear friend the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred! Although sad and confused, the saints felt very thankful to the Lord for the inspiration given to Brigham Young to lead them to a place of safety and freedom in the west, away from all the persecution. Just as the temple was being completed, the saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo. Eliza rejoiced when she and Zachariah were invited to receive their own endowments in the temple and be sealed for time and eternity together on January 31, 1846.

Eliza’s faith would be further tried when Zachariah was asked to ferry the saints across the cold Mississippi river to safety on Iowa’s shores in February 1846. Eliza was in her 10th pregnancy, expecting her 7th living child. She knew full well how skilled Zachariah was at navigating rough waters, but it worried her that he’d be responsible for so many to cross. She could only hope and pray that he’d be protected for doing such a noble work.

A beautiful little daughter was born to Eliza and Zachariah Hardy on February 8th, 1846. As Zachariah left the next morning to begin ferrying the saints to safety, he hugged his wife and little baby Mary Ann goodbye, hoping to see them again soon. It was not to be. Zachariah ferried the saints for 3 solid days without relief, catching cold and pneumonia, collapsing and freezing to the deck of the ferry. He died two days later in the wagon box on the Iowa side of the river, in Eliza’s loving arms.

What was Eliza to do? In the cold of winter, with only a wagon box and canvas cover for shelter on the banks of the snowy Mississippi river, without food or support. Emma Smith, the widow of Joseph Smith, took the grieving family into her home and nourished them. Emma knew too well the grief Eliza was feeling and her tender heart ached for her friend. Eliza and her children remained with Emma for several months, until Eliza was able to travel.

When it came time to them to leave, Emma made Eliza an offer: If Eliza would give up going west and remain with her, Emma would continue to share her home and all of her possessions with Eliza and also help pay for her children’s education. Eliza knew she couldn’t accept this kind offer, no matter how tempting it was. Eliza graciously thanked sweet Emma for her kindness. Indeed, Emma’s help probably saved her life and the life of her baby Mary Ann. However much this offer appealed to her, Eliza wanted to remain with the saints. She sold her belongings to a Mr. Abbott for $400 and secured a team, wagon, and enough provisions to make the journey to Utah.

Eliza left with her brothers-in-law Lewis Hardy, Joseph Hardy, and Abiah Wadsworth and their families, settling in a camp of Nauvoo refugees about 50 miles away called Salem, Iowa. They stayed there until spring 1847 when they moved to Council Bluffs. There they gathered supplies and prepared to trek to Salt Lake City and again join with the main body of Saints. Leaving on May 10, 1851, they journeyed with the Captain Day Company to the Salt Lake valley. Her granddaughter explained, “It was a long and tiresome trip and Eliza was often so tired and footsore at night that sleep was quite impossible. But she was never heard to complain at her sad lot but was always ready with a smile and cheering kindly words for those around her.” They reached the Salt Lake Valley on September 18, 1851 when Eliza was 44 years old.

After resting in Salt Lake one day, Brigham Young asked them to colonize Uintah, or East Weber, Utah. This took three more days of travel for the weary group, but they went on rejoicing. This little band stayed together in this struggling wilderness colony for several years. Eliza knitted and sold clothing to help support the family. Her son Elisha went to California where he worked for 7 years and sent her all of his earnings. And Eliza also worked as a midwife whenever possible. They endured Indian skirmishes and hunger until they finally settled in Morgan, Utah in 1860. Here Eliza lived in her piece of Zion, happy to be part of this great latter day gathering of saints.

Finally, the words to the song that Eliza had heard in that dream had seen fruition. For many years, Eliza sang the words to her children and grandchildren. The only lines that remain tell of her life’s journey, saying,

“My son, Joseph, he shall lead you, through a long and promised land, and lead you out of Babylon…”

Eliza knew that the gospel was true and was committed to make it to the Promised Land. In spite of losing her husband tragically, leaving her with an infant and several other young children, Eliza pressed onward. She was tempted to stay with Emma Smith, in very comfortable circumstances, but Eliza pressed onward to the west with the Saints. Eliza not only reached Utah, but she continued to follow the direction of the prophet and colonized a wilderness. She raised her children in the gospel and stayed true to the faith until she died on January 5th, 1881. Her granddaughter wrote, “She died as she had lived, a true latter-day saint, and a kind and loving mother and friend. It was often said of her that she would forget her own grief and troubles in administering to the needs of those around her. She worked hard to support her family which she did with the help of her kind friends and her older children. It was said of her, ‘those who knew her best, loved her most.’

Sources:

__________, "History of Zachariah Hardy and wife.  Hardy or Hardie." Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record #14453, pgs. 16-17.
__________, "Zachariah Hardy's History" Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record #14453, pgs. 13-15.

Charlene Stoddard Buchmiller, "History of Zachariah Hardy , His Wife Eliza Philbrook" Nauvoo Ancestors Land and Records, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, File folder, pgs. 16-17.

Melis, Arlene Ellis, "Life Story of Ezekial Wells Cheney and Lucy Elizada Hardy Cheney" found on June 6, 2012 at http://tthompsonmedia.com/cheney/getperson.php?personID=I00627&tree=Cheney

Smith, Linda, "Zachariah Hardy Biography" Linda's Hardy Ancestors and Cousins webpage, found on June 6, 2012 at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smithhouse/andergen/hardyfam/aqwn04.htm


Wadsworth, Martha Ann Hardy, "A brief Sketch of Hardy History" L. Tom Perry Special Collections; 20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts; 1130 Harold B. Lee Library; Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah 84606; http://sc.lib.byu.edu/; found on June 6, 2012 at http://findingaid.lib.byu.edu/viewItem/MSS%20SC%20185

Wadsworth, Martha Ann Hardy, "Biography of Eliza Ann Hardy Wadsworth" in Abiah Wadsworth:  His Wives and Family, 1810-1979.  1979, pages 32-36.