Henry Clay Harding

Narrative:

     Henry Clay Harding was born on 5 Nov 1865 in Kickapoo, Anderson Co., Texas.^5,6,7
     He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Anderson Co., Texas, in the household of his parents, Samuel Doak Harding and Mary Isabelle Wylie, in the household of Thomas Garland and his wife Mattie.
     His mother died before 1874, when Henry was about 9 years old.¹⁵
     Henry appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Runnels Co., Texas, enumerated 9 Jun 1880, with his younger brothers James and Horrace at the ranch of Robert K. Wylie, his mother's brother.¹⁶
     Henry married first Fannie G. Manning on 18 Jul 1893 in Mitchell Co., Texas, with Rev. D. H. Fallen of the Christian Church officiating.^8,9
     He was working cattle on his uncle's ranch at the age of 14. He worked as a cowpuncher in Erath Co., and in the San Angelo area. He was later a range boss in Carlsbad, New Mexico and was a member of the Western Land & Commission Company in Erath Co.^17,18,19,20
     Henry served as county and district clerk at Stanton, Martin Co., Texas, and later was elected county judge there, while continuing to work in the cattle business.²¹
     In 1898 Henry sold his ranching interests and he and Fannie moved their family to Denver where he became inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.²¹ Henry and Fannie appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Denver, Arapahoe Co., Colorado, at 4103 West 30th Ave., enumerated 2 Jun 1900, reporting that they rented their home. Their children Lulu and Mary were listed as living with them, as were two lodgers, Irene Hammers, widowed, age 35, and apparently her daughter, Maud, age 12.²²
     Henry left his position in Denver in Jul 1900, and moved his family to Amarillo, Texas, where he became manager of the LX Ranch, north of town. The ranch was a 320,000-acre spread, running 35,000 cattle. While there he improved the headquarters on Bonita Creek, and experimented with raising alfalfa on 200 acres in the section of the ranch along the Canadian River. The hay was fed to the young cattle during the winter months.^23,21,24
     His wife died on 5 Mar 1905.²⁵
     Henry moved to St. Louis in 1906 where he was in the livestock commission business for a year, then returned to Amarillo.^21,26
     Henry married second Virginia Leoma Cobb, daughter of Maj. Robert H. Cobb and Sarah Virginia Walker, on 28 Jan 1908 in St. Andrews Church, Amarillo, Texas, with Rev. E. McQueen Gray of Carlsbad, New Mexico, officiating.^10,11 After a honeymoon trip of several weeks in Mexico, Henry and Virginia settled in their new home at Sixteenth and Lincoln Sts., Amarillo, Texas.²⁷
     Henry and Virginia appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Amarillo, Potter Co., Texas, at 1510 Lincoln St., enumerated 18 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their home, which was mortgaged. His daughters by his previous marriage, Lulu and Mary, were listed as living with them, as was Alise Tornosky, a servant.²⁸
     He bought the Harding Ranch in 1915, which included a large segment of the northern wing of the Palo Duro Canyon, including land now under Lake Tanglewood, The Great Falls and Devil’s Kitchen. He opened the area to the public about 1925, with a restaurant, a dance pavilion, and featuring site-seeing around the Falls and Devil’s kitchen. Graduates of the area high schools had graduation parties there. He sold the ranch in 1938 and the public areas were closed.^29,30,31,32
     Henry and Virginia appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Randall Co., Texas, enumerated 19 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a farm valued at $22,500 and owned a radio. Listed as living with them are J. W. Ellison, a cook, Odus Redding, a farm laborer, and Glen Settle, a farm hand.³³
     Henry and Virginia appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Amarillo, Potter Co., Texas, at 300 Polk South, enumerated 8 Apr 1940, reporting that they were renting their home, for $30 per month, and had lived in the same dwelling in 1935.³⁴
     After he left ranching he was a loan agent the 1st National Bank in Amarillo. In 1940 he identified himself as a bank inspector manager, focused on ranches and farms. That year he reported he worked 50 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $3,000.^35,36
     Henry died on 11 Jun 1956 in 312 W. 9th, Amarillo, Potter Co., Texas, at age 90.^12,13 He was buried in Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Potter Co., Texas.^14,3