Lt Governor James G. Hardy’s tombstone which is broken into five pieces reads:

“Inscribed in the memory of
James G. Hardy
Lieut. of Kentucky
by his widow M.K.H.
Beneath this slab is deposited the remains
of the Statesman, Friend, Father and Husband. 
In the charge of the duties pertain ing to those
relations in life the Christian grace shown
preeminently.

In his last lucid moments the Christian Hope
buoyed him above the pangs dissolution.
Peace to his ashes till the resurrection morn.

Oh weep not for those in the Tomb.”

(M.K.H. is referring to his third wife Minerva K. Guffrey.)

Transcription provided by Edith Bastin

Article provided by Dr. Gary Lee Bastin (Edith's son) who has researched this family line.

Kentucky’s Lt. Governor James G. Hardy is buried in the Edwards Cemetery, Barren County, Kentucky. In 1854 he was elected Lt. Governor on the Know-Nothing Party ticket but died July 16, 1856 before completing his term. There was once a Hwy Marker located in the edge of Hart County on Hwy 31-E at the Bear Wallow-Seymour Road. The marker was hit and knocked down by an automobile in the 1970s or 1980s. The highway marker laid on the road side for years but has never replaced by the Highway Department. Here is Lt. Governor James G. Hardy’s obituary:

Tri-Weekly Commonwealth Newspaper 25 July 1856 Issue

"Death of Lt. Governor Hardy.

At half-past 12 o'clock on Wednesday night, July 16th, 1856, JAMES G. HARDY, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Kentucky, died at his residence in Glasgow, Ky., and was carried to his farm in the country and interred in the family burying grounds on Thursday evening.

Major Hardy was born in Lunenburg county, Virginia, on the 3d day of May, 1795, and was, consequently, in his 62d year, when he died. He had a large family, and left a widow and ten living children to mourn his death.

He had, during his life, been frequently elected to the State Legislature, by the force of his personal popularity. For although Barren county has for many years had a majority of Whigs, he has often been elected as a Democrat.

When the American movement reached this part of the country, he united himself with, and at once became a prominent member of that party. In 1855 he was nominated as the American candidate, and elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Soon after the beginning of the session of the last Legislature, he was attacked with an affection of the brain, from which he never recovered, and of which he died.

Major Hardy, was distinguished for the urbanity of his manners, the generosity and kindness of his disposition, and for his high social and personal qualities.

In his death his family and friends, his country and the State, have lost a most estimable member, and a faithful public servant. He had for many years been an exemplary member of the Baptist Church, and on the day before he died, with a perfect consciousness of his situation and of his approaching dissolution, he spoke to his wife with calm serenity of the change that was about to take place. He said the shroud in which he would soon be clothed was but an emblem of the robe he would wear on high. He expressed no fears, no apprehensions of death or its consequences, but left the world full of Christian faith, hope, and confidence. --Glasgow Journal, 19th."