Ralph Bishop Hardey

RALPH BISHOP HARDEY was born Nov. 8, 1880, at Knob Noster, Mo., the only child of Walter Hardey (b. 1856-a.1900) and his first wife, Ida (Bishop) Hardey (died Feb. 26, 1889).

Soon after his mother's death, Ralph Bishop Hardey removed with his father to Gurdon, Clark County, Ark., where he (Walter Hardey) was connected with the Gurdon Lumber Co. Later they moved to Clarendon, Monroe County and remained there until Ralph B. had finished the 6th grade in school. Walter Hardey returned to Gurdon, but his son remained in Clarendon and lived in the home of the late W.R. Clements and his wife, Julia (parents of Mrs. B.D. Luck of Pine Bluff), In this home Ralph B. remained until his marriage.

Ralph Bishop Hardey's first position was Office Boy at the National Cooperage and Wooden Ware Company of Clarendon. At the same time, he was Janitor at the Presbyterian Church, Later, he did various kinds of work in Clarendon, including delivery boy for McCabe Grocery, Drug Store clerk, Tin Shop with Wm. Graham (now Chamber of Commerce Sec. at Warren, Bradley County, Arkansas), Lumber business, Owner and Operator of the Clarendon Livery Stable.

On July 27, 1904, R.B. Hardey was married to Mary Virginie Chapman, b. Nov. 18, 1880, youngest child of John Richard Chapman and his wife, Virginia (Connell) Chapmen. Mary Virginie was a baby when her mother died. Later, her father married Nancy Josephine Johnson, and soon after that, John Richard Chapman died. In time, Nancy Josephine Chapman married J.R.B. Moore. Mary Virginia lived with her stepparents until her marriage.

R.B. Hardey and family moved to Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas June 19, 1911, residing at first on a farm one mile N.W. of Prescott (adjacent to DeAnne Cemetery). His avocation at that time was playing drums and traps in the orchestra at the Airdome Theatre (one of the first Cinemas in Prescott). In 1912, he helped build and then operated the Gem Theatre on E. Elm Street, which business was later moved to West Front Street. In Oct. 1913, he purchased this show from W.0. Wyrile and continued to operate it (with various improvements from time to time) until July 1, 1937, when he sold to Miss Addys Brown of the Brown Theatre corporation. At the time this transaction took place Mr. Hardey ranked as one of the long-time exhibitors of the state, having shown pictures in the same location for 25 years. In 1954, Mr. Hardey purchased the Liberty Theatre at Nashville, Howard County. This theatre, he operated until 1989 when he sold to the K. Lee Williams Corporation of Oklahoma City. He is at present (Sept 1939) Purchasing Agent for that company.

Children of R.B. Hardey and his wife, Virginia (Chapman) Hardey are: Josephine (b. 1906), married March 6, 1926 to Leon Carrington; Ralph Bishop Jr, (b. 1910)

Their grandchildren are: Ralph Hardey Carrington; Virginie Jo Carrington; Mary Virginia (Chapmen) Hardey died at her home in Prescott, Ark. on May 23, 1951. Buried in DeAnne Cemetery.