IVA ANN WEBER and GROVER CLEVELAND HARDIN
Iva Ann(Weber) Hardin, the daughter of John K. Weber(b. 6 Aug, 1864 in St. Genevieve
County, MO) and Nina Eva(Cole) Weber(b. May 1866), was born March 8, 1890 in Valle
Mines, Jefferson County, Missouri. Nina Eva(Cole) Weber is listed as Minnie E. Weber
on the 1870 and 1900 U.S. Census. Iva was the 1st of five children: Iva Ann(b. Mar. 8,
1890), Veron C.(b. Aug. 1892), Ura O.(b. Dec. 1894), Earl R.(b. Aug. 1898), Myrtle(?)
and Eva(?).
There is no 1890 U.S. Census available for this area of Missouri. In the 1880 U.S.
Census, John K. Weber, age 16, son of Ferdinand Weber and Barbara(Hersman) Weber
is living at home in Meramec Township, Jefferson County, Missouri and working as a
farm laborer. John K. Weber and Nina Eva(Cole) Weber were married on 28 May, 1889
in Jefferson County, Missouri.
In the 1900 U.S. Census taken 23 & 25 June 1900, Iva Ann, age 10, is living at home and
attending school. The census indicates that the family is living in Valle, Jefferson
County, Missouri (excluding Desoto City) and they are renting the property where they
live. John K. Weber’s occupation is listed as farmer. Iva Ann mentioned several times
that she had gone to the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair. The fair opened on April 30, 1904
and closed on December 1, 1904. In 1904, Iva Ann’s mother, Nina Eva, died of
pneumonia and Iva Ann assumed the responsibility of raising her younger brothers &
sister. Family history indicates that John K. had a difficult time earning a living and
managing money, and did not provide a stable home life. Iva Ann completed the 7th
grade.
Grover Cleveland Hardin, the son of Louis Morgan Hardin and Laura
Mary(Huffman/Aubuchon) Hardin, was born on October 31, 1888 in Leadwood, St.
Francois County, Missouri. Some accounts indicate that Grover Cleveland was born in
French Village, St. Francois County. Grover Cleveland was President of the United
States in 1888 and I’ve always assumed that G.C. was named after the president.
Grover Cleveland was the fifth of six children born to Louis Morgan and Laura Mary.
Martha(Mattie) Evelyn(b.Jul.24, 1877), Thomas W.(b.Jun. 7, 1880), Charles
Morgan(b.Apr. 2, 1883), Bertha J.(b.Apr. 2, 1886), Grover Cleveland(b. Oct 31, 1888),
Louis Elmer(b.Aug. 3, 1892). Grover had one step sister – Mary Aubuchon(daughter of
Laura Mary).
In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census taken on June 19, 1900, the family is living in the City
of Desloge, Randolph Township, St. Francois County, Missouri. Lewis’s occupation is
listed as farmer and it is noted that the family owns the property they live on. Grover
Cleveland’s mother was a “devout member of the Methodist Church” as noted in her
obituary. Grover Cleveland’s father, according to his obituary, had never joined any
church. Family history indicates that Grover Cleveland had a fine voice and enjoyed
attending singing parties in the community. In 1900 or shortly thereafter, Louis Morgan
sold the family farm to the Desloge Lead Company. In 1905, the girls of Prospect
School, a one-room schoolhouse situated in Valle Township, near Valle Mines, gave a
birthday party for their teacher, Anna Griffith, and Grover Cleveland(Cleve) was in
attendance. Grover Cleveland’s niece, Rachael Hardin Meier, was the teacher at the
Prospect School in 1936-37. In 1906, a picture was taken at McGehan School House,
located on McGehan Road in St. Francois County and Grover Cleveland(Cleve) is in the
IVA ANN WEBER and GROVER CLEVELAND HARDIN
picture. Elmer Hardin, Grover Cleveland’s brother is also in the picture. Grover
Cleveland completed the 8th grade.
Iva Ann Weber and Grover Cleveland Hardin were married on 31 December, 1909 in
Potosi, Washington County, Missouri. Jas(James) R. Bullington, Minister of the Gospel,
performed the service. Their marriage certificate indicates that Iva Ann, age 19, is from
Desoto, Jefferson County, Missouri and Grover Cleveland, age 21, is from Valles Mines,
St. Francois County, Missouri. Iva Ann and Grover Cleveland had 10 children:
Linville Cleve(b. June 18, 1910), Harold Morgan(b. Jan 9, 1912), Nina Laura(b. Sept. 25,
1913), Randall Victor(b. July 2, 1915), Velma Iva(b. Feb 22, 1917), Ernest Lee(b. June
30, 1919, d. July 13, 1919)Vinita Mary(b.May 5, 1922), Oleta Margaret(b.July 18, 1923),
Ura Charles(b. Oct. 21, 1925), Norman Orval (b.Sept. 3, 1926).
Iva Ann and Grover Cleveland moved from Jefferson County to Texas County, Cabool,
MO in 1910 by team & covered wagon and hack & horse. Grover drove the team and
wagon and Iva drove the hack and horse. The trip took them about one week. Grover
Cleveland had inherited about $1000.00 from his father as a result of the sale of the farm
which was a considerable amount of money for the time. There is no U.S. Census for
1910 for this part of Missouri. The family moved to Texas County, Cabool, Missouri, so
that Grover Cleveland could establish a W.T. Rawleigh Company distribution center to
sell a variety of goods, such as medicines, stock feed, chicken feed as well as an
assortment of other goods. G.C. traveled by horse and hack in the beginning and later
bought a buggy to cover the area around Cabool.
According to Grover Cleveland’s WW1 draft registration card dated June 5, 1917 he has
blue eyes, brown hair, is medium height and medium build. It indicates he was born in
Leadwood, MO. The Registration card is recorded in Texas County, Missouri, however,
it shows a mailing address of Mountain Grove, MO(which is in Wright County). It
indicates that Grover Cleveland’s occupation is farming-self employed and indicates that
he has a wife and five children. Comment: It is possible that the family moved from
Cabool, MO to the farm (Texas County) near Mountain Grove for a period of time before
Ernest Lee was born or that G.C. is living on the farm by himself. Uncle Ura believes
that this is a farm that is located north and east of the Fruit Experiment Station-Texas
County. He said that Grover Cleveland owned the farm.
From 1918-1920, Grover worked for the railway mail service as a mail clerk sorting mail
for 1200 post offices located in southern Missouri. The Frisco passenger trains had two
mail cars, the Missouri car and the Arkansas & Oklahoma car, on which Grover worked.
In September, 1918, Grover and Iva purchased a farm from James M. Denny – 2 miles
east of Mtn. Grove in Texas County. **Other farms were purchased – need to
research.**
On July 13, 1919, Ernest Lee, the 6th child passes away in Cabool, MO. at 13 days old.
Ernest’s death certificate states that he died of “cholera infantum”(a non-contagious
diarrhoea of young children, occurring in summer or autumn months and common
among bottle fed babies). Ernest Lee is buried in the Cabool, Missouri cemetery. Family
history indicates that Grover Cleveland’s aunt, ???, was visiting the family and helping
with the children when Ernest Lee passed away.
According to the 1920 U.S. Census taken January 8, 1920, Iva Ann and Grover Cleveland
are living in Burdine Township, Texas County, Cabool, Missouri, Ward 2. They own the
IVA ANN WEBER and GROVER CLEVELAND HARDIN
house the family is living in. Grover Cleveland’s occupation is listed as – mail clerk for
the railroad. Vern C. Weber, Iva Ann’s brother, is living with the family. Following
Grover’s employment with the Frisco Railroad, the family must have moved to the
property two miles east of Mtn. Grove, formerly the Denny property. Harold remembers
that Grover operated a saw mill on the property and sawed material for box car stock for
the Frisco Railroad as well as other custom work. In late 1926 or early 1927, during the
serious illness of their youngest child, Norman, the family moved to Mountain Grove,
Wright County, MO to a house on Wall Street just south of the railroad tracks. The
moved allowed them to be closer to a doctor for Norman and to be closer to school for
the older children.
According to the 1930 U.S. Census taken on April 15, 1930 Iva Ann and Grover
Cleveland are living in Mountain Grove, Wright County, MO in Ward 2(this is probably
the house on Wall Street). It indicates they own the house they live in. All nine children
are living at home. Linville Cleve graduates from Mountain Grove High School in 1930.
It lists Grover Cleveland’s occupation as farming and that he is self-employed. During
the period between 1930 and 1935 Grover and Iva purchase several lots in the Northview
Addition of Mtn. Grove on Maple Street. Grover moved a house from near Highway 60
north to Maple Street. The house was separated in two parts and became two houses on
two of the lots.
Sometime after 1930 and before 1935, the family moves from Wall Street to North Maple
Street in Mountain Grove, Wright County, Missouri.
According to the 1940 U.S. Census taken on April 30, 1940 the family is living at 916 N.
Maple Street in Mountain Grove, Wright County, Missouri. Three children are living at
home: Oleta Margaret age 16, Ura Charles age 14 and Norman Orval age 13. It indicates
that the family owns the home they are living in(this is the house that was moved). The
other house is rented. Grover Cleveland’s occupation is listed as farmer – self-employed
and that he owns a farm (RR 1, Mtn. Grove, MO). All nine grown children graduated
from Mountain Grove High School, five earned a college degree and five served in the
Armed Services during World War II. In 1949, Grover starts to haul fruit (strawberries,
peaches, apples, watermelons) and occasionally other items for wholesale and retail in the
south central Missouri area. Grover would drive to the live stock sale barns in the area on
sale day and park on the southeast corner of the Mountain Grove square on Saturdays
near a service station owned by a Mr. Perry. Iva Ann would sell farm fresh eggs as well.
Family was always important for Grover and Iva. The family stayed in touch by using a
Round Robin Letter and holding a family reunion each year in early July. The first
reunion picture(that I know of) was taken in July 1, 1950 on the steps of the Methodist
Church in Mountain Grove, Missouri. All children and grandchildren are present except
for son, Norman who was in Buffalo, Iowa.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 40’s and 50’s and later????
IVA ANN WEBER and GROVER CLEVELAND HARDIN
Information Provided by:
Linville Hardin
Harold Hardin
Velma Hardin
Oleta Ramsey
Ura Hardin
Dale Hardin
Ron Ramsey