It has been our observation that personnel in the government land office at Quincy did an admirable job of accurately recording names, especially considering that many of the purchasers had little education and often could not read or write.  One exception, we believe, was the name found on Certificate #1725 issued October 10, 1840.  "Ira" Hardy was given the preemptive option to purchase 80 acres in Section 36 of Township 6N, 5W (later named Fountain Green Township). This meant that Mr. Hardy was already farming those acres.  He chose instead to assign (sign over) his right to purchase that land to Charles Martin.  We believe that Ira Hardy was, in fact, Ivo Hardy.

Also issued on October 10 were two certificates by which Ivo became the owner of a total of 120 acres in Sections 25 and 35 of Township 6N, 5W.  Follow this link to view a representation of Ivo's purchases.  In 1850 he would purchase another 40 acres adjacent to his land in Section 25, giving his farm there the shape of a backward L.  (This later purchase is not yet illustrated on the map.)

A biography of Leo Carl Hardey, Ivo and Mary's grandson, stated that Ivo died in his 99th year. The 1880 Gregg History of Hancock County included a biography of William K. Gittings, husband of Ivo and Mary's daughter, Amelia.  This biograpy reported that Ivo H. Hardy was deceased and that Mary was living in the Gittings' home, a statement supported by the 1880 Federal Census.  Ivo's age was reported in a consistent numerical progression in censuses from 1840 through 1870, indicating he was born about 1799.  In addition, Foote's 1940 Fountain Green Almanac, with a just a handful of exceptions, has proved to be a reliable source of death dates.  The Almanac reported Ivo "Hardey" died May 5, 1878.

Ivo and Mary's children were:

i.	Amelia Elizabeth Hardy, born about 1830 in Kentucky.
ii.	Ann Hardy, born about 1831-32 in Kentucky.
iii.	William Michael Hardy, born September 29, 1831, in Union County, Kentucky.
iv.	James Hardy, born June 10, 1833, in Kentucky, died July 31, 1906, probably in Clay Township, Adair County, Missouri.  He was buried in Clay Township at St. Mary's Cemetery.
v.	Henry Hardy, born January 26, 1835*, in Kentucky, died June 4, 1855, probably in Hancock County, burial at St. Simon Cemetery near Fountain Green.  The surname on Henry's marker is Hardey.
vi.	Matilda Hardy, born about 1839 in Illinois, probably Hancock County.
vii.	Ivo B. Hardy, born about 1840 in Illinois, probably Hancock County.
viii.	Mary Hardy, born about 1840 in Illinois, probably Hancock County.
ix.	Angeline Hardy, apparently a twin to Eveline, born about 1845 in Illinois, probably Hancock County.
x.	Eveline Hardy, apparently a twin to Angeline, born about 1845 in Illinois, probably Hancock County.
* Birth date calculated from tombstone inscription.

Ivo Hardy, 50, male, farmer, value of real estate 2000, born MD
Marian, 40, female, born KY
Ann, 18, female, born KY
William M, 17, male, farmer, born KY
James, 15, male, born KY
Henry, 13, male, born KY, attended school within the year
Ivo B, 10, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Matilda, 8, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Mary, 7, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Angeline, 5, female, born IL
Eveline, 5, female, born IL

William Gettings, 28, male, farmer, value of real estate 2500, born KY
Elizabeth, 22, female, born KY
Mary E, 1, female, born IL
Mary Hardy, 8, female, born IL, attended school within the year
[Mary Hardy was, apparently, enumerated twice in 1850, once in her parents' home and also in the home of her older sister.]

John Hardy, 60, male, farmer, value of real estate 4000, value of personal estate 1200, born MD
Riley, 53, female, born KY
Elizabeth, 32, female, born KY
Ann, 30, female, born KY
William, 20, male, farmer, born KY
James, 27, male, farmer, born KY*
[continued on next page]
John, 23, male, farmer, born IL
Matilda, 21, female, born IL
Mary, 18, female, born IL
Louisa, 15, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Angeline, 15, female, born IL, attended school within the year, deaf and dumb
James, 27, male, farmer, born KY, married within the year*

Hardy, Ivo, 70, male, white, retired farmer, value of real estate 14000, value of personal estate 1800, born MD, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Ann, 65, female, white, keeping house, born KY
Angeline, 25, female, white, born IL
Mary, 27, female, white, born IL
Hardy, William, 38, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 500, born KY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Mariah, 20, female, white, keeping house, born Ireland, both parents foreign born

Gittings, William, white, male, 57, married, farmer, born KY, both parents born MD
Elisabeth, white, female, 51, wife, married, keeping house, born KY, father born MD, mother
born KY
James, white, male, 20, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Henry, white, male, 18, son, single, farmer, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Catherine, white, female, 16, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born KY
Cook, George, white, male, 20, laborer, single, farmer, born WI, both parents born OH
Hardy, Mary, white, female, 73, M.inlaw, widow, boarder, born KY, both parents born VT
Cars, Carry, white, female, 18, servant, single, servent, born IL, both parents born OH
Madison, Charles, white, male, 15, nephew, single, farmer, attended school within the year, born IL, father born KY, mother born IL