Mr. Harden was married in this township to Miss Kate McCleary, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and Salinda (Morehead) McCleary,who were pioneers of Lee County. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania but were of Scotch lineage. They came hither when she was young, and at first lived on a farm in Nachiusa Township. Later the father purchased a farm in Nelson Township, to which he removed his family and here he died in 1884 at the age of three-score years and ten. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian and, politically, he was a Democrat. Mrs. Harden was fourteen years old when the family came to this State, and she remained one of the parental household until her marriage. She died here in the home in whose upbuilding she had assisted her husband, December 3, 1889, at the age of thirty~ eight, and was mourned far beyond the home circle, as she was a woman of rare merit, of a sweet and wholesome nature, and all who came under her influence found her to be kind and true. By her death the Lutheran Church lost one of its most esteemed members. She was a devoted wife and fond mother, and her happy marriage with our subject that was saddened only by her death, was blessed to them by three children: Eva J., at home with her father; William J., and Lawrence D., who is being reared by an aunt.
Source: “Dennis C. Harden” <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Portraits & Biographical Record of Lee County IL</span>. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1892. 199.