Agency Histories

Stephen Selwyn Harding was born in Palmyra, NY on February 24, 1808. He had little formal school but was known to be a voracious reader. He studied the law under William R. Morris in Brookville, IN and received his license to practice on March 17, 1828. He opened his own law office in Richmond, but there was too much competition, so while in New Orleans on business for a client, he looked into practicing down south. Things didn't work out and he gained a repugnance of slavery while there. He worked his way back north by taking a position as a clerk on board a steamboat. By 1829, he was back in Indiana, this time in Versailles, once again practicing law. Harding married Avoline Sprout on October 31, 1830. The following years saw a succession of changes in his political affiliations. Harding started as a Whig, then in 1840 he helped organize and joined the Liberal party. When that party dissolved in 1848, he changed to the Free-Soil party, then joined the Republican party in the 1850s. Through all of this, Harding remained an avid abolitionist. 1862-1863 Harding spent as Governor of the Utah Territory. However, his strong opposition to the prevailing opinions of the local people caused them to write to the President, asking for his removal. Their request was granted and Harding was sent to Colorado to become the Chief Justice of the Colorado Territorial Supreme Court 1863-1865. After his time as a judge ended, Harding returned to Indiana where he practiced law until 1881, when he had to stop because he was going blind. Harding died on February 12, 1891 in Milan, IN.