JOHN HIRDNING, farmer, section 27, Garfield Township, was born in the city of Philadelphia, April 4, 1836, and is son of George and Catherine Hirdning. His mother died when he was two years old. His father married again and in 1839 removed his family to Sandusky, Ohio, which was then in its incipiency. The senior Hirdning remained there until 1854, when he went to Australia.
Mr. Hirdning was married May 20, 1858, to Harriet Reitz, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born Sept. 7, 1839. Of 11 children born of this marriage nine are living: Charles E., George, Rosa E. (wife of Henry Shady), Emma B., Chester ZN., Wallace O., Hattie M. and Mary G. John F. and an unnamed infant are deceased. Soon after marriage Mr. Hirdning came to St. Joseph Co., Mich., where he rented a farm for a time, afterwards becoming owner of one, upon which he resided 11 years. In 1872 he came to Newaygo, where he was variously occupied and also bought some land, on section 22, which two years later he took possession of and remained a resident until the fall of 1878, when he bought his present estate, consisting of 120 acres, all in heavy timber. He has now 34 acres under cultivation.