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VERDE V. HARDCASTLE
Vol. 3, p. 1313

This well known and representative member of the bar of Oklahoma
City, where he is serving as assistant municipal counselor, became a
resident of what is now the State of Oklahoma when he was an infant,
and he thus belongs to a pioneer family of both Indian Territory and
Oklahoma Territory. He has been in active practice for nearly
eighteen years.

Born in Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas, July 17, 1872, he is a son
of Benjamin Franklin Hardcastle and Adelphe (KALVINI) Hardcastle. His
father was born in Missouri and his mother in Pulaski County,
Arkansas. His father was connected with the building of the Missouri,
Kansas, and Texas Railroad from Kansas into Indian Territory in 1871,
and in the following year he became one of the pioneer residents of
Indian Territory. Later he moved his family to Atoka, and there his
wife taught school during 1873-74. Later she was one of the early
teachers in the pioneer schools of Tahlequah in Cherokee County.
Verde Vicar Hardcastle probably has within the present State Oklahoma
a greater number of kinsfolk and collateral relatives than any other
one man in the state, since many of the family connections came
across from Arkansas in the early days, and they and their
descendants are numerously represented in the eastern half of the
state.

Though a part of his childhood was spent in Eastern Oklahoma, Verde
V. Hardcastle received his education in the public schools of
Savannah, Missouri. He early decided that the law should be his
vocation, and in line with that decision he entered the law
department of Washington University at St. Louis, where he was
graduated in 1896 LL.B. Later he returned to Oklahoma Territory, and
on October 2, 1898, began practice at Oklahoma City, and for a time
resided at Anadarko, county seat of Caddo County, where he served as
first village attorney of what is now a thriving city. Experience
soon proved his ability as a lawyer, and with confidence as to the
future he sought a broader field and returned to Oklahoma City, where
he has since enjoyed a good general practice. He has appeared in much
important litigation in the various courts both under the Territory
and state regime. In 1911 when the commission form of government was
adopted in Oklahoma City he became assistant municipal counselor, and
in that capacity has conducted a large amount of legal business for
the city, the skillful handling of which has inured to his increased
reputation as an attorney.

In 1912-13 at the instance of the city commissioner, Mr. Hardcastle
compiled the municipal ordinances and thus gave to the capital city
its first code of laws. His work is compiler received much
commendation and has been creditable in every sense to his work as a
lawyer and as a public official.

Mr. Hardcastle may rightfully be considered as one of the
influential figures in the democratic party of Oklahoma and has shown
both zeal and ability in promoting the success of the organization.
He served as a member of the Democratic Territorial Central Committee
before statehood, being its secretary one term. For many years he has
been active in the Oklahoma City Democratic Committee, of which he is
now secretary and has shown peculiar ability in handling political
forces in various campaigns. He has frequently attended as a delegate
the more important conventions of his party in the state. As
Secretary to the campaign committee in behalf of Oklahoma City he
attended to the detail work in the campaign which made the metropolis
also the capital and permanent seat of the state government.

A personal and more intimate view of Mr. Hardcastle is found in the
following brief quotation: "Mr. Hardcastle is loved by his friends
and shunned by his enemies. He is somewhat abrupt in his contests and
controversies, believing that in being frank and outspoken he has
less opportunity to give false impressions or make mistakes. Thus he
creates opposition when those of more tendencies for compromise would
avoid friction, yet he is always fair and sincere and honest in
meeting his opponents---in law, civic contact or political
discussion."

Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is a
member of the Oklahoma County and Oklahoma Bar Association. On April
24, 1896, he married Miss Mary Louise PHILLIPPE, daughter of Hiram
and Mary L. (ROBINSON) Phillippe of Fillmore, Andrew County,
Missouri. They have one child, a son, Valle V. who was born in 1898.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, October 7, 1998.