Verde V. HARDCASTLE
"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 at 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 & 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 of 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 or 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 as 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 State 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."