Family tradition says that Joel was born in Breckenridge Co and that his father's name was Joel. The Family Record Collection says he was the son of Joel Hardin and Abigail Rawlings of Breckenridge Co. Unless Joel and Abigail were hiding him when the 1830 and 1840 Census was taken and able to have another child two months after their son William Nelson Hardin, he's not a part of that family. I even considered that he was the son born in 1820, but I believe that was Daniel Hardin who moved onto MO as well as the rest of Joel and Abigail's family did. Joel P. Hardin married Lucinda Basham in Warren County in 1847. I can't figure out where he was before that. His son, Francis Logan was born in Breckenridge Co in 1852 so I believe he lived there for several years. In the 1860 Census, he is living in between Elijah Hardin and Moses B. Hardin, both sons of Henry Hardin in District No. 1. He doesn't own any land like they do, however. He does not appear in the 1870 Census anywhere, but I do believe he moved to Edmonson Co. in 1870 because in the 1880 US Census Mortality Schedule entry for his daughter Alice Hardin Miller, it was said she had lived in Edmonson Co for 10 years before her death.

I'm hoping that there is some piece of evidence in Breckenridge Co to solve this mystery. Thanks for your help.