HARDACRE, Emma Chamberlain

HARDACRE, Emma Chamberlain (1843-1930) was born in Jacksonville, Illinois. She was a writer for the Louisville Courier Journal, and visited Santa Barbara in 1876 during a time when the 1853 story of the rescue of Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island was still fresh in the memories of many local residents. Encouraged by Dr. Dimmick, Henry Chapman Ford and James W. Calkins, Emma Hardacre interviewed those involved in the 1853 rescue of “Juana María,” and wrote of her discoveries. She visited Santa Barbara several times before moving there for the last 35 years of her life. She died a widow at age 86 in her home at 313 West Pedregosa Street.

Her niece, historian Elizabeth Mason (daughter of Hardacre's sister)

Hardacre is buried in Santa Barbara Cemetery in an unmarked grave next to her younger sister

: Frances "Fannie" Lauriat Chamberlain Metcalf (1859–1949) = [1887] Winfield Bradbury Metcalf (1862-1938)

and other members of the Metcalf family.

» Hardacre, Emma Eighteen Years Alone in Scribners Monthly 20:(657-664), 1880.

In the News~

March 20, 1930 [SBMP]: “Death claims Mrs. Hardacre. Had lived here 35 years; Funeral arrangements not decided upon. Mrs. Emma Chamberlain Hardacre died yesterday afternoon in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank McGuire, 313 West Pedregosa Street. A native of Illinios, Mrs. Hardacre made her home in Santa Barbara for the last 35 years. She had been an invalid for five years. In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Hardacre is survived by a sister, Mrs. Winfield B. Metcalf, a niece, Miss Elizabeth Mason of Santa Barbara, and a grandson, Francis McGuire of Los Angeles.”