Vertus Hardiman Bio

VERTUS WELBORN HARDIMAN (1922-2007)

Vertus Hardiman was born March 9, 1922 in Lyles Station, Indiana, one of the earliest original Negro settlements. The Hardiman family was one of its earliest settlers. In 1928, Vertus attended Lyles Consolidated School, a school for children in grades one through eight. His favorite subject was mathematics, and it was here that he found comfort and isolation from the racial tension of his time.

He soon matriculated to Lincoln High School in nearby Princeton where, in 1941, he graduated with honors. This success he accomplished in spite of the tremendous obstacle he had to overcome most his life — a horrific crime of medical experimentation suffered as a child of five years. He hid this secret for 80 years, never disclosing his condition but instead choosing never to complain or otherwise discuss his challenge while living life on his terms. Vertus