Jacob "Jake" Pelfrey on right, James William 'Willie' Hardin on left.
Third man from left is James William 'Willie' Hardin, 4th is Jake Pelfrey. The rest of the men include John and Emmitt Johnston, Fred Whetchely (sp) and Pharis (last name unknown)
Jacob Pelfrey 1893-1979, born in Rowan Co., Kentucky, the son of Louisa (Hargis) Pelfrey and Beverly McClain Pelfrey. James William "Willie" Hardin, Jacob's nephew, was the son of Sarah Elisabeth Pelfrey, Jacob's sister, and Alfred Hardin. Willie Hardin was killed by a gun shot wound through the kidney on 11 June 1929 in Rowan County, Kentucky.
Family Stories
Hargis family story Here is a short story that survives today, passed down through the Hargis family by those too young to have actually known or remembered Willie Harden, but do remember and did know Jake Hargis. Mrs. Pelfrey was living with the William Norvel Hargis family at the time Willie Hardin was shot and killed by Jake Pelfrey. (that could have been Louisa Hargis Pelfrey or Willies wife or mother, I do not know) William Norvel's son Jake Hargis got so upset after Jake Pelfrey shot Willie Hardin that he changed his name from Jake to Jack. He was afraid someone would mistake which Jake was which and shoot him in retaliation for Willies death. Jake Hargis kept the name Jack the rest of his life.
From the website of Donna Hardin. "Willie" died after he was shot by his mothers brother, Jake Pelfrey. Jake meant to shoot Willies Dad, Alfred Hardin but mistook Willie for his father because he was wearing his new straw hat, one similar to his fathers. Alfred Hardin and Jake Pelfrey were fighting over a property line.
James William Hardin's death certificate states that he died from a gunshot wound through the kidney.