Rev. Dr. Manley Sylvester Hard was the son of Rev. Amos and Elizabeth West (Robinson) Hard. He was the husband of Celia Adelaide (Stowell) Hard. They were married July 5, 1866. Celia died July 24, 1914. He was a minister in the Central New York Conference, Northern New York Conference and Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The New Secretary Of The Church Extension Society
Northern Christian Advocate
November 23, 1892
Hard.--The Rev. Manley S. Hard, D.D., who has been duly nominated and confirmed as assistant corresponding secretary of the Church Extension Society, is well known to many of the readers of the Northern, who will rejoice in his promotion and will commend the excellent judgment of the Bishops and the General Committee on Church Extension in selecting him for this responsible office. He is the son of the late Rev. Amos Hard of the Genesee Conference. He was born October 4, 1839. He was converted when only eight years of age. He graduated from Genesee College, now Syracuse University, in the class of 1863. He was received into the Central New York Conference in 1865, His appointments since have been as follows: 1865-1866, Morrisville; 1867-1869, Clinton; 1870-1872, Ilion; 1873-1875, Syracuse: Centenary Church; 1876-1877, Ithaca: Aurora Street; 1878-1880 Presiding Elder of Elmira District; 1881-1883, Elmira: Hedding Church; 1884-1885, Canandaigua; 1886, transferred to Wyoming Conference; 1886-1890, Binghamton: Centenary Church; 1891-1892, Presiding Elder of Wyoming District. He was secretary of the Central New York Conference for ten years, and for six years past has been secretary of the Wyoming Conference. He has been a member of the last three General Conferences, serving each time as assistant secretary, being first assistant in the General Conferences of 1888 and 1892. He has also served as trustee of the Exra Cornell Library, Ithaca, trustee of the New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women, and president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association. His brother, the Rev. C. P. Hard, is a distinguished missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India. Dr. Hard is now in the prime of life. He has a genial and winning presence and manner, is a ready platform speaker and is a very attractive preacher. As pastor and Presiding Elder he has in every field assigned to him labored with notable success. His gifts, experiences and consecration fit him for great usefulness in the important and conspicuous position to which he has been appointed.

Chaffee, Amasa Franklin
History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, c1904, Pgs. 189-190
Biography of Rev. Manley S. Hard

Memoir
Methodist Episcopal Church
Wyoming Conference Journal
1903, Page 109