 Rowan 's role in the Old Court – New Court controversy strained his relationship with his former friend , Benjamin Hardin . Hardin and Rowan had once been so close that Hardin named one of his sons " Rowan " in his colleague 's honor . After the controversy , Hardin insisted that friends and family refer to Rowan Hardin as " Ben " , but few people other than Hardin himself adopted the new name . 
