The Gardner Families of Morrow County, Ohio

REUBEN B. GARDNER, farmer; P. O. Bennington; grand-son of John Gardner, who was born Aug. 5, 1759, in Scotland, was a soldier under Lord Cornwallis, and surrendered by him Oct. 19, 1781. Settled in the District of Columbia; in 1800 came to Zanesville, Ohio, thence to Delaware in 1812, or what is now Morrow Co., Ohio, purchasing the lands of one Munson, one of the very earliest settlers in Peru. His son, Robert Gardner, who was born Nov. 20, 1792, in the city of Washington, D. C., emigrated with his father to the Buckeye State, and in 1816, July ist, married Polly Benedict, who was born in the State of New York, June 11, 798. They had the following children: Nelson, born Aug. 9th, 1817; Sarah, Feb. 23, 1819; Reuben, June 18, 1820; Anna, March 23, 1822; Rebecca, Sept. 4, 1823; Phebe J., March 22, 1825; James, born Nov. 23, 1826, and died same year. Hannah C., born Nov. 15, 1833. December 8th, 1853, the nuptials of Reuben Gardner and Hannah O. Wilson were celebrated by the Rev. Wm. King. Hannah’s birthday occurred Sept. 3, 1831; she was therefore over 10 years his junior. Their family names are — Alice Eugenia, born Aug. 3, 1854, and died Oct. 24, 1878; Albert Nelson, born Feb. 4, 1859; Eva Bell, May 10, 1863; Nevada Alaska, Oct. 4, 1870. Cora Alaska, his grand-child, and whose home is with her grand-father Reuben, was born

May 8, 1875. On the 18th day of Feb., 1866, Eva Bell died, making two deaths, that have occurred in Reuben’s family. By occupation Reuben Gardner is a farmer, but largely engaged in stock-raising, the buying and selling of stock, etc. He has held the office of Township Trustee for 12 years, Trustee of Church and Parsonage, School Director for 20 years, Treasurer of the Odd Fellows Society for 3 years, with numerous other trusts. In religious opinions he is of the Methodist Episcopal case. A member of that church. In his agricultural purposes, sheep husbandry forms his strongest bias, and that of cattle his next, and one thing must always be observable with regard to him, and that is his remarkable power to remember names and dates.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WASHINGTON GARDNER, farmer; P. O., Cardington; was born in Muskingum Co., O., Nov. 2, 1814; son ojJohn and Elizabeth

(Groves) Gardner. His father was born near Paisley, in Scotland, and came to America during the Revolutionary War; he was a soldier in that war. He was born in 1750, and our subject’s mother was born in Pennsylvania, in 1769, and her parents were born in Holland. Mr. Gardner is the youngest of a family of twelve children; there are only four of the family now living. His parents came to Morrow Co., O., in a very early day; they settled in Peru Tp., there being only three or four families in the township at the time they came. His father died in Feb., 1836; and his mother in 1847. He was raised on a farm, and resided with his parents until their deaths; he received a common school education; was married in 1847 to Mary Wiseman, whose parents came to Morrow Co. from Crawford Co., in about 1843; they were natives of Pennsylvania. She was born March 6, 1828; her father was born in about 1783, and mother in 1795. From this union there were nine children, five being dead, those living are Zachary, Winfield S., Maggie A., Albert, John F., Lola M., Oscar M., Mary A., Nellie R. Mr. Gardner began business for himself entirely upon his own resources, and all that he has was made by himself. He served eleven months in the late war, enlisted July 25, 1861, in the 26th O. V. I., Co. G; was discharged June 16, 1862. He and his wife are members of the U. B. Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN GARDNER, farmer; P. O..Mt. Gilead; was born in Franklin Tp., Knox, now Morrow Co., May 1, 1819. In 1825, his parents moved to Richland Co., and located about four and one-half miles northeast of Mt. Gilead; he lived at home 22 years, then, in company with his brother-in-law he farmer a place belonging to his father, and located near West Point. Dec. 29, 1842, he married Miss Harriet Carr; she was born in Richland Co., Ohio, April 17, 1821; they occupied a house on the farm, and with his brother-in-law, continued farming the place, until 1850, in the fall of which year his father died, and the following year he bought the old homestead farm, which was entered by his father about 1822, and occupied in 1825; he farmer the place for three years, and then sold the same and bought his present place, and has lived here since. By his marriage there are four children — Quincy T., born Feb. 16, 1844, and married Miss Lvdia Truax, of Elkhart Co., Ind.; he is-farming his father’s place; of their three children two are living — Eliza and George; Eunice, now Mrs. Bargar, born May 22, 1846, and lives in this vicinity; they had three children, two living — Melville and Zoa; Mary E., now Mrs. Iden, born Nov. 4, 1848, and lives in Denmark Co.; Albert C., born March 30, 1856, and lives near Denmark. Mr. Gardner resides on his farm, which contains seventy-five acres, and is located three and one-half miles northeast of Mt. Gilead. He has served in the offices connected with the school and road, also as Township Trustee. His parents, Timothy and Sarah (Hawkins) Gardner, were natives of New Jersey and Vermont; they were married in Knox Co., Ohio, where she came with her parents, and he when a young man; they settled here in Morrow Co. in 1825, and lived here until his death, in 1850; she lived on the old homestead until the sale of the same; she then moved to Minnesota, and later she went to the State of Maine, and lived with her son William until her death, March 17, 1873. They had eight children, six of whom are living. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Crosby) Hawkins, were natives of Conn, and New Jersey; Mrs. Harriet (Carr) Gardner’s parents, David and Sarah (Fisher) Carr, were ‘natives of NewT Jersey; they came to Richland Co., Ohio, he in 1816, and she in 1820; they married there in 1820. He died there Feb. 2, 1875; she is living on the old place where she has made her home for the past sixty years; of their eleven children, eight are living, all but one of whom are married.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES GARDNER, farmer; P. O., Cardington; was born in Ireland, Dec. 18, 1821. He came to America with his parents, Andrew and Margaret (Emtnerson) Gardner, in 1823; they landed at New York, and from there went to Clinton Co., in the same state, where they resided until 1833, when they came to Licking Co., Ohio, and in 1840 came to Morrow Co., where our subject has since resided, and where his parents died. Ilis father was a weaver by trade, a business he did not follow after coming to America; his father was born in 1811, and mother in 1818; the father died April 25, 1862, and the mother May 18, 1867; James was raised on a farm, and has always followed farming for a business; his early life was spent at home on the farm; he received limited education, and at the age of 21 began business for himself. He was married twice; the first marriage was Nov. 24, 1842, to Frances Coffman. She was born May 9, 1823; her parents were natives of Va., and came to Morrow Co. in a very early day. From this marriage there were five children — Peter P., born Sept. 7, 1843; William E., Oct. 10, 1845; Albert G., Oct. 22, 1847; James F., July 30, 1851; Margaret E., June 15, 1858. The mother of these children died March 30, 1869.

Mr. Gardner remained a widower until April 10, 1870, when he married Mrs. Jane (West) Biggs. Her parents were natives of Pa. and came to Morrow Co. in a very early day. Her father was born June 3, 1809, and mother March 11, 1808, and she was born June 18, 1838; she had one child by her first marriage, Dennis E. Biggs; he was born Jan. 1, 1860. She also has one child by her last marriage, Charles W., born April 22, 1874. Mr. Gardner began business for himself in the woods, and almost entirely upon his own resources; but by hard work and perseverance, he has accumulated enough to keep him comfortably through the balance of his days. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church; his first children are all married, and doing for themselves.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.