The Gardner Families of Washington County, Iowa

J. E. GARDNER.

J. E. Gardner, residing on his farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres on sections 7 and 8, Cedar township, was born in this township on the 6th of November, 1860, his parents being James and Eliza (Martin) Gardner. The father, whose birth occurred in Franklin county, Ohio, March 15, 1819, was a son of James and Susanna (Beaver) Gardner, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1775 and the latter in 1790. In 1812 the grandparents of J. E. Gardner made their way to Franklin county, Ohio, where they continued to reside until called to their final rest. They had the following children: Michael, James, Mary, Susanna, Villinda, Nancy and Joseph, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of James, the father of our subject.

James Gardner obtained his education in a little log cabin characteristic of those early times and remained at home until he had attained the age of twenty-three years. He then operated a part of his father's farm as a renter for eleven years and in 1853 removed to Fulton county, Illinois, where he bought a farm and resided for four years, when he disposed of the property. In 1857 he came to Washington county, Iowa, purchasing the farm which has continued his place of residence to the present time. He paid less than ten dollars an acre for the land but as the years have gone by he has

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On the 6th of October, 1842. James Gardner was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann Martin, whose birth occurred in West Virginia in 1820, her parents being William and Ann (Conway) Martin. William Martin was eighty-five years of age when he passed away in Washington county, Iowa, and the death of his wife occurred in Ohio. Their family numbered eight children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Gardner were born eleven children, namely: Cliarles, who is deceased; Margaret A., the wife of John Eyestone, of Mount Vernon, Iowa; Zerrilda, who has also passed away: F. M., who is a resident of Guthrie county, Iowa; Joseph, of Wellman, Iowa; Winfield, who is a minister residing at Mount Pleasant; William, living in Chicago, Illinois; Lewis, at home; Ezra, who is engaged in farming; Samuel, of Indianola, Iowa; and Mary, deceased.

In his political views Mr. Gardner has always been a stanch republican and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840. He capable served as township trustee and also as a member of the school board for a number of years and was identified with the Good Templars. For the past forty-two years both he and his wife have been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active and helpful interest in its work. They have now attained the venerable age of ninety years and enjoy the warm friendship and regard of all with whom they have been associated during the long years of their residence in Washington county.

J. E. Gardner, whose name initiated this review, attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he was married at the age of twenty-eight years. Throughout his active business career he has been identified with agricultural pursuits, now owning one hundred and sixty-five acres of land on sections 7 and 8, Cedar township. He also makes a specialty of feeding cattle, sheep and hogs and owing to his untiring industry and capable business management, has met with a well merited degree of prosperity in his undertakings.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Gardner those Miss Viola Ashby, whose birth occurred in Washington county, September II, 1862, her parents being E. W. H. and Elizabeth (Ihrig) Ashby, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The year 1862 witnessed the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Ashby in this county and they are still numbered among the well known and respected residents here. Mrs. Gardner, who was one of a family of seven children, has become the mother of four children, namely: Edna M., who was born in July, 1890, and is now attending the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Wade A., born September 20, 1893; Violet, whose birth occurred April 20, 1896; and James H., who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 27th of October, 1901.

Mr. Gardner exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican part and has been township clerk for four years and also school director for several years. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America at Wellman, Iowa. Both he and his wife have a wide acquaintance throughout the county in which their entire lives have been spent, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which command esteem and regard.

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

C. C. GARDNER.

C. C. Gardner, who for ten years has been engaged in the lumber business in Wellman, Iowa, is a native of Washington county, this state, his entire life, with the exception of about four years, having been spent within its borders. A son of A. M. and Susan Gardner, his birth occurred November 19. 1854. His parents were both natives of Franklin county, Ohio, and the father, coming to Washington county, Iowa, in 1851, bought a piece of land in Seventy-Six township. Two years later he removed his family to this farm and continued to improve the land for several years, bringing the fields under a good state of cultivation. Later he sold the place and purchased another farm in Cedar township, this county, where he resided until 1892, in which year he removed to Washington, Iowa, where he passed away April 30, 1903. His wife still survives and makes her home with her sons, Dr. W. P. and C. C, both of Wellman, and F. P., of Newton, Iowa. In the family were five children but Mary E. and John are both deceased.

C. C. Gardner is indebted to the common schools for his preliminary education and later attended the academy at Washington, Iowa. He then engaged in teaching school during the winter months, continuing in this profession for about six years. In the meantime he had made his home under the parental roof and here remained until he had attained his majority. He then took up agricultural pursuits, renting a farm in Cedar township, where he resided for one year, after which he removed to Smith county, Kansas, where he purchased a farm and resided for four years. At the expiration of this period, however, he sold his place and returned to Washington county, Iowa, where he invested in a farm in Cedar township, which he operated until 1894. Throughout the years of his connection with agricultural pursuits he had met with a creditable degree of success, but thinking that other lines of activity might be more congenial, he sold his farm and in 1894 removed to Wellman, Iowa, where he established himself in the hardware and implement business. He built up a good trade in this connection and was thus successfully engaged until 1899, when he sold out his business and became identified with the lumber trade, conducting a lumberyard in Wellman. He has since devoted his time and energies to this branch of activity and his trade, which has already reached gratifying proportions, is constantly increasing in volume and importance.

On September 17, 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Gardner and Miss Florence Tipton, a daughter of B. F. and Lucinda Tipton, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. They were both natives of Ohio and shortly after their marriage removed to Cedar township, Washington county, Iowa, where the father still resides, the mother having passed away March 21, 1900. An extensive landowner and stock-raiser, Mr. Tipton acquired a very handsome competence and is today numbered among the wealthy and representative citizens of the county. Moreover, he has been actively identified with political interests here and has represented his district in the state legislature, being the first man of Washington county to be elected for a second term up to that time. He also served on the school board for several years and has ever been found a hearty sympathizer and ready cooperant in all matters pertaining to the material, intellectual, political and moral development of the community.

No child came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, and so they took into their care the niece of Mr. Gardner, Miss Florence Kirkendall. Coming to them when but thirteen months of age, she became the light and life of the household and has since received all the attention and advantages that an own child could have. She has had excellent educational opportunities, being now a student at the University of Iowa City.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a deep interest in all phases of church work, while the former has been superintendent of the Sunday school for twelve years. Well known in fraternal circles, he is a member of blue lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Wellman and also holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias of Wellman. Although stalwart in his support of the republican party and desirous at all times for the extension of its influence, he has never aspired to public office as a reward for party fealty, preferring to devote his undivided time and attention to the duties of his business interests. His devotion to the public welfare has, however, remained unquestioned, for in his citizenship he is true and loyal, withholding his support from no measure which has for its object the growth and upbuilding of the city. In all business dealings he has been thoroughly reliable and straightforward, while his personal worth and sterling characteristics have won for him a large number of warm friends during his residence in Wellman.

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

N. BRUCE GARDNER.

Iowa, with its splendid agricultural possibilities, offers excellent opportunity to him who wishes to earn his living in the tilling of the soil. Devoting his time and energies in successful manner to the cultivation and improvement of a farm, N, Bruce Gardner has become well known as a prominent and progressive citizen of Seventy-Six township, where he owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land. He is widely known as an extensive dealer in stock and has, moreover, been closely identified with the financial and educational interests of the community.

One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Washington township, Washington county, January 30, 1854, and is a son of James D. and Phoebe (Ferguson) Gardner, both natives of Madison county, Ohio, where they were reared and married. In the fall of 1853 they came to Iowa and the winter of that year was spent in Washington, where the father engaged in teaching school. During that period, however, he entered two quarter sections of land adjoining each other in Seventy-Six township, where he took up his above in the spring of 1854. Upon this farm he resided, with the exception of some five years spent in the city of Washington, until his death, which occurred July 4, i88i, his wife surviving him for about six or seven years. He had always been a stanch republican in politics, while he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and passed away in the faith of that denomination.

Upon this homestead farm Bruce Gardner was reared, acquiring his early education in the district schools. He later supplemented this training by a three years' course in the Washington high school and subsequently spent a similar period in the Iowa State Agricultural College. Thus well equipped, at the age of seventeen years, he took his initial step in the business world as a teacher, following that profession during the winter months and devoting the summer seasons to farming. He continued as a teacher in the district schools of Washington county for fifteen years, and during this period he proved himself an able instructor, readily and clearly imparting to his students the knowledge he himself had acquired. After the death of his mother, however, he purchased the old home farm of one hundred sixty acres and has since made this his home. It is one of the finest farms in the state of Iowa and annually returns to its owner golden harvests in return for the time and energy expended upon it. Aside from tilling the soil Mr. Gardner has, for the past ten years, been extensively engaged in dealing in cattle, horses and mules and has for years been feeding cattle on a moderate scale. He is known among stockmen as a scalper, buying and selling much of his stock among the neighboring farmers of the surrounding counties. He has also extended his activity in other channels and is now a stockholder and director in the Security Savings Bank of Welhnan. He is eminently a man of affairs, and the success which has attended his various business interests entitles him to a prominent place among the prosperous and influential citizens of this county.

The year 1878 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Gardner and Miss Capitola Brindley, a native of Cedar township, this county, and they have become the parents of eight children, seven of whom still survive: Lloyd, deceased; Roy. a farmer of Cedar township, Washington county; Mamie, a teacher of music who makes her home with her parents: Nettie, ilarrv, Phoebe, James, and Norma, all at home.

Although stalwart in his advocacy of the principles of the republican party, Mr. Gardner has never been an aspirant for public office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to the management of his private business affairs. He is, however, public-spirited in his citizenship and his devotion to the public welfare remains unquestioned, arising from a sincere desire for the substantial growth and upbuilding of the community. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and also the Knights of Pythias, both at Wellman. As the architect of his own fortune he has builded wisely and well and the success which he now enjoys has come to him as the direct result of a life of well spent activity, the salient characteristics of which have been sound judgment, good business management and unfaltering perseverance.

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