In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1821
From History of Morrow County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio ... a history of Morrow County ... biographical sketches, portraits of some of the early settlers and prominent men, (1880)
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 History of Morrow County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio ... a history of Morrow County ... biographical sketches, portraits of some of the early settlers and prominent men, (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1880. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.