John S. Gard

As printed in 1902

JOHN S. GARD, M. D.

By the death of this honorable and upright citizen Clark county sustained a great loss, for he was prominent in his professional life and in public circles and was widely regarded as a most highly respected citizen. As the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of completed and successful effort ending with the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this honored man. Through many years he devoted his efforts and energies to the practice of medicine, his labors proving of great benefit to his fellow men. He remained to the end of his life a kindly, genial friend, one whom it was a pleasure tolknow and tó meet under any circumstances and his influence was ever. exerted in behalf of the true and the right.

Dr. Gard was born in German township, Clark county, October 12, 1829, and died November 19, 1886, his remains being interred in Rector cemetery. The ancestral history of the family can be traced back to New Jersey, in which state Job Gard, the grandfather of the Doctor was born. He became one of the early settlers of Kentucky and subsequently removed to Ohio, settling first at Cincinnati and afterward at Dayton, whence he removed to ¡Miami county, and finally, in 1805, he ‘took up his above in German township, Clark county, where he spent the greater part of his remaining days. He was one of the honored pioneer settlers here and assisted materially in the early development and improvement of this section of the state.

His son, Gershon Gard, the father of the Doctor, was about thirteen years of age when the family was established in Clark county, and here he was reared in the pioneer home. All around grew the great forest% standing in their primeval strength, and Indians still roamed through the woods. The work of improvement and upbuilding had scarcely been begun, but the Gards resolutely bore their part in the labor which resulted in reclaiming this section of the state for the uses of the white man. Gershon Gard was reared upon a farm and after attaining his majority carried on both agricultural pursuits and milling, building and operating several mills on Mad river. He also served his country in the war of 1812 and led a very active and useful life He was twice married and by the first union had thirteen children, while by the second marriage two children were born. He first wedded Mary Peacock, who died in 1849. The same year he married Maria Smith. His death occurred on the ıst of November,

Dr. Gard of this review was trained to.

manual labor in his youth and until eighteen years of age he spent the winter months as a student in the district schools. Better educational privileges were then afforded him and he became a student in the Ohio Conference high school of Springfield, where he remained for two years. He was also a student for two years in the Wesleyan University of Delaware, after which he entered the R. S. Bacon commercial college of Cincinnati. All this training served but as a foundation upon the superstructure of Determining to mental which to rear professional knowledge. devote his life to the practice of medicine in order to lessen the sum of human suffering in the world, he entered the Starling Medical College of Columbus, from which he was graduated in the class of 1864.

Dr. Gard had ‘been previously married on the 11th of November, 1851, to Miss Emma E. Hurd, who was born near Bridgeport, Connecticut, August. 10, 1631, 4 daughter of Edwards and Elizabeth (De Forest) Hurd. Her father was born in Connecticut and was a son of Frederick and Susanna (Edwards) Hurd, his. mother’s maiden name being used as his Christian name. Mrs. Gard’s mother was also born near Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the town of Stepney, and her parents were Philo and Nancy (Beach) De Forest. The De Forests were of French lineage. When Mrs. Gard was two months old her parents removed to: Otsego county, New York, and lived there until she wais seven years of age, when they went to Chenango county, that state, there spending six years. In December, 1846, they came to, Ohio, locating in Cincinnati, where her father worked at the carpenter’s trade and she attended the Methodist Female College Institute. She afterward engaged in teaching school for a year and was then married. Her aunt, Miss Mary De Forest, who afterward became the wife of Rev. Dexter Witter, of Burton, Ohio, engaged in teaching school for about twenty years. While she was in school Miss Lucy Webb, after Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, was a student there, and she and Mrs. Gard were warm friends. The latter now has her picture, which was given to Miss De Forest and afterward killed to'Mrs. Gard.

When Dr. Gard had completed his medical studies he entered the army as assistant surgeon and was located at Madison, Indiana, where he remained until he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in his alma water, the Starling Medical College. He filled that position for three years and in 1867 he purchased the old homestead near Tremont, Ohio. Taking up his above there he devoted his attention to the practice of his profession and secured a large and growing patronage. He had three farms, all of which he rented. In 1879, wishing to retire from professional life, he removed to one of his farms, upon which his widow is now living, and there he spent the last years of his life in quiet retirement from the more arduous duties of the practice of his profession. j

Unto the Doctor and Mrs. Gard were born five children. Edward De Forest, who was born November 10, 1852, acquired a fair common-school education, but died at the early age of twenty-one years. He was a model young man, his life being actuated by noble and honorable principles. He died December 3, 1873, in full faith of the Christian hope and was laid to rest in the Rector burying ground. Horace Arthur, born May 15, 1854, is a resident of Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Fleming, whose home was in Leeksville, Virginia, and they have two children. He deals in fruit trees, carrying on an extensive business. Warren Emerson, born October 11, 1857, married Ida Wallace and they have two children, Carrie Iona and Nellie Eulalia. Mary Belle, born October 14, 1859, became the wife of Fred Cowley and died in California, leaving twin sons, Earl Gard and Glenn Bressee. Laura ALberta, born January 10, 1862, was married November 17, 1885, to George McMahon, and they became the parents of four children, but their first born (twins) died in infancy. The others ate Glenn Arthur and Fred Carroll.

Since the Doctor's death Mrs. Gard and her son have administered the estate and she has never sold or mortgaged any of the property, but has been very successful in her control of her business interests. She is a most estimable lady and a devoted Christian woman, and her strong character and sterling worth, combined with her many acts of kindness and charity, have endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact. Perhaps no better estimate of the character and life work of Dr. Gard can be given than in quoting from the “In Memorium” which was written after his death:

“John S. Gard, M. D., was born October 12, 1829; died November 19, 1886, aged fifty-seven years, one month and seven days, having been born and reared within a short distance of this place and with the exception of three years resided in this community all his life. His face was a familiar one to old and young and his sterling qualities as a true Christian and his integrity of principle is a fact that none can question. He was raised in the lap of Methodism by his now painted mother. He was soundly converted in the winter of 1870 or 1871, under the ministration of Rey, John Black and joined this church, where he has been an acceptable member since. He sincerely loved the church of his choice, was always desirous to see its prosperity, ready and willing ta give of his means to the support of the gospel and the advancement of the cause of Christianity. With a free and willing heart he cheerfully gave to aid in the construction and completion of this beautiful structure, this temple of God. For a quarter of a century Dr. Gard successfully practiced medicine here and brought comfort to many a household, as many can testify to his power to restore the sick, but as years and infirmity came upon him he retired and engaged in less arduous avocations. His last illness of five months’ duration, was borne with the most perfect Christian fortitude and resignation, although his sufferings ie ol OGISA EC LAR EC ORD, at times were almost more than humanity could bear, yet he counted all the trials as nothing compared with the bliss he would enjoy when the toils and cares and sufferings of this short life were ended, knowing they would work out for him a far more ex-: feeding and eternal weight of glory. Many times when talking with his family of the joys of Heaven and the bliss that awaited the faithful he became enraptured and shouted aloud praises to God, and his soul would be so overwhelmed with the magnitude of God's great love and mercy that he longed to depart to mingle his praises with that blessed throng who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. He was confined to his bed but three weeks and such was the nature of the disease that he was unable to partake of any nourishment or even a glass of water, until within fifteen hours of his departure, but like a patient lamb he quietly bore all these privations without a murmur or complaint, having constant communion with his blessed Master, ever rejoicing in the wondrous love of God that was giving him such complete victory over his last foe. A devoted, loving husband, kind, affectionate father, and true friend has ‘been called to his reward. A sorrowing wife and four children survive him and a host of loving friends to mourn their loss, but there will be a happy reunion in the sweet bye and bye, beyond the swelling tide of Jordan where all tears shall be wiped away. No more separation shall be known or farewells spoken, there to bask in the sunshine of God’s love.”

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.