N. Bruce Gardner

As printed in 1909

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 History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.