In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1830
From Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895), Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominenet ... citizens .. (1894)
YLVESTER GARDNER, who is engaged in general farming and horticulture on section 32, Homer Township, his residence being in the village of Homer, was born on a farm at Bennington, Vt., April 28, 1830, and is a son of Abel and Amy Gardner. They, too, were natives of the Green Mountain State, and for many years the father carried on farming near Bennington. His death occurred about 1870. The mother died when Sylvester was about fifteen years of age, and was buried in New York. This worthy couple had a family of eight children, but Harriet Lillie and Electa are deceased. Those still living are: Sylvester, of this sketch; Abel, who now makes his home in Montana;.julia Card, a resident of New York; Alpha, who is located in Winona; Samantlia Lillie, of New York; and Anna Hakes, also of the Empire State.
The subject of this sketch spent the first eighteen years of his life in the state of his nativity, his time being devoted to farm work and to study in the district schools of the neighborhood. On leaving home he started westward, and made a location in Green County, Wis., where he remained for three years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Broome County, N. Y., where he spent the succeeding four years, and then came to Minnesota, locating on the farm where he now makes his home. Here he began carpenter woik, which he followed until 1864, when he went to Chippewa Falls, Wis., and was a filed in the sawmills at that place until the 4th of July of that year, when he lost his right arm, and was forced to give up his position. In 1865 he returned to Winona County, and worked on the county roads for a number of years, making new and repairing old roads until about 1882, when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owns a good tract of land of seventy-one acres, and is engaged in general farming, and in raising berries of all kinds, which he sells to the home market.
On the 20th of May, 1854, Mr. Gardner married Charity Decker, daughter of Aaron Decker. The lady was a native of New York, and her father, with his family, came to Winona County in 1855, locating in the town of Homer. He became a wellto-do farmer, and owned a valuable tract of land. Mr. Decker was born September 10, 1802, and his wife, Elizabeth Wells, was born June 20, 1807. They were united in marriage July 6, 1823. The former died September 17, 1867; and the latter September 17, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Decker became the parents of twelve children: Aaron, Jr., who was born February 10, 1825, and died March 15, 1882; Sarah E., born January 11, 1827, and died October 19, 1839; Hanna L., born April 2, 1829, and died December 24, 1864; Moses, born May 19, 1831, and died December 19, 1877; Peter, born August 21, 1833, and died May 31, 1889; Charity A., the wife of our subject, born January 3, 1836; Clarissa, March 8, 1838; Mary, born July 14, 1840, and died July 11, 1841; Elizabeth, born May 5, 1842, and died July 14, 1842; Elias C, born November 20, 1843, and died March 26, 1871; Harriett E., born September 14, 1847; and Albert James, born June 5, 1851, and died October 4,
To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were born five children, but only two are now living. Mrs. Eliza Rogers, born April 20, 1855, is now a resident of
Winona. Mrs. Samantha Nash, born.Tune 6, 1858, makes her home in the same city. Nellie, born July 20, 1865, died May 7, 1891. Sylvester, born June 16, 1870, died in September, 1873 One died in infancy.
In his political affiliations Mr. Gardner is a Republican. He has served both as Supervisor and Constable, and is now tilling the office of School Director, in which capacity he has served for twelve years. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and his public duties are ever discharged with promptness and fidelity. He had but limited advantages in his youth, educational or otherwise, but he has made the most of his opportunities, and being possessed of energy and a strong determination to succeed, he has worked his way steadily upward to prosperity, being now a well-to-do farmer.
Samuel E. Cotton.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominent ... citizens .. (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
YLVESTER GARDNER, who is engaged in general farming and horticulture on section 32. Homer Township, his residence being in the village of Homer, was born on a farm at Bennington, Vt., April 28, 1830, and is a son of Abel and Amy Gardner. They, too, were natives of the Green Mountain State, and for many years the father carried on farming near Bennington. His death occurred about 1870. The mother died when Sylve-ster was about fifteen years of age, and was buried in New York. This worthy couple had a family of eight children, but Harriet Lillie and Electa are deceased. Those still living are: Sylvester, of this sketch; Abel, who now makes his home in Montana;.julia Card, a resident of New York; Alpha, wlm is located in Winona; Samanllia Lillie, of New York; and Aiina Hakes, also of the Empire Slate.
The subject of this sketch spent the first eighteen years of his life in the state of his nativity. Ins time being devoted to farm work and to study in the district schools of the neigliboriiood. ( )n leaving home he started westward, and made a location in Green County, Wis., where he remained for three yeai-s. On the expiration of that period he returned to Broome Coiintv, N. Y., where he spent the succeeding four years, and linen came tf) Minnesota, locating on the farm where he now makes his home. Here he began carpenter work, which he followed until 1861, when he went to Chippewa Falls, Wis., and was a filed in the sawmills at that place until the 4th of July of that year, when he lost his right arm, and was forced to give up his position. In 1865 he returned to Winona County, and worked on the county roads for a number of years, making new and repairing old roads until about 1882, when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Ho owns a good tract of land of seventy-one acres, and is engaged in general farming, and in raising berries of all kinds, which he sells to the home market.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were born five children, but only two are now living. Mrs. Eliza Rogers, born Ajiril 20, 1855, is now a resident of
Winona. Mrs. Samantha Nasii, born June G, 1858, makes her home in the same-city. Nellie, born July 20, 1865, died May 7, 1891. Sylvester, born June 16, 1870. died in September, 1873 One died in infancy.
In his political atliliations Mr. Gardner is a Republican. He has served both as Supervisor and Constable, and is now filling the office of School Director, in which capacity he has served for twelve years. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and his public duties are ever discharged with promptness and fidelity. He had but limited advantages in his youth, educational or otherwise, but he has made the most of his opportunities, and being possessed of energy and a strong determination to succeed, he has worked his way steaklily upward to prosperity, being now a well-to-do farmer.
Samuel E. Cotton.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota; containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name Sylvester Gardner: Lyman B. Cox
The printed record stops around 1895. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.