Son of William and Eliza E. Gardner, born May 25, 1842 in Erie County, New York. In 1851 his parents came to Atlas Township, Genesee County. In 1862 he worked in the lumber woods one winter, then he went to Erie County, New York, for about six months when he returned to Jackson County, Michigan, where he remained until 1864, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry. He was mustered in at Marshall and went from there to Kalamazoo. In November 1864 they were sent to Louisville, Kentucky. He was detailed to take a drove of cattle to General Thomas at Nashville. He with others turned the cattle over after the battle of Nashville, and joined their company. The Regiment was sent to Alexandria. He was sent to Brown's Hospital in Louisville, January 20, 1865. He was discharged in May 1865, and returned to Genesee County, Michigan where he remained about nine months; he went to Ingrim County for a year. In 1868 he came to Fairgrove Township and built a house for his father on the farm. In 1870 he went to Manistee and worked a few months after which he took a trip to Chicago and Council Bluffs, returning to Bay City and worked there a few months , he then came to Fairgrove where his father was living and helped improve their farm where he lives now. Married Della A. Beach, October 12, 1872. She was born May 29, 1856, in Akron Township, Tuscola County. Children born to them four, Delos, born June 29, 1874 and died November 3, 1898; Frankie, born December 17, 1880 and died August 23, 1883; Ray W., born October 28, 1883; and Mattie E., born March 29, 1889.
From "Plat Book of Tuscola County, Michigan" by E.B. Foote 1902, pages 73-74.
Submitted Nov 2000.
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