GARDNER, Weston Duane 1828-1921

GARDNER, PARKER, LYON, OLMSTED, BIGELOW

Posted By: Cheryl Leech (email)
Date: 5/4/2004 at 19:36:56

W. D. GARDNER DIED AT RIPE OLD AGE

Passed Away at His Home Tuesday, August 20th
Funeral Held Thursday Afternoon at 4 o’clock

The death of Weston Duane Gardner, one of our oldest and most highly respected citizens, occurred at his home on North Chestnut Avenue Tuesday evening, August 30, 1921 at 5:30 o’clock. Death was due to the infirmities of old age.

With his death another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of our old settlers. His life work was done, and well done and he has lain down to rest. How much this community owes him and such as he, it is impossible to estimate, though it would be a grateful task to trace his influence through some of the more direct channels, to hold him up in these days, in his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to speak of the sons and daughters he has reared to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues.

A brief narrative of his life is as follows:

Weston Duane Gardner was a native of Massachusetts, born in Hampshire County, December 19, 1828. His parents were Captain Gideon Gardner and Naomi Parker Gardner.

In 1832 his parents moved to Ohio, and while living in Chatham, he with James and Dr. Amos Babcock were boys together. On April 15, 1852 he was united in marriage to Harriet Lyon in Chatham and here a son, L. B. Gardner was born to them.

In 1852 in company with his father he moved to Grinnell, Iowa, living there eleven years on a farm which today is known as Gardners Grove.

While living here in a log house three children were born, Harriet, Ida, Henry, all living and with him at the time of his death.

March 1865 he moved to New Hampton purchasing the hotel from Mr. Don Jackson and managing the hostelry till 1876 when he sold it to Mr. John Dickson, and in 1877 he engaged in the drug business, in company with his son-in-law, Mr. E. N. Olmsted. After 12 years he turned his interests in the store over to his son, H. W. Gardner, and since that time has lived a retired life.

W. D. Gardner was a pioneer of Iowa, and many were the hardships he and his wife were called upon to endure. He has spent 56 years of his life in New Hampton, outliving many of his old friends and only a few survive him. His was a good life and at the age of 92 years 8 months and 11 days his Master called him home.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner joined the Congregational Church of this city November 5, 1865 and he has been a Deacon of the church for a good many years as was his father before him.

His wife, the saintly Harriet, preceded him three years ago, after living together 66 years and he leaves to revere his name, his four children; L.B. Gardner of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. E. N. Olmsted, Mrs. Ida W. Bigelow, and H. W. Gardner, of this city, two grandsons, Dr. H. H. Olmsted of Waterloo, Iowa, and Dr. H. B. Gardner of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and three great grand children, Miss Dorothy Bigelow of Chicago, Weston Duane and Jane Elizabeth Gardner of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. H. H. Olmsted and wife were present. L. B. Gardner sent word he could not be present as also did Dr. H. B. Gardner.

The funeral was held from his late home, Thursday afternoon, September 1, 1921 at 4 o’clock, his pastor W.D. Spiker officiating, speaking from the text: “A good man leaveth a goodly inheritance to his children’s children.” Proverbs 13:22. Mr. W. A. Smith of Dubuque sang “Thy Will Be Done” and “Crossing the Bar”. At the grave Mrs. M. C. Sayers, Mrs. M. E. Geiser, Charles Spiker and W. A. Smith sang “Abide with Me”.

Not for him be our tears, rather let us crown his grave with garlands, few of us will live as long or as well, and fewer yet will the Angel of Death greet with such a loving touch.