GARDNER, F. R.

GARDNER, FITCH, BAILEY, PATTERSON, RANEY, WARD

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/6/2004 at 09:51:16

Biography reproduced from page 393 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

F. R. Gardner is associated with his brother in the cultivation of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres located in Plum Creek township, Kossuth county, and is one of the influential citizens of his part of the state. He was born July 1, 1880, and is a son of R. M. and Evelyn (Fitch) Gardner. The father is a native of Herkimer county, New York, where he was born in 1852. He removed from his native state to Iowa when he was fourteen years of age and has since continued to reside in Kossuth county, having been engaged during all his active years in agricultural pursuits. In 1909 he retired from active life and now maintains his residence in Algona. He was owner of four hundred and eighty acres of highly developed agricultural land which is now owned by his sons. The mother was born in Otsego county, New York, and is also living. To Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Gardner seven children were born: Austin R., a resident of Plum Creek township; Norma, who became the wife of Chester L. Bailey, of Algona, Iowa; F. R., the third in order of birth and the subject of this review; Elsie, deceased; D. C., who is in partnership with his brother, F. R.; Trella, who married C. W. Patterson of Burt, Iowa; and Laura, the wife of Hugh Raney, of Algona.

F. R. Gardner was reared at home and received his elementary education in the public schools of Kossuth county. He remained under the parental roof during all the years in which his father was engaged in farming, and since the removal of the latter to Algona he and his brother, D. C., have bought three hundred and twenty acres, which was the old homestead, and are successfully operating one of the most highly developed farms in Plum Creek township.

Mr. Gardner was united in marriage in 1909 to Miss Ethel Mae Ward, who is a native of Kossuth county, and they are the parents of two children, Verna Marie and Donald Floyd. Mr. Gardner is a member of the republican party and has his fraternal relations with the Yeomen lodge of Algona and also the Royal Union of Des Moines, Iowa. He and his family are attendants at the Congregational church. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Kossuth county and is a man whose influence is always to be relied upon to advance any public measure that will improve and advance the interests of the people in his county and state.