Gardner, Isaac N. (1841-1926)

GARDNER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/5/2008 at 16:15:44

Isaac N. Gardner
Oct 7, 1841 - Sep 5, 1926

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.243. Valley Twp.)
I. N. Gardner, farming, P. O. Hancock, was born in Ohio in 1841; his father, John L. Gardner, was a farmer and railroad contractor; he located at Marengo, Iowa, when it was a small place, and there owned quite a body of land which was afterward divided into lots. Our subject remained in his native State till he became eighteen years of age, when he went to Pike's Peak, at the time of the gold fever. He remained in the West two years, and then, returning to Ohio, enlisted, in 1862, in the Twenty-seventh Ohio Regiment, Coll Blackburn, serving till mustered out at the close of the war; he entered as a private, but came out as Second Lieutenant; he had four brothers in the army - one a Captain in the Twenty-ninth Iowa, and another in the Sixty-fifth Ohio Regiemnts; three of the brothers were wounded, one of them severely, the latter is now in the employ of the Government at Washington. After the war, Mr. Gardner went to Missouri; thence, in 1871, he came to this county and bought 120 acres, which is now quite well improved. Mr. Gardner was married, in 1879, to Miss Emma Kearney, born in New York City; they have two children - Frank and Gerald. Mr. Gardner received his education in Ohio and Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and completed it as Hillsdale College, Mich. He is a member of the A. H. T. A. and in politics is a Republican.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.536)
ISAAC N. GARDNER, a prominent citizen of Pottawattamie County, descended from a prominent American family. His grandfather, James GARDNER, was an English soldier and came to America with the British Army at the time of the War of the Revolution, when but nineteen years of age. He deserted from the English army and joined the American forces. After the War, he married and settled in Ohio and was the father of eight children: William, James, Robert, John L., Washington, Nancy, Betsey and Fannie. The father settled on a farm in Marion County, Iowa, where he died, at the age of eighty-seven years. John L. GARDNER, his son, and the father of our subject, was born in Muskingum County, and was a farmer and miller by occupation.
He was married in Marion County, Ohio to Sarah GOODWIN, daughter of Asa and Margaret GOODWIN, and they were the parents of four children: Isaac, John, Smith and Sarah. The father was a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he lived to the age of seventy years. He then settled in Blackford County, Indiana. To Mr. And Mrs. GOODWIN were born ten children: Margaret (who died in infancy), James W., C. V., John N., Asa A., Isaac N., Rhoda A., Mary H., Sarah, and Washington. After marriage, Mr. GARDNER settled on a farm in Marion County, Ohio which was then Delaware County and where all of his children were born. He lived there until 1853 when he came to Iowa County, Iowa, where he remained until his death, which occurred in Atchison, Kansas, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was an upright man and a good citizen, and held the respect of his fellow townsmen. He was Justice of the Peace at Marion, Iowa, and also held several township offices. Politically he was an old time Whig and Republican. He had five sons in the War: James M., who enlisted in the 24th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company C and served through the war. He was in the same regiment with Hon. James LYMAN and was promoted from Orderly Sergeant to Captain. Asa A., Company D, 35th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served through the War and was promoted as Captain. He was badly wounded at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, the ball passing through his body below the heart and through the breast, and he is now suffering from the effects of this wound. He was again badly wounded at Chickamauga, Tennessee, through the upper right thigh. He was in the battle of Shiloh and all the engagements until he was wounded at Stone River. He was absent about six weeks. Isaac N., Company C, 88th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served seventeen months, and was transferred to the 27th United States colored troops as First Lieutenant, serving until the close of the war. Washington was in Company D, 65th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was but sixteen years of age when he enlisted in 1861, and was awarded a medal at Stone River for bravery. He was in every march and battle that his regiment took part in; was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, and was conveyed from the field by three comrades in the heat of the battle. He went to school in Ashley, Marion County, Ohio, and then went to Hillsdale, Michigan, but was graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He is now Vice President of Albion College, Albion, Michigan, and has also been Commander of the G.A.R. post of Michigan. This is one of the most remarkable army records to be found in any family.
Isaac N. GARDNER, the subject of this sketch, was born October 7, 1841, on the old homestead, six miles from Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and was but twenty years of age when he left the farm and school, where he had taught four terms, to begin the life of a soldier. He entered as a private, was promoted to First Lieutenant of a colored regiment, and came out as Captain. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Fort Fisher, Petersburg, was not wounded or taken prisoner, and did active service throughout the great struggle. He returned to Ohio, where he was honorably discharged, October 7, 1865. He then went to southwestern Missouri, where he bought a tract of land, and remained one and a half years. In 1869 he came to Iowa, settling on his present place, which then consisted of 160 acres of wild land, but which he has since converted into a fine farm, and by energy and industry has added to it until he now owns 240 acres.
He was married to Emily W. KEARNEY, daughter of Thomas KEARNEY. The father, a native of Ireland, came to Council Bluffs from Galena, Illinois in 1867. He is still living, at the age of sixty-two years. To Mr. And Mrs. GARDNER have been born six children: Frank, Gerald, Chester A., Marcus, Mary I., and an infant yet unnamed. Mr. GARDNER is a stanch Republican, has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and has also been School Director. He is a well known citizen of this county, and his descendants for generations will hold in respect the names of the soldiers of this family who fought for their Country.