Gardner, Abel Merritt

GARDNER, MERRITT, MARTIN, CONWAY

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/30/2021 at 14:24:46

Abel Merritt Gardner is a native of Ohio, born in 1830, and is the son of William and Anna (Merritt) Gardner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. In 1851 he emigrated to Fulton County, Ill., where he worked on a farm for an uncle until August, 1852, when he removed to Washington County, Iowa, and settled upon section 12, Seventy-Six Township, where he bought 160 acres of raw land, which he improved and where he continued to reside until 1864 when he sold out and bought ninety acres on section 8, Cedar Township, where he still continues to reside. He has added by subsequent purchase, until he has now 370 acres of fine land, all under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Gardner was married, in 1853, to Susan Martin, a native of Ohio, and daughter of William and Anna (Conway) Martin, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Five children have been born to them: Charles Commodore, now living on the home farm; William Porter, now residing in Wellman, engaged in the practice of medicine; Mary Ellen, the wife of Emmett Kirkendall, now in Colorado; John Stewart died May 9, 1868, aged four years; Frank Pearl, aged sixteen, is at home. Mr. Gardner and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and as a temperance man, favors prohibition. Like many others of the well-to-do farmers of Washington County, Mr. Gardner came here in limited circumstances, but by industry and economy he has acquired a competency, and so far as material wealth is concerned, has nothing to fear for the future. He is a No. 1 farmer, keeps everything about him in good shape, and is making a specialty of stock-raising, having a high grade of Norman and Clydesdale horses.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Abel Merritt Gardner, pages 292-293.