Gardner, John W.

GARDNER, ALCOTT, PORTER, BAYLEY, COMBS

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/30/2019 at 06:48:14

John Woodford Gardner
May 30, 1830 ~ October 30, 1904

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887), p. 529

JOHN W. GARDNER is the fourth son and fourth child of John Gardner, one of the pioneers of Decatur County, who came here with his family in 1854. The father was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and married Rebecca Alcott. The mother died July 28, 1867, aged sixty-three years, five months and thirteen days, and the father May 7, 1875, aged eighty years, six months and six days. They had nine children -- six sons and three daughters, all but one son grew to maturity, and seven are still living. All except the one that died in childhood came to Decatur County. The children were -- William A., of Center Township; B. F., also of Center Township; Washington B., a resident of Lincoln County, Kansas; John W., Wilson Il., Matilda, wife of J. C. Porter, residing at Los Angeles County, California; Christina Ann, wife of Carrington Porter, of Oregon; Rebecca J., wife of Thomas Bayley, now deceased; and David Lewis, who died in infancy, in Ohio. John W., the subject of this sketch, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 30, 1830. He was married in Stark County, October 10, 1850, to Mary M. Combs, born in that county, January 8, 1829. Her parents were John and Anna Combs. (See sketch of William A. Gardner.) Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have five children -- Sylvester E., born July 14, 1851; Benjamin F., August 16, 1853; Annie M., November 11, 1855; George O., July 27,1858, and William A., August 11,1863. Mr. Gardner resides on section 20. He entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 20, and his first house was the primitive log cabin 14 x 16 feet, which was built in 1854, and is still standing, in 1886. Their only daughter and their youngest son were born in this cabin. He has a half-section upon which he is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has fine improvements. His brick residence is one of the finest in the county. His father entered a quarter-section of land on section 17, which his two sons, B. F. and Washington, improved.

NOTE: John Woodford Gardner died October 30, 2904, at Leon, Iowa. Mary Milner (Combs) Gardner died on October 3, 1893. They were interred at Leon Cemetery.

Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com