Gardner, William A.

GARDNER, COMBS, BARRETT

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/17/2019 at 17:09:16

William Allcut Gardner
October 22, 1822 ~ May 31, 1908

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887), p. 521

WILLIAM A. GARDNER resides on section 19, Center Township, where he settled in 1871. He has been a resident of Decatur County since October 28, 1857. His farm consists of 120 acres, and he also owns land elsewhere in the township. When he purchased there were only about eight acres improved, and nothing had been done in the way of orchards. His present residence had been erected by Mr. Size, a previous owner. He now has a fine orchard and an abundance of fruits of various kinds. Mr. Gardner was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 19, 1822. He lived in his native State until the day he was thirty-five years old, when he started with his family for Iowa. Mrs. Gardner was formerly Ellen Combs, born also in Columbiana County, but lived many years with her parents in Stark County. When Mr. Gardner came to Iowa his family consisted of his wife, three sons and one daughter. A son and daughter have been born in Decatur County. The names of the children are -- John S., Myra A., wife of J. W. Barrett; William M., Winfield Scott, Jasper Ross and Frances E. When Mr. Gardner first came to Decatur County he engaged in the mercantile business, in Leon, under the firm name of Gardner & Sons, his father and brother, J. W., being associated with him. They continued in the business two or three years, and he was afterward engaged in various occupations until he settled upon his present farm. In early life Mr. Gardner was a Whig, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. He cast his first vote for Henry Clay, in 1844, and has voted at every presidential election since that time. He has served as justice of the peace eight years, and still holds the office. He is the present coroner of the county, having been elected to that office in 1885. Both he and his wife are members of the church of Christ, both having united before their marriage. Their children are also members of the same church. Mr. Gardner's father, John Gardner, was a native of Pennsylvania, and immigrated to Iowa with his family in October, 1853. They passed the following winter in Clayton County, and came to Decatur County the following spring, where the father died May 6, 1875, aged eighty years and six months. His wife died July 28, 1867. Mrs. Gardner's parents were John and Anna Combs. The father died in Carroll County, Ohio, October 4, 1857, and the mother soon after came to Decatur County, where she died February 1, 1882, being eighty-three years and twenty-two days old; her father-in-law, John Combs, was one hundred and five years old at the time of his death.

NOTE: William Allcut Gardner died May 31, 1908 at Delta, Colorado. Ellen Milner (Combs) Gardner died on June 7, 1892. They were interred at Leon Cemetery.

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