Untitled From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 586-587

D. J. GARDNER, a native of Platteville, Grant county, and a distinguished lawyer in the prime of life was born Feb. 26, 1853, son of David and Mary (MURPHY) GARDNER, both natives of Ireland.

David GARDNER was born in County Meath, Ireland, March 4, 1818, and came to the United States in 1836. In 1844 he married Miss Mary MURPHY, a native of County Cork, Ireland, and a daughter of Dennis MURPHY, who settled in New Orleans, La., in 1840, and died there the same year. David GARDNER came up the Mississippi river from Grand Gulf, Miss., to Ottawa, Ill., in 1838, and to Platteville, Wis., in April, 1842, settled on a farm one and a half miles southwest of the then village, and began prospecting for lead. He first discovered the Boots mine, and later the GARDNER and HAYDEN mines, both the latter on the GARDNER homestead, and successfully operated them a number of years, also following farming. Mr. GARDNER was a man of energy and of splendid character. He died on his homestead in 1876, a devout member of the Catholic Church, and his widow, who was a lady of culture and refinement, descended from a family noted for generations back as highly educated people, survived until Dec. 12, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. David GARDNER reared a family of seven children: John M., a retired farmer and surveyor, was born in 1845, and has always been a useful citizen; he has never married, and resides with his brother, D. J. David married Miss Drusilla WORKS, who has borne him two children, Dorothy and Helen, and lives on the old homestead at Platteville. James V., who was educated in the Platteville State Normal school, has recently retired from the general merchandise business; he married Miss Kate MARTIN, of Belmont, and they have had five children, David, Jr., Mary, Marguerite, Cyril and Claude. Mary E. is housekeeper for her brother D. J. Our subject is next in the order of birth. Bee A., a graduate of the State Normal, is the librarian of that institution. Cecelia, who was also educated at the State Normal school, is a successful teacher in the public schools of Platteville.

D. J. Gardner, after graduating from the State Normal school, in his native city, was engaged as principal of the Cassville school for three years. In 1880 he entered the law office of CARTER & CLEARY, as a student, was admitted to the bar in 1882, and opened his office for practice in the same year; in December, 1885, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State, and to the United States courts in April, 1888. In 1887 Mr. GARDNER associated with J. W. MURPHY in practice, and until the dissolution of the firm, in 1895, they did a very extensive business. Mr. GARDNER has continued practice at the old office until the present time. In 1891 he was appointed a member of the Board of Regents of Normal schools of Wisconsin, on which he served five years, being vice-president of the Board the last year. During his membership the Board erected two Normal school edifices, one at Superior and one at Stevens Point, and Mr. GARDNER was present at the dedication of both buildings, and delivered an address at the dedication of the Superior building, in 1896. Through his efforts the Platteville school has been very much enlarged, and it is now furnished with every modern appliance, and is a credit to the State. In February, 1893, Mr. GARDNER greatly aided in the organization of the Platteville State Bank, was elected its vice-president, being a man of business ability as well as a stockholder, and held that position until October, 1899, when he disposed of his stock.

In politics Mr. GARDNER is a hard-working Democrat, and has been honored by his party, having been elected to various offices, including those of town clerk, justice of the peace and city attorney, holding the last named for five years. He has always been one of the foremost public-spirited men of the city, ever keeping in view and aiding its progress. Individually he is one of the most generous and broad-minded of men, and to aid a friend there is no task too arduous for him to undertake. As a professional man, his career, as even here inadequately recorded, is sufficient to show that he is far in advance of the average lawyer who has had the same educational advantages and the same professional opportunities.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck