Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Archibald Gardner
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
ARCHIBALD GARDNER The early pioneers of Clay County were usually equipped with those qualities of resolution and perseverance which enabled them to overcome the many difficulties which beset them at the time of taking up their abode on the frontier. The traveler through this section in an early day. would have found Mr. Gardner established in a cottonwood shanty in Sherman Township, in the midst of a wild and unbroken county, working with imperfect implements the primitive soil. He thus labored a few years and in the meantime erected other buildings most needed, fenced his premises, planted an orchard and otherwise transformed his land into the semblance of a homestead. We find him in a commodious frame dwelling, surrounded by full grown fruit and shade trees, his land in a highly productive condition and himself comfortably fixed financially and otherwise. The term self-made may be most properly applied to
Mr. Gardner, as he commenced in life dependent upon his own resources, owing no man anything, financially or otherwise.
The subject of this biographical outline was born in Madison County. Iowa, in 1841. About 1858 his parents Cummings and Elizabeth (Wynn) Gardner, removed to Mercer County. Ill., where the father died in 1867, leaving a family of seven sons and two daughters. Three of the sons�Elijah, William and Archibald served as soldiers in the Union army during the late Civil War�Elijah in Company K, 102d Illinois Infantry three years as a private and William and Archibald in Company A, 30th Illinois Infantry. In the winter of 1862-63 William was captured at Memphis, Tenn., and killed by guerillas as was reported by those who were his companions in misfortune. William and Archibald had enlisted in August, 1861. The latter served until August, 1864. when he received his honorable discharge and returned to Illinois.
In the spring of 1865, Mr. Gardner re-enlisted
in Company E, 61st Illinois Infantry and served
until the close of the war. Then returning to Illinois he resumed farming in that State until about
1868. when he removed to Monroe County, Iowa, and purchased a farm which he operated until the
spring of 1870. His nest removal was to this State
and he homesteaded 134 acres on section 5. Sherman Township. Clay County, where be now resides.
He was one of the first settlers in this region and
has seen the country develop from a wilderness
into the abode of an intelligent and prosperous
people.
Before leaving Illinois Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Sarah (McGuire) Wynn. Mrs. Gardner was born in Indiana and lived with her parents until becoming mistress ofher own home. She is now the mother of three living children�Emma, Grant and Clara. John M. and Charles are deceased.
Mrs. Gardner is a very benevolent lady and a member of the Relief Corps. She also belongs to the Baptist Church in which Mr. Gardner is a Trustee and one of the pillars. As an ex-soldier Mr. Gardner is identified with the G. A. R. of Clifton, in which he
has held several offices and is at present the Senior Vice Commander. He considers that the period of his life spent in defense of the Union is one of which he has abundant reason to be proud. He went into the fight conscientiously and was one of the many who did their duty faithfully and well and whose career forms a part of the unwritten history of that terrible struggle.