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* Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of
City of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895
† Source: History of Northwestern
Ohio - Vol. II _ 1917 As
Always, Biographies will be transcribed upon request ~
Sharon W.
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| WILLIAM G. GARDINER |
NATHAN GARDNER, one of the
honored pioneers and prominent agriculturists of Lucas County, now
living on his farm in Oregon Township, was born April 5, 1821, in
Wayne County, N. Y., being the eldest in the family of three
children born to Robert and Catherine (Chapple) Gardner.
Mercy, the next in order of birth, was the wife of Charles
Coy, of Wood County, Ohio, where she made her home until her
death, which occurred at an advanced age. Catherine, the
other sister, still resides in this county.
Robert Gardner, the father of our subject,
came to this country as a British soldier in 1812, but joined
the American troops and fought with them until the close of the war.
In 1830 he came to Ohio, and settled in Lucas County. Here he
purchased several acres of land and proceeded to clear a space on
which to build his log cabin, the most fashionable residence of
those early days. It was soon completed, and the family took
possession of their new home and began the struggle for existence,
and arduous task, indeed, in those days. He remained on this
farm until his death, which occurred at the advanced age of
seventy-eight years. The mother was native of New York State,
and passed away at the age of thirty-five years.
Our subject spent his early life at home on the farm
with his father, attending the common schools with his father,
attending the common schools of that day when not employed at work
on the farm or hunting in the forests near his home. When
nineteen years of age he became a sailor on the lakes, running
between Toledo and Buffalo and followed his vocation for about five
years. Becoming convinced at the end of that time that this
was not his calling, he gave up the occupation and returned to this
county, purchasing the farm of forty acres on which he now resides,
which at that time was in a wild, uncultivated state. Toledo
was but a small village, and the land that now comprises the fertile
farm was bought for $2.50 per acre. The land was all covered
with a heavy growth of timber, and Mr. Gardner, being young
and energetic, immediately set about clearing and cultivating it and
adding the necessary improvements. This was soon accomplished
by the occasional aid of a few friends and neighbors and by his own
industry and determination to succeed. First a substantial log
cabin made its appearance among the lofty forest trees, and day by
day other improvements were added, until in a few short years a
flourishing farm took the place of the wilderness. Deer and
other wide game were then in the county in abundance, and often made
their appearance very near the house. He has made his home on
this farm since 1844, and has been an eye-witness of the great
transformation that has taken place in this county since then.
He is a man highly respected in the community, and has been an
important factor in the upbuilding and improvement of Oregon
Township, taking an active interest in all pubic improvements and a
very prominent part in agriculture and stock-raising.
On the 12th of February, 1851, Mr. Gardner and Miss
Sarah Ridout were united in marriage, and to the union ten
children were born. Robert S. is a turner by
trade, and resides in East Toledo; Thaddeus M. resides on the
old homestead with his father; Isaac also makes his
home on the same farm; Maria Catherine is a wife of George
Oakwood, of Toledo; Wallace Orlando, a well-driller by
occupation, resides in Toledo; Grant is a resident of the
city of Toledo; John G. resides in East Toledo; Addie E.,
no Mrs. James Rabbit, makes her home in Toledo; Nathan G.
is a mail carrier of the same place. The mother of this family
was called to the land beyond Oct. 18, 1888, at her home on the old
farm where she first went to housekeeping.
Mr. Gardner is an old "Jackson Democrat," and
has always taken an active interest in local politics. He has
served as Supervisor, Assessor and School Director, beside3s filling
various other offices in his township. He is not a member of
any church, but is public-spirited and a liberal giver to any
enterprise or good work that is for the betterment or improvement of
the community in which he lives. |
| JAMES A. GARFIELD |
| JOSEPH G. GARTNER |
| WILLIAM A. GASHE |
| ORRIN GILLETT |
| VOLENTINE W. GRANGER |
| ULYSSES S. GRANT |
| JOHN W. GREENE |
| JOHN T. GREER |
| CHARLES P. GRIFFIN |
| HENRY D. GROVE |
| OSCAR N. GUNN |
| WAR__ GUNN |
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