The Gardner and Pierson Families
Page Links
Be sure to check the Name Index if you don't see your relative's name on the Page Links
[Home] [Name Index]
Click on the small photos to view a larger photo
John William GARDNER, son of Samuel GARDNER and Lancha FRANCISCO, was born Abt 1 Mar 1818 in New York. He died 13 Aug 1877 in DeWitt Twp, Clinton Co, Michigan and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt Twp., Clinton Co, Michigan.
CENSUS:
1850 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp, Clinton County, Michigan:
John W. Gardner, 32, merchant, Value of real estate - $1800, b. New York
Phebe A., 28, b. New York
J. Milan, 2, male, b. Michigan
------------------------------
1860 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp, Clinton County, Michigan:
John W. Gardner, 41, merchant and farmer, Value of real estate - $15,000, Value of Personal Estate - $7,000, b. New York
Phoeba A., 37, b. New York
John M., 12, b. Michigan, attended school within the year
Ella G., 8, b. Michigan, attended school within the year
Sarah J. Harrington, 16, domestic, b. Michigan
John Mengan, 45, farm laborer, b. New York
------------------------------
1864 Michigan State Census, Agriculture Census of Clinton County, DeWitt Twp:
John W. Gardner
Whole no. of acres taxable - 445(? – difficult to read)
No. of acres improved - 160
No. of acres sowed with wheat - 105
No. of acres Corn harvested preceding year - 24
No. of bushels corn raised the preceding year - 250
No. of acres of wheat harvested preceding year - 75
No. of bushels of wheat raised the preceding year - 650
No. of bushels of all other kinds of grain raised the preceding year - 500
No. of bushels of potatoes raised the preceding year - 100
No. of tons of hay cut the preceding year - 75
No. of pounds of wool sheared the preceding year - 1800
No. of pounds of butter made the preceding year - 400
No. of horses 1 year old and older - 7
No. of neat cattle other than oxes and cows, 1 year old and over - 12
No. of work oxen - 4
No. of milch cows - 4
No. of sheep - 451
No. of swine over 6 months old - 7
------------------------------
1864 Michigan State Census, Inhabitants Census of Clinton County, DeWitt Twp:
John Gardner
Males over 10 and under 21 - 1
Males over 45 and under 75 - 1
Married males - 1
Farmer
Females over 10 and under 18 - 1
Females over 40 and under 75 - 1
Married females - 1
------------------------------
1870 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp., Clinton County, Michigan:
Jno. W. Gardiner, 52, Farmer, Value of real estate - $12,000, Value of personal estate - $1800, b. New York
Phebe A., 48, keeps house, b. New York
Milan, 22, Farm laborer, b. Michigan
Ella, 18, at school, b. Michigan
Wallace Snow, 22, Farm laborer, b. New York
BIOGRAPHY:
"DeWitt Area History," by Kenneth Coin, p. 142, located at the DeWitt Public Library, DeWitt, Michigan:
DeWitt Postal Service
John W. Gardner received it (postmaster commission) July 13, 1860 and kept the office in his building on east Main until January 31, 1862...
"DeWitt Area History," p. 231:
Schools and Taverns - Gardner's
On the northwest corner of Main and Franklin stood a large Greek revival-style building which also housed one of DeWitt's pioneer taverns. Much of the history that occurred within these walls has been forgotten, but it was in 1856 that John Gardner built this large store and public house on this corner of the Public Square. Up to this date only the Baptist church and the county courthouse had been built there, but by 1856, with the dim hope of DeWitt even rataining the county seat, the Scotts decided to sell off portions of the square.
Gardner's was a long rectangular structure with its gable end facing Main street. The Gardners had a store and possibly a tavern on the first floor and bedrooms on the second floor. There was an assembly room of some sort, for it is recorded that the F. & A.M met there for several years prior to the construction of their own hall. The building remained in the ownership of the Gardner family until the 1880's.
|
Gardner Store and Tavern, a portion showing on the far right |
PROBATE:
Taken from a letter of a Gardner researcher, 5 March, 2001, regarding Clinton County Probate Records, Clinton County Courthouse, Clinton County, Michigan:
"The estate of John W. Gardner of DeWitt, Estate 1113 with Phebe Ann Gardner as administrator.... has many pages of debts and of bills brought for payment.... John W. Gardner left his widow Phebe Ann, a son Milan, both of DeWitt, and a daughter Ella G. Tindall(?) of Lansing, all of "full age" or over 21. It seems that the Gardners were embroiled in a court case which cost them a good deal of money - the People vs. Milo Gardner, his son."
MARRIAGE of JOHN and PHEBE:
John married Phebe A. PHILLIPS on 17 Dec 1847 in Eagle Twp., Clinton Co, Michigan. Phoebe was born 7 Feb 1822 in Sodus, Wayne Co, New York. She died 20 Sep 1915 in DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan.
CENSUS for PHEBE:
1880 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp., Clinton County, Michigan:
Miland J. Gardner, 32, farmer, b. Michigan, both parents b. New York
Serepta Gardner, 30, wife, b. New York, both parents b. New York
Phoebe A. Gardner, 57, mother, keeping house, b. New York, father b. Rhode Island, mother's birthplace unknown.
(John W. died in 1877, Phoebe lives with her son and his wife)
------------------------------
1900 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp., Clinton County, Michigan:
Phebe A. Gardner, 78, b. Feb 1822, widow, mother of two children, two children living, b. Michigan (this is the only census that says birthplace is Michigan), both parents b. New York
Milon J., 52, b. Jan 1848, single, occupation - Show man, b. Michigan, father b. New York, mother b. Michigan
------------------------------
1910 U.S. Census, DeWitt Village, Clinton County, Michigan:
James Truesdell, 65, married for 38 years, b. Michigan, father b. New York, mother b. New York, farmer on general farm, owns farm, mortgage free
Ella, 58, wife, married for 38 years, mother of four children, four living, b. Michigan, both parents b. New York
Pheobe Gardner, 88, mother-in-law, widow, mother of two, two children living, b. New York, both parents b. New York
They live next door to Clyde Truesdell
BIOGRAPHY of PHEBE:
Phebe is listed in "Clinton County Pioneers," a transcript of the Membership Record of the Clinton County Pioneer Society. The original records are in the St. Johns Public Library and were lent to the Michigan State Library for copying. Mrs. Gertrude B. Pierce of the Michigan Library staff did the copying.
"Name - Gardner, Phebe
Place and date of birth - Sodus, Wayne Co., NY, 7 Feb 1822
Marriage information - Eagle, Clinton Co, Mich., 17 Dec. 1847
Place and date of first residence in Michigan - Novi, Clinton Co., Mich 1845
Place and date of residence when the individual became a member of the Society - DeWitt, Clinton Co., 22 Aug 1903
Date of death - 20 Sept 1915"
DEATH of PHEBE GARDNER:
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 23 Sept. 1915:
Phoebe Ann Gardner, of Dewitt, 93 years old, one of Clinton county's oldest pioneers, died early Monday morning at her home in Dewitt, where she had lived for 70 years.
Seventy years ago she settled in Dewitt, erected a home on the same spot, where she died. Her husband took up 500 acres of land in Clinton county, and also conducted a general store in Dewitt. At one time he had as many as 12 teams on the road between Dewitt and Detroit bringing supplies for the settlers and carting produce to the Michigan metropolis. At the time of her death, Mrs. Gardner was making her home with her daughter, Mrs. James Truesdale, her only child. The funeral will be held from the home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. W.H. Thompson of the North Baptist church of this city, officiating. Interment will be in Dewitt cemetery.
|
John W. Gardner plot, DeWitt Cemetery, St. Johns, Michigan |
John W. and Phebe Gardner had the following CHILDREN:
1. Miland John GARDNER (John W.) was born 29 Jan 1848 in DeWitt, Clinton Co., Michigan. He died 13 Nov 1900 in DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan.
CENSUS:
In the 1870 U.S. census, Miland is living with his parents in DeWitt as a farm laborer (see census above).
------------------------------
1880 U.S. Census, DeWitt Twp., Clinton County, Michigan:
Miland J. Gardner, 32, son, farmer, b. Michigan
Serepta, 30, wife, at home, b. New York, father b. Rhode Island, mother's birthplace not known.
Phoebe A. Gardner, 57, mother, b. New York, both parents b. New York
MARRIAGES of MILAND J.:
Miland J. married (1) Mary M. FOSTER on 5 Jul 1866 in DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan. Mary was born about 1850.
Miland also married (2) Sarepta J. MYER, daughter of John G. MYER and Rosetta C. HILLSINGER (sp?), on 23 Dec 1878 in Victor, Clinton Co, Michigan. The marriage ended in divorce. Sarepta was born 18 Aug 1848 in Oswego Co., New York. She died 28 Oct 1909 in Bingham, Clinton Co., Michigan and was buried in South Bingham Cemetery, Clinton Co., Michigan.
NOTE of INTERST:
From the Clinton County Historical Society, DeWitt, Michigan, Scrapbook #33, p. 15:
A program for the "Grand 4th of July Celebration at DeWitt," on Saturday, July 3rd, 1886. The Grand Parade, at 1:30PM, was led by the Fusileers, under the direction of Capt. Milan Gardner.
DEATH of MILAND:
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 15 Nov. 1900:
An Old Resident of DeWitt Passes Away
Milan J. Gardener, an old resident of Clinton county, died at his home in the Village of DeWitt, last Tuesday morning of dropsy. Mr. Gardener was born January 29, 1848, in DeWitt, where he has since resided. He leaves one daughter, a mother and a neighborhood of friends to mourn his loss. The funeral will be held at the Baptist church at 2 p.m. Thursday. Services by Rev. Ford.
DEATH of SEREPTA:
"Clinton Republican," St. Johns, Michigan, 4 Nov. 1909:
Mrs. Serepta J. Gardner passed away at the home of her mother, Mrs. Rosetta C. Myer, in Bingham township Thursday, October 28, at 6:30 p.m., aged 61 years, 2 months, 10 days.
Mrs. Gardner died of Brights disease, from which she had been a great sufferer for the last three years, bearing her suffering with great patience and fortitude.
Serepta J. Myer was born in Oswego county, New York, August 18th, 1848. She came to Michigan with her parents in the year 1859 where she had since resided, with the exception of 16 years spent in California at different periods, having made three trips to that state.
She was united in marriage to J. Miland Gardner at Laingsburg, Mich., December 23, 1878. To this union one daughter was born, Pearl A. Gardner, who resides with her grandmother, Mrs. Rosetta C. Myer.
She leaves to mourn her loss one daughter, a mother, three sisters, three brothers and one niece, besides other relatives and many friends. Her husband died 9 years ago.
The funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday, November 2, 1909, at 2 p.m., Rev. Hyelop, of St. Johns, officiating. Interment in the Bingham cemetery.
Miland J. and Sarepta had the following CHILD:
1. Pearl A. GARDNER (Miland J.) was born 23 May 1881 in DeWitt, Clinton Co., Michigan
2. Ella Gertrude GARDNER (John W.) was born 13 Mar 1852 in DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan. She died Oct 1934 and was buried in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt, Clinton Co, Michigan.
[Home] [Name Index]
[ Back to Top]
)
)
