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Surname: Gardner, Barnard, Mills, Bidwell, Marvin, Ury
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Gardner, Rufus
Posted by Celia Davis on Tue, 05 Sep 2000
Surname: Gardner, Barnard, Mills, Bidwell, Marvin, Ury
from reprint of Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record by Lewis
Publishing, 1886. p.115
RUFUS E. GARDNER, a resident of section 26, Jackson Township, is one of
the pioneers of Clarke County, and was born in Union County, Indiana, September
16, 1849. His father, Asa F. Gardner, was a native of Indiana. His mother,
Amy (Barnard) Gardner, was born in North Carolina, and at the age of nine
years went to Wayne County, Indiana, where she was reared.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa F. Gardner, with their six children came to Clarke County
in 1855. They lived in Osceola township three years, improving a farm there.
In 1858 they removed to Franklin township, where they improved a small
farm, which they occupied until the death of Asa F., which occurred August
11, 1883. He was sixty-seven years of age, and was reared a Quaker. His
widow survives and resides with her youngest son in Franklin Township.
The following are the names of the children-- Sophronia, who died in infancy;
Charles C., died in Franklin Township, aged nineteen years; Erastus R.,
a resident of Wichita, Kansas; Andalusia, died at the age of fifteen; Rufus,
the subject of this sketch; Alphonzo, a resident of Franklin township;
Mary, died at the age of nine years; Albert L., died at the age of six
years; and Harrison L., who died at the age of twenty-one months.
Rufus E., the subject of this sketch, was reared on his fathers farm and
educated in the district schools. He also attended the academy at Garden
Grove. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching school, and followed
that vocation successfully fourteen years, and nearly all the time in Clarke
County.
November 11, 1880, Mr. Gardner was married to Mrs. Abbylene Mills, daughter
of Isaac and Charity Bidwell. Her parents were among the early settlers
of Mahaska County, Iowa. She was born in the State of Illinois, April 15,
1840, but has resided in Iowa since three years of age. May 17, 1857, she
was married to Runa Marvin, and in August, of that year, came to Clarke
County and settled on section 35. Mr. Marvin was born in Fountain County,
Indiana, October 2, 1833. He enlisted in Company D, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteers,
in August, 1862, and died at Corinth, Mississippi, March 4, 1863, aged
thirty years. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin had three children-- Elizabeth N., who
died at the age of five years; Mary C., now wife of C. D. Ury; and Charlotte
L., who died at the age of nine months. The second marriage of Mrs. Gardner
was with Thomas C. Mills, March 11, 1866. He was born in Morgan county,
Ohio, September 1, 1835, and died January 28, 1876, leaving two daughters,
Cora and Florence A. One child, Hettie, died at the age of five years.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner is on section 26, of Jackson township.
Mr. Gardner has 1764-20 acres (editors note- this is the acreage as listed
in the history book), located on sections 26, 27 and 35. Both are members
of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Gardner is a Republican, and has
served as secretary of the School board three years.
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