Irvin N. Gardner
Irvin N. Gardner, whose fine dairy farm is situated in Liberty Township, has been a life-long resident of the portion of Delaware County lying within one mile of Powell. He was born three-fourths of a mile south of that village, February 9, 1850, and is a son of Jonathan and Delia ( Brenton ) Gardner.
Joseph Gardner, the paternal grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers in Delaware County and his was the first burial that took place in the Powell cemetery. The grandmother was Nancy Pond, a widow, who had formerly lived in Knox County. Jonathan Gardner, father of Irvin N., was born in Vermont and accompanied his parents to Delaware County, Ohio. He married Delia Benton, who was born on the banks of Alum Creek, near Westerville, and they settled on a farm south of Powell. They had the following children: Nettie, now aged about sixty-six years, married Rev. J. G. Evans, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they reside near Kankakee, Illinois; Lyman, aged sixty-three years, married Lillie Hall, a daughter of Gordon Hall, and he is now engaged in a banking business at Worthington; Bryon A., residing east of Powell, married Florence Lowery, a daughter of John Lowery; Isabel is survived by her husband. Edward Neds. residing in Franklin County, Ohio, and one son Robert Franklin Neds; and Franklin and Henry, both of whom died young. Jonathan Gardner is deceased, but his venerable widow still survives. She is indeed a remarkable lady, being in full possession of all her faculties although she celebrated her ninetieth birthday on April 24, 1908. More than this, she appeared on this happy occasion in a becoming costume made by her own hands, the dainty stitching on it putting machine work to shame. Her hands have ever been useful ones and for years were busy doing helpful things for others. Since there is no longer any need for her practical use of them, she has gratified her love for beautiful objects by doing fine bead and other fancy work and so accurately and exquisitely that her display took first prize at a late fair held at Kankakee, where she has been a resident for the past twelve years.
Irvin N. Gardner attended the district schools in his boyhood but as his eldest brother entered the army to serve in the Civil War, he was obliged to take up the work on the farm while young. Following his marriage be engaged in general farming for twenty-five years and during this time also did stock-buying to a large extent. In 1884 he came to his present place, where he has 132 acres, and for the past two years he has followed dairying, milking thirty cows and ships from fifty to sixty gallons of milk per day to Columbus. He has greatly improved his farm since settling on it, as he found nothing here but an excellent well. He built first what is now the rear of his handsome residence, which he later completed, subsequently adding fine barns and commodious sheds. He also cleared a large part of the farm. He remembers that in his boyhood, an old log house stood on the place.
In 1872. Mr. Gardner married Mary Burss, who died in 1879. She was the only child of Amter Burss, of Liberty Township. Mr. Gardner was married (second) in 1881, to Martha Washington Tone, who is a daughter of Lafayette Tone. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have had four children, namely: Lora, who is the wife of J. {. Drumhiller, residing in Liberty Township; Lillie and Guy, both deceased; and Jay T., who manages the home farm for his father. He married Amelia Pounds, who is a daughter of William Pounds, and they have one son, Lesley.
Mr. Gardner is a member of Powell Lodge, Odd Fellows, No. 465; of Lowell Lodge, Knights of Pythias, No. 684; and of the Improved Order of Red Men, Tribe No. 112, at Hyattsville. Formerly he was identified actively with the Republican party, but in recent years has been independent in his views. He is a trustee of Liberty Township, having served frequently in this office, and his official acts have been very satisfactory to his fellow citizens.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle