Obit of Ambrose GARDNER (b.1842 d.1903) Wabasha Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Panka On Ambrose death records it lists his father as John Gardner born in New York and his mother Eliza Barrett born in New york. It also listed Ambrose occupation as a Teamster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alfred Hewitt signed statement that he knew Ambrose and Nellie Gardner from childhood- Papers were for Veterans Pension. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAKE CITY MINNESOTA GRAPHIC SENTINAL FEBRUARY 17, 1903 A FATAL ACCIDENT! AMBROSE GARDNER KILLED WHILE GOING TO THE WOODS. Once more it has been demonstrated how little we know what a day or an hour will bring forth, and that when we are in the midst of life and health we are on the verge of the grave, and the summons may come at any moments unannounced. Thursday morning Ambrose Gardner, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this city, started for the woods to get a load of wood, as he had been doing all winter, always crossing the track at the same place, and he had never been caught or come anywhere near before. Thursday morning was cold, and he was bundled up sitting with his back towards the track, and when he reached what is known as Weeds crossing and just as his team got on the track, the fast mail which was late that morning and running to make up time, struck his team, literally tearing them to pieces, and throwing him against the fence with such force as to break his arm, crush his skull and injure him fatally. The train stopped as soon as they could, came back and the trainmen picked the unfortunate man up and took him to the home of Frank Hayhorst, who lives right near the track where the accident happened. Steven Newport came along, and summoned medical help and soon Drs. W.J. Cochrane and Geo. R. Patton were on the ground and doing all that could be done. Yet it was apparent from the start there was no hope of his ever regaining consciousness again. Dr. Bayley was afterwards called by the friends but found nothing could be done. This was one of the greatest shocks ever given the citizens of the city, as Mr. Gardner was the last man on earth that his friends would expect to be caught in such a manner, for he was noted as being a careful man under all circumstances, and it will never be known just how it happened that he did not see the train coming. This has always been considered a dangerous crossing as the approach near the track is behing embankments and several accidents have occurred there and many very close call reported. The team crossing it or the engineer approaching cannot see the danger until it is too late to avert an accident. Mr. Gardner died about four o'clock in the morning, having never for a moment regained consiousness. He was born in Pennslyvania, April 29, 1842, hence was 61 years of age at the time of his death. Deceased came to Minnesota in 1854, and has made this state his home except during the time he was in the army. He enlisted in Company B, 5th Minnesota on Feb. 23rd 1862, and served until Sept. 2nd, 1865, when he received his discharge and returned home. On Sept. 9th, 1866, he was married to Miss Nellie M. Beam, of Maxville, Wis., who still survives him, although in very poor health. Mr. Gardner was one of those men who found he had enough to attend to look after his own affairs and never meddled with those of others, but he was a man that was always ready to lend a helping hand to a needy brother and do all he could to alleviate the suffereings of those about him. Mr. Gardner was one of the most devoted husbands and indulgent gathers that ever lived and for years he has given his very life to the care of his suffering companion. He is a man that will be missed in the community and especially among his neighbors. He leaves a wife, two sons, and one daughter to mourn his death and four sisters and two brothers, The children are William Gardner of Chicago, George Gardner of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Pearl Gardner of this city, all of whom were present at the funeral. The sisters and brothers are: Mrs. Walter Hewitt of this city, Mrs. Sarah Irish, of Nebraska, J. Gardner of Pepin, Mrs. Eliza Kelm of Durand, Mrs. Ada Collins, of Washington and E. Gardner. The funeral was held at the home Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. D. Paul Rader officiating, assisting Major Doughty Post of the G. A. R., who had charge of the funeral services, and the remains laid at rest in Lakewood Cemetery. The entire community join in the sorrow of the loss of so good a man. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ambrose's pension file has his last name spelled Gardiner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the 1870 census Town of Nelson, Wisconsin Ambrose is listed as age 26, Nellie his wife as age 19, William age 2 and Ephraim age 2 months ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the 1875 census of Buffalo County, Maxville Township, Amosa was listed as having 3 males and 1 female in his household.