Hickory County, Missouri Biographies--Judge James M. Gardner

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri, 1889.  Published by Goodspeed. Page 588, 589

Judge James M. Gardner was born eight miles east of Madisonville, Monroe County, 
Tenn., February 15, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Thatch) Gardner, 
who were born in Roane and Knox Counties, of that State, his birth occurring 
January 1, 1806, and that of his wife, Mary 18, 1813.  They were married in Monroe 
County, March 26, 1832, and resided in that State until the father's death, August 6, 
1877.  The mother is still living, and resides in Hickory County, Mo., making her home 
with her son, James M.  She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 65 
years, and throughout her long and useful life has won the respect and love of all who 
know her.  The grandfather, James Gardner, was of Irish parentage and a Virginian by 
birth, but died in Monroe County, Tenn., having followed the occupation of farming 
throughout his life.  His father was a Revolutionary soldier.  The maternal grandfather, 
Henderson Thatch, was also born in the "Old Dominion," and died in Bradley County, Tenn., 
having been a successful farmer.  Judge James M. Gardner is the eldest son of nine 
children (five now living): George W., a prominent farmer of Hickory County; Eliza J., 
wife of Samuel D. Mitchell, a merchant of Chattanooga, Tenn.; William L., a farmer of 
Hickory County; and Martha B., widow of Nathaniel Fitzgerald.  She resides in Wise County, 
Texas.  Those deceased are: Henderson, who died in Georgia; Elizabeth R.; Mary A., wife of 
Walker McGriff; and Thomas J., who died in Bradley County, Tenn.  Judge Gardner received 
his education in Monroe and Bradley Counties, and was eighteen years of age when he left 
home to fight his own way in the world.  After spending one year in Alabama, he returned 
to Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming until 1858, then came to Missouri and located 
in Hickory County, where he has since made his home, and where he owns 385 acres of good land.
In 1857 he was married to Miss Margaret McSpaden, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah McSpaden, 
natives of Monroe County, Tenn.  Mrs. Gardner was born in Bradley County, of that State, 
June 26, 1837, and she and Mr. Gardner are the parents of nine children: Robert H.; Sarah E,
wife of Dr. L. Selvidge; Amanda J., wife of Thomas A. Nowell; Ulysses G.; Mary C., wife of 
Benjamin Nowell; Barbara A., Hiram D., Elva T., and Lewis Monroe.  In 1862 Mr. Gardner 
enlisted in Company C, Sixtieth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, and served as corporal 
until the close of the war.  In 1865 he was appointed justice of the peace, being afterward 
elected to that office, serving in all fourteen years.  He was elected judge of the Western 
district on the Republican ticket, of which party he has long been a member, in 1878, and is 
now filling his third term.  He belongs to the G. A. R.  His mother, Catherine Gardner, was 
born May 18, 1813.

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