BIOS: John L. GARDNER, Jefferson, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, pp 323-325.

  John L. Gardner, a veteran of the Civil War and an extensive farmer of 
Jefferson, Somerset County, Pa., was born in this town, February 6, 1830, a son 
of Jacob and Mary (Lenhardt) Gardner.  He comes of substantial pioneer ancestry, 
being the grandson of George Gardner, who was born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and 
located in the town of Jefferson when a young man.  Purchasing a tract of 
forest-covered land, Grandfather Gardner labored with heroic energy to reclaim a 
homestead from the wilderness; and here until his death, at the age of fourscore 
years, he was engaged in tilling the soil.  Twelve children were born to him and 
his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Young, and of this large family two are now 
living: Mary, wife of Samuel Zufall; and Lydia, wife of John D. Miller.
  Jacob Gardner, the fourth child, was born on the old homestead, and during his 
life of forty-eight brief years was actively engaged in farming pursuits.  He 
was a stanch Republican in politics, and, true to the religious faith in which 
his good parents reared him, he was a faithful member of the Lutheran church.  
He married Mary Lenhardt, daughter of Frederich Lenhardt, of Jefferson.  They 
had nine children, of whom four are living, as follows: John L., the special 
subject of this sketch; Mary, who is the wife of Solomon Heinbaugh, and has one 
child, Alpha; Elizabeth, wife of Matthias Scott and mother of six children-  
Darsie, Nettlie, Cynthia, George, Nevin, and Harry; William H., a physician, who 
is the youngest child, has been twice married.  William H. Gardner's first wife, 
Annie Ash, died leaving two children- Maud and Harry.  He subsequently married 
Miss Margrette Pile.
  John L. Gardner pursued his studies in the towns of Jefferson, Middle Creek, 
and Milford, and completed his early education under the instruction of 
Professor Stutzman at Meyersdale.  He afterward taught school three terms, and 
then turned his attention to farming.  In 1862, while the Civil War was in 
progress, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-first Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and served fifteen months, first as a Private and later as 
Sergeant of his company.  He subsequently re-enlisted in the Eighty-eighth 
Regiment, in which he served as a private until the close of the war.  He 
actively participated in several engagements, including the battles at Newbern, 
N.C., Phoenix, and White House Landing.  On returning from the South, Mr. 
Gardner bought his present farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres in 
Jefferson, and in its care and management he has been eminently successful.
  In November, 1857, Mr. Gardner married Rosanna, daughter of George Pile, a 
farmer in Middle Creek township.  George Pile attained the venerable age of 
ninety-seven years.  He was a highly respected as a man of sterling worth, was a 
valued member of the Lutheran church and a straightforward Republican in 
politics.  His wife, whose maiden name was Salome Putnam, died at the age of 
ninety-one years.  She belonged to the Albright church.  Five other children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pile, namely: Mary, wife of Franklin King; Andrew, 
whose first wife died leaving two children- Ellen and Washington; Josiah, who 
married Margrette Koozer, and has eight children- Ellen, Lucinda, Iranese, 
Lyman, Allen, Edith, Sadie, and Clara; Jeremiah, whose first wife, Susan Stahl, 
died leaving seven children, and whose second wife, Ellen Lowrey, has borne him 
two children- Arthur and Sadie; and Solomon, who married Sarah King, and has 
four children- Wesley, Dora, Cyrus, and Homer.  Of the two children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Gardner, one has passed to the life immortal.  The other child, Sarah 
J., is the wife of Washington Countryman, and has four children- Elsie, Dora, 
Luther, and Ray.
  Politically, Mr. Gardner affiliates with the Republican party, and has always 
been very active in local matters.  For six years he served as School Director.  
He has been Judge of Elections and Inspector of Votes, and is at the present 
time Auditor of the town of Jefferson.  He is a member of the Disciples church, 
while his wife belongs to the Lutheran church, in which she is an active worker.