Robert D. Gardner Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1138-1139 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ROBERT D. GARDNER. 

	Robert D. Gardner, occupying the bench of the county court of 
Marshall county, received endorsement of his first term's service in a 
reelection in 1914 and is bending his energies to a fair and impartial 
administration of the law, attempting to make his court the embodiment 
of equity and justice. He has practiced in Britton since 1902, previous 
to which time he was a member of the Indiana bar for several years. He 
is a native, however, of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Allegan 
county, May 19, 1868, his parents being James and Vere (Russell) 
Gardner, who were natives of Scotland, born in 1825 and 1827 
respectively. Reared in the land of hills and heather, they were there 
married and on crossing the Atlantic settled in Canada, whence they 
removed to Michigan, where the father followed farming throughout his 
remaining days. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian 
church, loyal to its teachings and its purposes. Fraternally Mr. 
Gardner was a Mason, while politically he was a republican and filled 
some local offices. He died in the year 1912, having for three years 
survived his wife, who passed away in 1909. To them were born five 
children, four of whom survive, namely: William, a practicing attorney 
of Michigan; Vere, who also lives in Michigan; Robert D., of this 
review; and George, who is engaged in the lumber and coal business at 
Copemish, Michigan. 

	After acquiring a common-school education Robert D. Gardner 
entered upon the study of law under private instruction and was later 
elected county surveyor of Allegan county, Michigan, which position he 
filled for several years. Subsequently he attended the law school of 
the Northern Indiana University at Valparaiso and upon the completion 
of his course was admitted to the bar in 1898. He began practice in 
South Bend, where he remained for two and one-half years. He removed to 
Britton, this state, in 1902, and there entered upon active practice 
independently, soon demonstrating his ability to handle intricate 
problems of the law and to win success in the trial of cases for his 
clients. He has been accorded a large private practice and in 1912 was 
elected to the office of county judge, since which time he has served 
upon the bench, having been reelected in 1914. His course has been 
marked by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution and 
his decisions have been strictly fair and impartial. 

	In 1899 Mr. Gardner was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. 
Knudson, a native of Illinois. Mrs. Gardner belongs to the Lutheran 
church. She is also a member of the Eastern Star, and was grand Esther 
in 1914-15 in the Grand Lodge of South Dakota. She is also a musician 
of note, possessing a rich contralto voice, and has studied under 
several of the' leading musical directors. 

	Judge Gardner is well known in Masonic circles, having taken the 
degrees of the lodge, the consistory and the Mystic Shrine. He also has 
membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He likewise 
belongs to the Elks lodge at Aberdeen. He gives his political support 
to the republican party but never allows political preference to 
interfere with the faithful performance of his judicial duties and his 
opinions are particularly free from personal bias or prejudice, so that 
he has made an excellent record upon the bench.