- HON. WILLIAM GARDINER, of Janesville, one of the pioneers
of Rock County, settled in the
- town of Bradford, in the month of May, 1846. He is a native
of Gloucestershire, England, born Sept. 3, 1826, and a son of
Charles and Anna GARDINER. His mother died when he was but nine
years of age, and when thirteen years old was left an orphan
by the death of his father.
- The family numbered six children, of which William was the
youngest. He left school at his father's
- death and soon afterwards sent to London, remaining in that
city until nineteen years of age, when he decided to come to
America. Unaccompanied he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed
at New Orleans, a stranger in a strange land, where was not one
familiar face to welcome him. He had read letters published in
the English papers giving favorable accounts of the Territory
of Wisconsin, and he resolved to make this State his future home.
With scarcely any delay he came directly to Rock Prairie, and
has been a resident of Rock County since that time. He took up
a farm of Government land, on which he at once settled and began
its improvement, and the land then entered is still in his possession.
He now owns two fine farms, one of 160 acres and the other comprising
120 acres. Until 1886 he continued to follow agricultural pursuits
in Bradford Township, but in November of that year removed to
Janesville and retired from active life. He was the only one
of his family who ever came to America.
- In 1860 Mr. GARDINER was united in marriage with Miss Carrie
DOCKSTADER, a daughter
- of Jacob DOCKSTADER, who was one of Rock County's early settlers.
Her father was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., about 1796, was
there reared to manhood, and married Miss Cornelia BALCH, a native
of Massachusetts. They continued to reside in Montgomery County
until their removal to Wisconsin in 1847, when they settled at
Shopiere, where Mr. DOCKSTADER engaged in farming until death
called him in November, 1867. His wife died six years previously.
They left a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters,
eight of whom are yet living, namely: Maria, wife of Jacob DUNN,
a resident of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Sarah A., who wedded A. F. TURNER,
of Beaman, Iowa; Joseph, who is living in La Prairie Township,
Rock County; Cornelia, wife of E. F. DOLE, of Shopiere; Catherine,
now Mrs. Dennis JACOBS, is a twin sister of Mrs. GARDINER; Jacob
is a resident of Chatfield, Minn.; Frederick makes his home at
West Superior; and Hezekiah died about 1863, leaving a wife and
two children.
- Mr. and Mrs. GARDINER have a family of nine children, four
sons and five daughters, all of
- whom are still at home with their parents, though Willie
D. is now a law student at Madison. The children is order of
their ages are as follows: S. Kate, Willie D., Charles J., C.
Lillian, Edwin, Emma C., Benjamin H., Gracie E. and Mary E.
- Mr. GARDINER is one of the representative men of Rock County.
He began life in the pioneer
- days with little means, in fact had only sufficient capital
to pay for his land, but by industry and good management on the
part of himself and wife he accumulated a comfortable competence.
While a resident of the town of Bradford he was called upon to
serve in various official positions, and the duties retaining
to those offices were discharged in a thorough and satisfactory
manner. He was for twelve years Chairman of the Board of his
town, and for two years was Chairman of the County Board. In
1878 he was nominated for the position of Representative and
was triumphantly elected, the returns showing 1576 votes in his
favor, while his opponent, W. H. BARDEN, received but 598 votes.
He is a Republican and a warm advocate of the principles of that
great political organization, and was one of the founders of
that party in Janesville. In religious connection Mr. and Mrs.
GARDINER are members of the Congregational Church. Her parents
were also for many years connected with that religious body,
and four of their children have united with that church. Mr.
and Mrs. GARDINER have a pleasant home on Ruger Avenue, where
they reside. They have ever received the esteem, respect and
confidence of their fellow-citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 830.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|