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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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SOURCE: Portrait and Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan and
        Van Buren Counties, Michigan
        Chapman Bros, Chicago - 1892

        [Page 429-430]

        JAMES GARDNER.  In presenting the biographical notice of the
     career of one of the leading men of Ganges Township, Allegan County,
     and a gentleman who is thoroughly representative of its progressive
     element, we deem it our duty to first briefly advert to the life of
     those from whom he draws his origin.  He is the son of Mathew and
     Euphemia (DALZELL) GARDNER, both natives of Scotland.  The father was
     there reared on a farm and followed agriculture all his life being
     also Land Agent in that country.  He was married when quite young to
     Euphemia DALZELL, a daughter of Robert DALZELL, a descendant of the
     noted DALZELLS of Scotland.  Mr. GARDNER was a widely-known man and
     held the responsible position of Land Valuator.  He died at the ripe
     old age of ninety years.  His life companion passed away some years
     previous to his death.

        Our subject is a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, born in 1830, and
     is one of fifteen children born to his parents, all of whom have died
     but our subject and his brother Alexander, a minister and a resident
     of Scotland.  At the early age of sixteen years, James GARDNER was
     graduated from the High School and Academy at Carodiss.  He was after
     this bound to a Land Agent four years.  He then went to England, where
     he was Land Agent over large estates eleven years.  In 1859 he set
     sail for America and landed in Canada, at Port Hope, where he was
     engaged in the lumber business eight years.  In 1865 he came to the
     United States, coming direct to this township, where he has since re-
     mained.  Having $5,000 when coming to this country enabled him to make
     a good start in life.  He was engaged in lumbering for many years in
     Kalamazoo and now owns nearly a fourth interest in the Douglas Basket
     Factory.  In real estate, our subject owns six hundred acres of land
     in Ganges Township, three hundred of which are improved and about
     sixty acres in fruit.  He also owns over two hundred acres in Canada.

        While residing in England, at the age of twenty-eight years, Mr.
     GARDNER was married to Vera Susan RUSSELL, of Scotland.  Mrs. GARDNER
     is a daughter of William and Margaret RUSSELL and was one of three
     children born to them.  Mrs. GARDNER is a descendant of one of the
     oldest families in Upper Ward, of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and is a
     second cousin of the Hon. William E. GLADSTONE, of England.  She is a
     graduate of the High School and the Ladies' Normal, of Glasgow.  To
     Mr. and Mrs. GARDNER have come eight children, five of whom are liv-
     ing:  Three died in infancy.  The living are named William R., Vera S.
     R., Jane E. R., Robert D., and George F. A.  Mr. GARDNER has taken
     great pride in giving his children good educations.  Vera is a student
     of the Toronto High School and studied art one year in Scotland; Rob-
     ert D. is a law student in Allegan, and George is a student of the
     Douglas High Schools.  Our subject and his wife are members of the
     Congregational Church of Douglas.  Politically, he votes for the man,
     irrespective of party principles.  He belongs to the Doublas Lodge,
     No. 196, F. & A.M.  Mr. Gardner and family are the only kinsmen to
     this brother's large estate in Scotland and Mrs. Gardner will soon
     come into possession of a large estate, also in Scotland.  The late
     James Alexander Gardner was a nephew of our subject and at the time of
     his death was an advocate in Edinburgh.  His death was mourned all
     over England and Scotland and sympathy from many of the best families
     of England and Scotland were sent to his aged father.  Mr. Gardner is
     a man widely-known for his integrity, honesty and uprightness, always
     contributing liberally to every good cause and ever striving for
     suppression of evil.

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