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Louis Gardner
Born June 10, 1876 |
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Jones county has been signally favored in the class of men who have occupied its offices as on the whole they have been citizens devoted to the best interests of the community and seeking the public welfare through promptness and faithfulness in the discharge of the duties that devolve upon them. Such is the record of Louis Gardner who is now filling the office of county auditor.
He was born in Monticello, Iowa, on the 10th of June 1876, and is a son of David E. and Mary A. (Wales) Gardner, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. The mother went to Monticello in 1860, landing at what is now known as Proctor's Stoop at the old Dewey mill. David E. Gardner had arrived at an early date in company with Charles E. Wales, his wife's brother, with whom he was interested in raising hops and also in buying and selling. They were pioneers in the business in this locality and in fact were early settlers whose identification with the region proved an element in its upbuilding.
For a long period Charles E. Wales has now been a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, and has been widely known as a popular hotel man. He was the first proprietor of the Julien at Dubuque and for a number of years has now conducted the Wales, a leading hostelry of that city. For many years David E. Gardner engaged in merchandising at Monticello as a member of the firm of Gardner & Eaton. In after years the firm engaged in the grocery trade exclusively and the partnership continued for many years with mutual pleasure and profit, the firm being long recognized as one of the most enterprising and reliable in the city. The death of David E. Gardner occurred in 1894 when he was sixty-seven years of age and the mother died July 1909, in Monticello. Their family numbered six children, of whom Louis is the youngest. The others are: Kittie, the wife of Edward C. Squires, a resident of Chicago, by whom she has three children: Dette, Jack and Kittie; D. E., who wedded Minnie E. Black and resides in Chicago; Mary A., the wife of T. H. Barney, of Kansas City, Missouri; and two children who died in infancy.
On the 24th of June 1900, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage to Miss Blanche M. Thoehi, a daughter of Martin and Anna Thoehi. The father was a native of Italy and of Swiss descent. The mother was born in Iowa and her parents were of Scotch and Irish lineage. The death of Mrs. Gardner occurred in 1906 when she was but twenty-eight years of age and many friends mourned her loss for her good qualities endeared her to all with whom she was brought in contact.
In social relations Mr. Gardner has won favorable and friendly regard and enjoys in large measure the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he never wavers in his support thereof. He is not the only member of his family who has served in public office in Jones county for his father, as early as 1878, was a member of the county board of supervisors.
Louis Gardner was early thrown upon his own resources, starting to work when but twelve years of age. Thereafter he had to assist in the support of his mother as well as provide for his own maintenance. He earned his first money in the employ of J. W. Doxsee, of Monticello, for whom he sawed a cord of wood and carried it all up stairs. For about four years he was employed at odd jobs and was with a canning company for a time while afterward he became a newsboy. He received his training in the newspaper field and the printing business when seventeen years of age and for thirteen years was employed by J. W. Doxsee in in the printing business. He was recognized as a most faithful emploeye, diligent in performing the tasks entrusted to him and at all times loyal to his employer's interests. In 1905 he engaged in the show business which he followed for three years, traveling over a large portion of the country. In the fall of 1908 he was elected auditor of Jones county, which office he is now filling to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a wide-awake, enterprising and progressive man, who has made steady progress since starting out in life for himself in early boyhood.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 577. |
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