GARDNER, William H. - Putnam

WILLIAM H. GARDNER, an early settler of Madison Township, was born in this county, November 22, 1838, son of Samuel and Emily Gardner, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. The parents were among the early pioneers of Putnam County, and they had ten children, of whom seven are living--John W., William H., Louisa E., wife of Richard Heady, of Boone County, Indiana; Monroe, a resident of Illinois; Lutetia A., wife of George McClintock; Josephine, wife of Wallace Ramsey, of Parke County, Indiana, Mary E., wife of Charles Tony, of this county. Samuel Gardner has always been a hard-working and public-spirited man. He served as a county commissioner several terms and has been justice of the peace many years. He still resides in Madison Township. William H. has been reared in this county, receiving a rudimentary education in the early schools. He was married December 14, 1863, to Miss Sallie Smedley, daughter of Andrew J. and Eliza [Bradshaw] Smedley, of this county. They have eight children, five of whom are living--Melvin, Reynolds, Alice L., Eliza E. and Sadie B. One daughter, Lelia, died April 3, 1887. Mr. Gardner owns 120 acres of good land, and is meeting with good success. Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. Gardner was a school-teacher previous to her marriage. Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana.