From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 781

Ira A. Gardner is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Steuben County. His father, Ira M. Gardner, was born near Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., in 1810, and when a boy moved with his parents to Sandusky County, Ohio. He was reared a farmer and followed that vocation the greater part of his life. He was married in Ohio to Sally F. Knapp, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1819. In 1843 they moved to Steuben County and settled on section 23, Steuben Township, where they lived many years, when they moved to the village of Pleasant Lake. Mrs. Gardner died May 25, 1876, and Mr. Gardner March 4, 1882. They had a family of five children-- Delora, wife of Thomas Hendrickson; Ira A., Elisha, who enlisted in December, 1863, in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and died in the hospital at Chattanoogo, June 25, 1864; Laura died at the age of six years; Lovica C. is the wife of Warren Fisk. Ira A. Gardner was born in Sandusky, Ohio, July 8, 1843, and came to Steuben County with his parents. He enlisted in 1861 in the Eleventh Michigan Infantry, but on account of sickness was discharged before going into service. In February, 1864, he enlisted in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry and served till the close of the war. He was married to Aurilla J. Hart. They have four children-- Laura K., Ira M., Bertha L. and Elisha M.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com