North Star Township Biography
JUSTUS B. GARDNER
Source: BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN published by J. B. BEERS & CO., Chicago, 1906
JUSTUS B. GARDNER, whose fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres is situated in North Star township, Gratiot county, is one of the prominent and successful farmers of the locality. Mr. Gardner was born June 8, 1857, in Jefferson county, New York, son of David and Naomi (Belcher) Gardner, natives of New York State, who came from the county named to Ionia county, Michigan, and thence to Gratiot county. In 1873 they settled in New Haven township, where they lived some time prior to locating in North Shade township where the father still resides at the age of seventy-seven years (born April 24, 1829). The wife and mother died January 30, 1905, at the age of sixty-seven. Besides Justus B., who was the eldest, they were the parents of three children: Dora is the wife of Joseph Jarvis, a farmer of North Shade township; Charles H. is in the livery business at Middleton, Michigan; and James A. is also a farmer of North Shade township.
The boyhood, youth and young manhood of Mr. Gardner were spent on his father's homestead, where he learned the practical methods of farming which have made his operations in Michigan particularly successful. He was twenty-four years of age when he left his father's farm, being first employed as a clerk in Carson City for eight months, and then he engaged in the mercantile business at Brice for ten and one-half years, at the end of that time trading his stock of goods for a farm in North Star township. There he remained two years, when he purchased the property he now occupies. This was in the spring of 1893, and he has since been engaged there in farming, erecting good buildings, and making general improvements. He owns one hundred and sixty acres, ninety-five of which are under cultivation.
On July 23, 1882, Mr. Gardner was married, in New Haven township, to Miss Cora L. Vail, born October 10, 1860, in Jefferson county, New York, daughter of Simeon and Jane (Fradenburgh) Vail. They had one child, Ford R., who died August 31, 1889, at the age of three years. While in North Shade township Mr. Gardner held the office of treasurer for three terms, performing its duties to the entire satisfaction of the people and with credit to himself. He and his estimable wife are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is one of the trustees and a class leader, while his wife has for some time been one of the stewards and has for several years been president of the Sowers Memorial Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of North Star township.
Created on ... October 09, 2001