My Genealogy Hound

GARDINER, J. B. farmer and stock raiser, Sec 13, P.O. Kane, son of Christopher J. Gardiner, the pioneer minister of Greene County, who was born in Prince William County, Virginia, on the 10th day of June, 1798, where he resided with his brother-in-law, William Evans, till his sixteenth year, his parents having died in his early infancy. It was during the Spring of 1814 he emigrated to Kentucky, and located in the town of Hopkinsville, where he made a profession of religion, and united with the Methodist Church, of which, during life he was an active member. In July, 1818, he removed to St. Louis, where he established a tan-yard, the second one in the then village of St. Louis, which he continued to operate until the Fall of the next year, and in December, 1819, located in Greene County, where he was destined to play so important a part as a successful agriculturist and minister of the Gospel. Selecting land near Rivesville, he began the improvement of his farm. On the 14th of December, 1823, he was married to Miss Margaret Mains, a daughter of Robert Mains, who was one of the early pioneers of Illinois. By that union Mr. Gardiner had six sons, five of whom are yet living: The eldest, James B., is a merchant at Kane; the second, William P., many years ago, crossed the Plains for California, and has never been heard from; Samuel G., postmaster and merchant at Kane; Joshua A. Gardiner is a resident of Texas; Christopher J. Gardiner, who resides on the old homestead property; L. D; Gardiner is a resident of Christian County. On the 10th of October, 1835, occurred the death of Mrs. Gardiner, and on the 26th of March, 1837, Mr. Gardiner was married to Sarah Arrowspiger, by whom he had three children. Mrs. Gardiner’s demise occurred on the 5th day of June, 1844, and on the 20th of August, 1845, Mr. Gardiner was united in wedlock with Elizabeth Burch. This marriage was blessed with one child. Christopher J. Gardiner, Jr., from whom this sketch is obtained, was born in Greene County, February 24, 1833, where he has followed the occupation of a farmer from his earliest years. In March, 1874, he was married to Miss Matilda Witt, a daughter of William P. Witt, who bore a prominent part in the growth and development of Greene County. Three children were born of this marriage, two of whom are living: Lena W. and Hally. Christopher J. Gardiner is one of the most successful agriculturists in Greene County, and the owner of 460 acres of valuable land. At the present writing he holds the position of township trustee and justice of the peace.