My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE JOHN A. GARDNER, of Hickman County, was born August 4, 1811, in Butler County, Ky., and was reared on his father’s farm. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Hopkins County, where he farmed two years; he then moved to Chariton County, Mo., where he remained two years, and while there was engaged in the Mormon war under the call of Gov. Lilburn A. Boggs, and was captain of a company until the Mormons were routed from the State of Missouri. Peace being restored, he returned to his farm, at that time in Linn County, Mo. He next moved to Scott County, Mo. In 1884 that county was divided, Mississippi County now forming a portion of it, in which he continued to reside, engaged in farming, livestock raising and in practicing law. His farm consists of 924 acres, of which 600 are well improved. In 1842 he was elected constable, and served four years; he next held the office of justice of the peace from 1846 to 1858, when he was elected county judge. In 1861 he was required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States; he consequently resigned, and turned his attention to furnishing the Southern Confederacy with livestock. In 1864 he was again elected county judge. By an act of the legislature the governor was invested with the power of removal, which power he exercised in the case of Judge Gardner. In 1866 the judge was appointed deputy revenue collector, and held this office two years. From 1868 to 1880 his time was taken up on his farm. In October, 1880, he came to Clinton, where he has since resided. Judge Gardner was married, in 1832, to Lucinda Llewellyn, of Kentucky; she died in 1835, leaving two children, now deceased. In 1842 the judge married Lavina Mills, of Mississippi County, Mo.; she died in 1846, leaving one son, Vardry, now in Tennessee. The judge next married Jane Adams, of Mississippi County, Mo., in 1848; she died in 1862, leading one daughter, since deceased. His fourth marriage, July 15, 1863, was to Mary E. Barker, also of Mississippi County, Mo., and to this union have been born one son and three daughters. The judge united with the Baptist Church, in 1846, at Wolf Island, Mo., and is still a consistent member of that denomination.