ISAAC N. GARDNER, a prominent citizen of Pottawattamie county descended from a prominent American family. His grandfather, James Gardner, was an English soldier and came to America with the British army at the time of the war of the Revolution when but nineteen years of age. He deserted from the English army and joined the American forces. After the war he married and settled in Ohio and was the father of eight children: William, James, Robert, John L., Washington, Nancy, Betsey and Fannie. The father settled on a farm in Marion County, Iowa where he died at the age of eighty-seven years.

John L. Gardner, his son, and the father of our subject was born in Muskingum County, and was a farmer and miller by occupation. He was married in Marion County, Ohio, to Sarah Goodwin, daughter of Asa and Margaret Goodwin, and they were the parents of four children: Isaac, John, Smith and Sarah. The father was a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he lived to the age of seventy years. He then settled in Blackford County, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin were born ten children: Margaret (who died in infancy), James W., C.V., John N., Asa A., Isaac N., Rhoda A., Mary H., Sarah and Washington. After marriage Mr. Gardner settled on a farm in Marion County, Ohio, which was then Delaware County, and where all of his children were born. He lived there until 1853, when he came to Iowa County, Iowa, where he remained until his death, which occurred in Atchison, Kansas, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was an upright man and a good citizen, and held the respect of his fellow townsmen. He was Justice of the Peace at Marion, Iowa, and also held several township offices. Politically he was an old time Whig and Republican. He had five sons in the war.

James M., who enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company C, and served through the great struggle.

Croven V., Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, was Captain of his company and served through the war. He was in the same regiment with Hon. James Lyman, and was promoted from Orderly Sergeant to Captain.

Asa A., Company D, Thirty-Fifty Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served through the war, and was promoted as Captain. He was badly wounded at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, the ball passing through his body below the heart and through the breast, and he is now suffering from the effects of this wound. He was again badly wounded at Chickamauga, Tennessee, through the upper right thigh. He was in the Battle of Shiloh, and all the engagements until he was wounded at Stone River. He was absent about six weeks.

Isaac N., Company C, Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served seventeen months, and was transferred to the Twenty-seventh United States colored troops as First Lieutenant, serving until the close of the war.

Washington was in Company D, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was but sixteen years of age when he enlisted in 1861 and was awarded a medal at Stone River for bravery. He was in every march and battle that his regiment took part in; was wounded at Resaca, Georgia, and was conveyed from the field by three comrades in the heat of the battle. He went to school in Ashley, Marion County, Ohio and then went to Hillsdale, Michigan, but was graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He is now Vice President of Albion College, Albion, Michigan, and has also been Commander of the G.A.R. Post of Michigan. This is one of the most remarkable army records to be found in any family.

Isaac N. Gardner, the subject of this sketch, was born October 7, 1841, on the old homestead six miles from Mt. Gilead, Ohio and was but twenty years of age when he left the farm and school where he had taught four terms to begin the life of a soldier. He entered as a private, was promoted to First Lieutenant of a colored regiment, and came out as Captain. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Fort Fisher, Petersburg, was not wounded or taken prisoner, and did active service throughout the great struggle. He returned to Ohio, where he was honorably discharged, October 7, 1865. He then went to southwestern Missouri, where he bought a tract of land and remained one and a half years. In 1869 he came to Iowa, settling on his present place, which then consisted of 160 acres of wild land, but which he has since converted into a fine farm, and by energy and industry has added to it until he now owns 240 acres.

He was married to Emily W. Kearney, daughter of Thomas Kearney. The father, a native of Ireland, came to Council Bluffs from Galena, Illinois in 1857. He is still living at the age of sixty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have been born six children: Frank, Gerald, Chester A., Marcus, Mary I., and an infant yet unnamed. Mr. Gardner is a stanch Republican, has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and has also been school director. He is a well-known citizen of this county and his descendants for generations will hold in respect the names of the soldier of this family who fought for their country.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini