My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

W. S. C. Gardner, one of the well-to-do farmers of Red River Township, was born in North Carolina, in 1827, being the youngest of five children born to Edwin and Priscilla A. B. (Cobb) Gardner, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. The mother passed from life in May, 1828, and two years after her death the father moved to Greene County, Ala., and after farming there for three years moved to Wetumpka, Ala., and engaged in carpentering until 1845, when he conducted quite successfully at that place until 1848. He then moved to Shreveport, La., and resumed his former occupation (cooperage), which he was conducting very successfully, when death removed him, in 1864, in his sixty-seventh year. He was married three times. After the death of his first wife, he married Miss Matilda Dardon, a native of North Carolina, who died in 1836, leaving three children: Priscilla S. (deceased, was the wife of Joseph N. Gardner), Caroline E. (deceased, was the wife of Thomas Stephens, and passed from life in Louisiana), and Sarah A. (died at the age of thirteen years). After his second wife's death he wedded Miss Clarinda Edmonds, of North Carolina, by whom he became the father of six children: Matilda (deceased), Josephine (wife of John J. Gillam, of Shreveport, La.), Narcissus (wife of R. S. Elliott, also of Shreveport), Emma (deceased), and B. H. (who also resides at Shreveport). Mrs. Gardner died in 1858. His first marriage resulted in the birth of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living: Thomas N., Mary A. B. and Elizabeth all died of a fever within three weeks of each other in 1833, and John R. died in 1835. W. S. C. Gardner obtained his education at the New Georgia Academy, Wetumpka, and at the age of twenty-one commenced life for himself by farming on some land which he owned in Louisiana. In 1853 he moved to Red River, Bossier Parish, La., and engaged as an overseer until the war. In March, 1862, he joined the Cado Guards of Shreveport, La., and served on the east side of the river, participating in the battles of first battle of Corinth, Richmond and Perryville, Ky. With Daniel Adams' brigade, commanded by Gen. Bragg, he was next engaged at Murfreesboro and then Missionary Ridge. At Mill Creek Gap, close to Dalton, Ga., he was wounded, his right leg being broken just below the knee, and this ended his duties as a soldier. He was in the hospital at the time of the surrender. He returned to Louisiana in 1865, and on the last day of August, that same year, was united in matrimony to Miss Thetis F. Willard, daughter of Dustin B. and Nancy R. (Curry) Willard, natives of Vermont and Mississippi, respectively, and their union has been blessed in the birth of two children, one of whom died young. Their one surviving child, William W., is now attending school. In 1867 he moved to Red River County, La., and farmed for different parties until 1874, at which time he came to Arkansas and took up his residence in this township. Immediately upon his arrival he purchased 225 acres of land only thirty acres of which were improved, and he now has 125 acres under a high state of cultivation, with good improvements. On this he raises annually sixty bales of cotton, and 1,000 bushels of corn, and is numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of this county. Both he and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Gardner is a member of Richmond Lodge No. 192, A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is Democratically inclined.

* * * *