Hank was born in a log cabin in Lima Twp., Washtenaw County, MI, the second son of Elizabeth Bunting and Henry Gardner. He had brothers John, William, and Charles, and sisters Margaret, and Betsey. Nothing is known of his father's parentage; his mother's genealogy can be found on her Find-A-Grave memorial.
Hank was a farmer but he also worked in the logging industry in winter. For a time he also drove a team of horses delivering whiskey from the Reeves Distillery. The distillery was called "the devil's half acre" by most of the local population who were teetotalers. Henry, himself, did not drink either, but delivering the product didn't bother him apparently.
Hank married Elizabeth Murphy on 8 February 1875. He was active in civic affairs and was elected to political positions in Putnam Twp. He raised the finest quality sheep, known as the Black Face or fine wool sheep. Some of the neighbors' flocks came from Gardner extraction. There were also some cattle, chickens, horses, and they were big turkey raisers. The turkeys were processed two weeks before both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the cash money came in handy around the holidays.
The Gardners named their farm "Hillside Farm." The hill directly behind their house they called "the big hill." Their backyard neighbor, John Dunn, "bachelor from the old sod," came over the big hill every Sunday for dinner wearing a swallow-tail coat and derby hat. John was not only a neighbor and friend, but a relative of sorts. His sister Mary married Eliza Gardner's uncle, William Murphy.
The family owned 80 acres to the north of their farm home that they referred to as "Doherty Hills," or sometimes the "Doherty Place," describing it as one of the most beautiful and interesting locations in Livingston County. Henry Gardner had purchased this property from the heirs of William Dougherty in 1872, and they used it as pasture for their livestock in the beginning. It was here that they later held their family reunions.
H.B. liked to play croquet in his spare time, and invited the public to join him in the game. Their large and beautiful lawn was often mentioned in the newspaper. His industry, frugality, and good taste in livestock made him a prosperous farmer.
The Gardners owned what would now be known as a surrey with the fringe on top. These were a mark of distinction at the time, and there were only three in the area, all belonging to family members (the Murphy sisters: Elizabeth "Eliza" Gardner, Catherine "Kit" Harris, and Mary Ellen "Polly" Roche).
Nine children joined the Gardners: Carrie, Grace, Georgia, Cyrus, William, Mildred (twin), Glen (twin), Eunice, and Arla.
Hank was a farmer but he also worked in the logging industry in winter. For a time he also drove a team of horses delivering whiskey from the Reeves Distillery. The distillery was called "the devil's half acre" by most of the local population who were teetotalers. Henry, himself, did not drink either, but delivering the product didn't bother him apparently.
Hank married Elizabeth Murphy on 8 February 1875. He was active in civic affairs and was elected to political positions in Putnam Twp. He raised the finest quality sheep, known as the Black Face or fine wool sheep. Some of the neighbors' flocks came from Gardner extraction. There were also some cattle, chickens, horses, and they were big turkey raisers. The turkeys were processed two weeks before both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the cash money came in handy around the holidays.
The Gardners named their farm "Hillside Farm." The hill directly behind their house they called "the big hill." Their backyard neighbor, John Dunn, "bachelor from the old sod," came over the big hill every Sunday for dinner wearing a swallow-tail coat and derby hat. John was not only a neighbor and friend, but a relative of sorts. His sister Mary married Eliza Gardner's uncle, William Murphy.
The family owned 80 acres to the north of their farm home that they referred to as "Doherty Hills," or sometimes the "Doherty Place," describing it as one of the most beautiful and interesting locations in Livingston County. Henry Gardner had purchased this property from the heirs of William Dougherty in 1872, and they used it as pasture for their livestock in the beginning. It was here that they later held their family reunions.
H.B. liked to play croquet in his spare time, and invited the public to join him in the game. Their large and beautiful lawn was often mentioned in the newspaper. His industry, frugality, and good taste in livestock made him a prosperous farmer.
The Gardners owned what would now be known as a surrey with the fringe on top. These were a mark of distinction at the time, and there were only three in the area, all belonging to family members (the Murphy sisters: Elizabeth "Eliza" Gardner, Catherine "Kit" Harris, and Mary Ellen "Polly" Roche).
Nine children joined the Gardners: Carrie, Grace, Georgia, Cyrus, William, Mildred (twin), Glen (twin), Eunice, and Arla.
Hank was born in a log cabin in Lima Twp., Washtenaw County, MI, the second son of Elizabeth Bunting and Henry Gardner. He had brothers John, William, and Charles, and sisters Margaret, and Betsey. Nothing is known of his father's parentage; his mother's genealogy can be found on her Find-A-Grave memorial.
Hank was a farmer but he also worked in the logging industry in winter. For a time he also drove a team of horses delivering whiskey from the Reeves Distillery. The distillery was called "the devil's half acre" by most of the local population who were teetotalers. Henry, himself, did not drink either, but delivering the product didn't bother him apparently.
Hank married Elizabeth Murphy on 8 February 1875. He was active in civic affairs and was elected to political positions in Putnam Twp. He raised the finest quality sheep, known as the Black Face or fine wool sheep. Some of the neighbors' flocks came from Gardner extraction. There were also some cattle, chickens, horses, and they were big turkey raisers. The turkeys were processed two weeks before both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the cash money came in handy around the holidays.
The Gardners named their farm "Hillside Farm." The hill directly behind their house they called "the big hill." Their backyard neighbor, John Dunn, "bachelor from the old sod," came over the big hill every Sunday for dinner wearing a swallow-tail coat and derby hat. John was not only a neighbor and friend, but a relative of sorts. His sister Mary married Eliza Gardner's uncle, William Murphy.
The family owned 80 acres to the north of their farm home that they referred to as "Doherty Hills," or sometimes the "Doherty Place," describing it as one of the most beautiful and interesting locations in Livingston County. Henry Gardner had purchased this property from the heirs of William Dougherty in 1872, and they used it as pasture for their livestock in the beginning. It was here that they later held their family reunions.
H.B. liked to play croquet in his spare time, and invited the public to join him in the game. Their large and beautiful lawn was often mentioned in the newspaper. His industry, frugality, and good taste in livestock made him a prosperous farmer.
The Gardners owned what would now be known as a surrey with the fringe on top. These were a mark of distinction at the time, and there were only three in the area, all belonging to family members (the Murphy sisters: Elizabeth "Eliza" Gardner, Catherine "Kit" Harris, and Mary Ellen "Polly" Roche).
Nine children joined the Gardners: Carrie, Grace, Georgia, Cyrus, William, Mildred (twin), Glen (twin), Eunice, and Arla.
Hank was a farmer but he also worked in the logging industry in winter. For a time he also drove a team of horses delivering whiskey from the Reeves Distillery. The distillery was called "the devil's half acre" by most of the local population who were teetotalers. Henry, himself, did not drink either, but delivering the product didn't bother him apparently.
Hank married Elizabeth Murphy on 8 February 1875. He was active in civic affairs and was elected to political positions in Putnam Twp. He raised the finest quality sheep, known as the Black Face or fine wool sheep. Some of the neighbors' flocks came from Gardner extraction. There were also some cattle, chickens, horses, and they were big turkey raisers. The turkeys were processed two weeks before both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the cash money came in handy around the holidays.
The Gardners named their farm "Hillside Farm." The hill directly behind their house they called "the big hill." Their backyard neighbor, John Dunn, "bachelor from the old sod," came over the big hill every Sunday for dinner wearing a swallow-tail coat and derby hat. John was not only a neighbor and friend, but a relative of sorts. His sister Mary married Eliza Gardner's uncle, William Murphy.
The family owned 80 acres to the north of their farm home that they referred to as "Doherty Hills," or sometimes the "Doherty Place," describing it as one of the most beautiful and interesting locations in Livingston County. Henry Gardner had purchased this property from the heirs of William Dougherty in 1872, and they used it as pasture for their livestock in the beginning. It was here that they later held their family reunions.
H.B. liked to play croquet in his spare time, and invited the public to join him in the game. Their large and beautiful lawn was often mentioned in the newspaper. His industry, frugality, and good taste in livestock made him a prosperous farmer.
The Gardners owned what would now be known as a surrey with the fringe on top. These were a mark of distinction at the time, and there were only three in the area, all belonging to family members (the Murphy sisters: Elizabeth "Eliza" Gardner, Catherine "Kit" Harris, and Mary Ellen "Polly" Roche).
Nine children joined the Gardners: Carrie, Grace, Georgia, Cyrus, William, Mildred (twin), Glen (twin), Eunice, and Arla.
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