A. Bruce Gardner, Valley Pioneer, Dies at Age 89
A. Bruce Gardner, 89, respected citizen of Afton and one of Star Valley's earliest pioneers, died at the Star Valley LDS Hospital in Afton Wednesday morning, following a stroke and two weeks of hospital confinement.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday. Oct 11, in the Afton First Ward Chapel, under the direction of the First Ward Bishopric. Friends may call Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. on at the Schwab Mortuary, or after 10 a.m. Friday morning at the Milford Gardner home.
He was born Feb 5,, 1874 the oldest of seven children born to Archibald and Mary Gardner, at West Jordan, Utah. His father was an empire builder who settled with the Mormons in Utah. As a boy, Bruce worked with his father building sawmills and flour mills and canals in Utah and Wyoming. When he was 16 years old he came to Star Valley, 1890, settling in Afton, and the Gardner's built and operated both a sawmill and flour mill, both water powered. Bruce continued to be associated with this pioneer enterprise with his brothers and son until his health forced him to retire a few years ago.
His future wife, Elizabeth Baxter, came to Star Valley with her parents, John and Nellie Ross Baxter, a few months before Bruce arrived, settling in Thayne, and it was there he met her and started courting her. He described this courtship and marriage in his diary as follows;
"I began courting their lovely brown-eyed daughter, Elizabeth, I liked her ways and looks better than any girl I'd seen. We were married in 1894 in the home that burned down where (his brother) Frank's home now stands (at the mouth of Swift Creek Canyon in Afton). We had a wedding dance in the mill that night.. We were sealed in the fall in the Salt Lake Temp.e, because high water kept us from going to the temple in the spring when we were married."
They had born to this union seven children, all of whom are living at this time. His wife passed away 16 years ago, and he has lived in his own home most of this time since. he has spent several winters in California with his family members there.
His death was caused by a stroke which occurred sept 22 followed by two weeks of confinement in the local hospital, where he received the best of care by doctors, nurses and his family. His loss to the community will be felt by friends and family.
He took pride in helping all his children, and many of his grandchildren, besides hundreds of other children.
He served as a constable of the Town of Afton, as a ton councilman, and was a member of the school board. He worked in the flour mill and sawmills for over 60 years, and was a well known sheep-man in his early days. He assisted all of his sons and daughters with home buildings, farming or other work that needed doing.
He was a very modest person, who never took or asked for credit when he had done a piece of work or favor. Getting it done was most important to him.
He is survived by the following sons and daughters; John Roy, Afton; LaVere, Afton; Muriel Veach, Corona, Calif.; Milford I, Afton; Thelma Emerson, Pomona, Calif.; and Ross, Afton. Also surviving are 28 grandchildren, and 91 great grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Franklin R., Afton, and Wilford, Salt Lake City; and one sister, Mrs Lillian Garner, Salt Lake City.
Gardner, A Bruce (i 10 Oct 1963)Star Valley Independent
Andrew Bruce GARDNER is the son of Archibald GARDNER/Mary (Sidsie Marie) HANSEN (LARSON)
Andrew Bruce GARDNER married Elizabeth BAXTER 23 May 1894 in Afton, Lincoln, WY
A. Bruce Gardner, Valley Pioneer, Dies at Age 89
A. Bruce Gardner, 89, respected citizen of Afton and one of Star Valley's earliest pioneers, died at the Star Valley LDS Hospital in Afton Wednesday morning, following a stroke and two weeks of hospital confinement.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday. Oct 11, in the Afton First Ward Chapel, under the direction of the First Ward Bishopric. Friends may call Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. on at the Schwab Mortuary, or after 10 a.m. Friday morning at the Milford Gardner home.
He was born Feb 5,, 1874 the oldest of seven children born to Archibald and Mary Gardner, at West Jordan, Utah. His father was an empire builder who settled with the Mormons in Utah. As a boy, Bruce worked with his father building sawmills and flour mills and canals in Utah and Wyoming. When he was 16 years old he came to Star Valley, 1890, settling in Afton, and the Gardner's built and operated both a sawmill and flour mill, both water powered. Bruce continued to be associated with this pioneer enterprise with his brothers and son until his health forced him to retire a few years ago.
His future wife, Elizabeth Baxter, came to Star Valley with her parents, John and Nellie Ross Baxter, a few months before Bruce arrived, settling in Thayne, and it was there he met her and started courting her. He described this courtship and marriage in his diary as follows;
"I began courting their lovely brown-eyed daughter, Elizabeth, I liked her ways and looks better than any girl I'd seen. We were married in 1894 in the home that burned down where (his brother) Frank's home now stands (at the mouth of Swift Creek Canyon in Afton). We had a wedding dance in the mill that night.. We were sealed in the fall in the Salt Lake Temp.e, because high water kept us from going to the temple in the spring when we were married."
They had born to this union seven children, all of whom are living at this time. His wife passed away 16 years ago, and he has lived in his own home most of this time since. he has spent several winters in California with his family members there.
His death was caused by a stroke which occurred sept 22 followed by two weeks of confinement in the local hospital, where he received the best of care by doctors, nurses and his family. His loss to the community will be felt by friends and family.
He took pride in helping all his children, and many of his grandchildren, besides hundreds of other children.
He served as a constable of the Town of Afton, as a ton councilman, and was a member of the school board. He worked in the flour mill and sawmills for over 60 years, and was a well known sheep-man in his early days. He assisted all of his sons and daughters with home buildings, farming or other work that needed doing.
He was a very modest person, who never took or asked for credit when he had done a piece of work or favor. Getting it done was most important to him.
He is survived by the following sons and daughters; John Roy, Afton; LaVere, Afton; Muriel Veach, Corona, Calif.; Milford I, Afton; Thelma Emerson, Pomona, Calif.; and Ross, Afton. Also surviving are 28 grandchildren, and 91 great grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Franklin R., Afton, and Wilford, Salt Lake City; and one sister, Mrs Lillian Garner, Salt Lake City.
Gardner, A Bruce (i 10 Oct 1963)Star Valley Independent
Andrew Bruce GARDNER is the son of Archibald GARDNER/Mary (Sidsie Marie) HANSEN (LARSON)
Andrew Bruce GARDNER married Elizabeth BAXTER 23 May 1894 in Afton, Lincoln, WY
Family Members
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Clarence Gardner
1875–1959
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Ernest Adelbert Gardner
1877–1947
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Royal Gardner
1879–1880
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Edwin Leroy Gardner
1881–1958
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Lillian Elnora Gardner Widdison
1883–1972
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Wilford Woodruff Gardner
1885–1978
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Franklin Richards Gardner
1888–1972
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Robert Gardner
1840–1853
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Neil Gardner
1841–1906
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Archibald Gardner
1843–1844
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Genet Gardner
1845–1846
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Margaret Gardner Smith
1847–1884
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Fannie Gardner
1848–1879
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Sarah Gardner Haun
1850–1889
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Lillian Abigail Gardner Gauchat
1850–1892
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Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Gardner Turner
1850–1932
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William Archibald Gardner
1851–1852
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Mary Ellen Gardner
1852–1948
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Rhoda Ann Gardner
1853–1867
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George Delos Gardner
1853–1922
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Reuben Gardner
1853–1924
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Rachel Maria Gardner Irving
1854–1941
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Ann Emmerrette Gardner Egbert
1855–1939
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Lucia Adell Gardner Gardner
1856–1936
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Rawsel Bradford Gardner
1856–1929
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John Bradford Gardner
1857–1857
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Delila Gardner
1857–1937
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Mary Ann Gardner Bacon
1857–1887
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Henry Gardner
1858–1936
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Archibald Thompson Gardner
1858–1876
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Lovina Gardner Naylor
1858–1934
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James Hamilton Gardner
1859–1952
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Rebekah Gardner Gardner
1859–1948
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William Armitage Gardner
1860–1862
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Serenus "Sy" Gardner
1860–1956
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Joseph Smith Gardner
1860–1901
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Serena Gardner Andrus
1860–1951
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Robert Bradford Gardner
1862–1942
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Laura Althea Gardner
1863–1877
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Abigail Jane Gardner
1864–1864
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Ellen Jeannette "Nettie" Gardner Bennion
1865–1914
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Annie Gardner Francis
1866–1943
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Clinton Albert Gardner
1867–1867
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Hyrum Obed Gardner
1868–1869
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William Henry Gardner
1869–1873
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Brigham Ozro Gardner
1872–1957
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Wallace Ward Gardner
1874–1912
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Perry Wilburn Gardner
1876–1878
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