100 YEARS IN THATCHER
1883-1983

THOMAS FRANCIS GARDNER
ELIZA (BIRDIE) CURTIS

Thomas Francis and Eliza (Birdie) Curtis Gardner lived in Thatcher from 1909 to 1919. They had previously lived for a time in St. David, Bisbee, Metcalf, and San Jose, depending on where Thomas had employ­ment

Thomas Francis was born in Salem, Utah His father was Elias Gardner and his mother was Anne English. Eliza was also born in Salem, Utah, to Samuel B. Curtis and Lucinda Stewart When Eliza was about six months old, her father was called by the President of the LDS Church to go to Arizona and help to Colonize. Eliza's mother drove a team and wagon with her young children from Utah by way of Lee's ferry. They camped for a time at Pima, but then went on to the St. David area, where Samuel and some of his brothers had ranches, and did freighting in southern Arizona and into Mexico.

As a child, Eliza experienced many of the hardships of pioneer life in Arizona. It was especially hard for her because her mother died when she was just six years old. She learned to work hard when she was very young. She attended school in St. David, and also stayed in Thatcher while going to school in the old Academy. She was handicapped in school by a vision problem. It wasn't until she was grown that she was found to be nearsighted.

After going back to St. David from Thatcher, she worked in Tomb­stone in the historic Harvey House and was there when the famous rose tree was planted. It was while working there that she met her future husband.

Thomas grew up in Annabelle, Utah. He started to help support his mother when he was about fourteen years old. He worked in the mountains cutting and hauling timber and at such other jobs as were available. He came to Arizona and worked in the Pinal Mountains near Globe, cutting timber and hauling it out, then came to the Safford valley and worked in the Graham Mountains. It was while on a visit to relatives in St. David that he met Eliza Curtis and began to court her. They were married on April 12, 1901, in Tombstone, Arizona.

Their first home was a tent where they lived to "prove up" on a homestead that Eliza had acquired before their marriage. That homestead was on the San Pedro River near St. David. While they lived there, Thomas drove a freight wagon between mining towns in southern Arizona and Cannenea, Mexico.

The Gardners were parents of seven children: Duane Curtis and Samuel Neal were born while they lived on the homestead. They later ­moved to the Safford Valley, and LeRoy was born in San Jose. Mildred, Ruby Mae, and Thomas Harvey were born in Thatcher, and Luther in San ­Jose. All except the two youngest boys attended school in Thatcher. Mildred's first grade class met in the old Academy where her mother attended school as a girl. Even after the family bought a farm in San Jose, Neal, Roy, Mildred and Ruby commuted to Thatcher to attend s school and college, at what was then Gila Junior College. Neal graduated there in 1930 and later received a Master's degree in Fine Arts from University of Oregon.

Thomas and Eliza were lifelong members of the LDS Church, and they and their children have always been active members in the wards ­which they have lived. Eliza was president of the Relief Society when she ­had to fulfill her duties traveling by horse and buggy. Duane, Harvey and Luther all served missions. LeRoy was bishop of the Solomonville during the years 1939-1945. Neal was a bishop's counselor to his ­uncle Don Curtis, from 1948-1957.

Thomas and Eliza worked hard to provide for their family. For years "Tom" drove a wagon and team carrying produce from the towns in the Safford valley to Globe, Metcalf, and Clifton, or cut and hauled lumber from the Graham Mountains. In 1919 they bought a farm in San ­Jose, and continued to live there until 1950 when they sold the farm to Roy and Neal and moved to a small home on Central Avenue in Safford.

Eliza enjoyed being within walking distance of the Layton Ward Church and enjoyed belonging to a quilting club. Thomas liked having a part in the farming operation, and often rode his big horse through the cotton fields checking up on the cotton pickers. They had great pride and ­their children and grandchildren.

Thomas Francis passed away on April 13, 1962, a few months before he would have been 91 years old. Eliza survived him only by a few months. She passed away December 23, 1962. They are survived in 1983 by their sons Duane of Mesa, LeRoy of San Jose, and Harvey of Yuma, and their two daughters, Mrs. S. C. Clonts of Safford, and Mrs. ­Milford Kempton of Solomon, thirty-nine grandchildren, 68 great grandchildren.
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Married Eliza "Birdie" Curtis April 12, 1901 at Tombstone, AZ