Biography of Joseph Gardner, pages 871 / 872.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Joseph Gardner, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County, was born in 
Wesmoreland County, Pa., April 13, 1819, the eldest son of John and Barbara 
(Kampf) Gradner, his father a native of Maryland and his mother of 
Westmoreland County, Pa.  In 1830 his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, 
where they both died.  Six of their nine children are living.  Joseph was 
reared on a farm and early became skilled in the mysteries of agricultural 
life.  He has made that occupation his  work through life and has been 
uniformly successful.  In the fall of 1845 he came to De Kalb County and 
bought a tract of 160 acres of wild land on time, paying for it with money 
he had earned.  After paying for his land he worked for others, at clearing 
and farming, four years, and then married Catherine Beidler, eldest daughter 
of David Ash, and widow of Jacob Beidler. After his marriage he settled on 
his land and began to clear and cultivate it.  Possessed of energy and good 
management, he has accumulated a competency for his declining years.  In 
July, 1884, his residence was destroyed by fire, and he has since erected 
a neat and substantial two-story brick dwelling.  His farm buildings are 
all large and conveniently arranged.  In politics Mr. Gardner was in his 
early life a Whig, but since its organization has affiliated with the 
Republican party.  His influence has always been on the side of temperance 
and good order.  He has served his township acceptably in various office 
of trust.

Submitted by:
Linda C. Driscoll
Salt Lake City, UT
lcdris@burgoyne.com