Brigham Ozro Gardner: Obituary

The following was published in the Star Valley Independent, 11 Oct 1957, pp. 1, 10:

Services Held for Star Valley Pioneer

Brigham Ozro Gardner, Star Valley pioneer, passed away Wednesday, October 2, 1957 at the LDS Hospital at Afton, Wyoming of causes incident to age.

Mr. Gardner was the son of Archibald Gardner and Laura Althea Thompson, 1847 pioneers to Salt Lake City, Utah. His father was a polygamist and Ozro was his forty-second child. With the passing of Ozro, all members of this large family have gone on, with the exception of six members of the last family who survive him. They are Bruce, Clarence, Edward, Wilford, Frank Gardner and Lillian Garner.

Ozro was born at West Jordan, Utah, March 17, 1872 and he spent his boyhood days there. When he was a young man he came to Star Valley to operate a saw mill which was owned by his father. He became acquainted with Emma Michaelson of Thayne, Wyoming, or Glencoe as it was then called. Emma was also a member of a polygamist family and her mother had recently moved to Star Valley from St. Charles, Idaho, where Emma was born. They had an unusual and thrilling romance and were married November 8, 1893 in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home two miles north of Afton, where they took up a homestead. To this union were born nine sons and three daughters.

As the family grew Mr. Gardner was able to build a home three different times to accommodate his large family. This family was a very busy and happy one and the home north of Afton became a sacred institution to all of the members, and their children.

After most of the children were married, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner moved to their home in Afton. Shortly after this Mrs. Gardner suffered a stroke which made her an invalid and three years later she passed away. That was eleven years ago and during that time Mr. Gardner has maintained his home at Afton alone, except for some assistance from his family and friends. He preferred the feeling of independence in his own home to any other way of life.

Mr. Gardner was interested in building up his community and in 1911 and 1912 he was a member of the House of Representatives. He was Water Commissioner of this district for 17 years. He was interested in sports and in the world about him. As a young man he was an expert rifleman and a proficient swimmer and diver.

During the flu epidemic in 1918 and 1919 he rendered much service in the community. He was an active member of the LDS Church. For five years he was the Superintendent of the YM-MIA; for six years a member of the Stake Sunday School and Stake MIA organizations; for 14 years a member of the Afton Ward Bishopric when Bp. Osborne Low was the bishop; he was in the High Council a number of years and in the High Priests' Quorum presidency for 12 year; he has worked as Advisor to the Senior Aaronic Priesthood members for many years and has been a Ward Teacher for most of his life. He was a Ward Teacher until just prior to his death. He has been a faithful and devoted member of the Church all his life. In all of the service which he rendered he "walked humbly before the Lord" He was not beset with doubts and confusions for he received many remarkable manifestations of the life beyond the grave. During the last six weeks of his illness he did not complain and he appreciated everything that was done for his comfort.

He took great pride in his family and encouraged them to activity in the church. He sent three sons on foreign missions. Mr. Gardner and his wife and their family also made a great contribution in the field of music to the communities where they live. He has a great many friends among all ages, who will miss his kindly advice, and he always claimed that he had the best neighbors in the world. Surely he left a great and noble heritage to his family by the life that he lived and the guidance he gave to them.

His wife and three children preceded him in death, two during infancy and Arch who passed away in 1950. He is survived by six sons and three daughters, W. Ivan Gardner, Afton, Wyo.; Arling Gardner, Gulfport, Miss.; J. Obed and Orrin Gardner, Logan, Utah; Lloyd Gardner, Midvale, Utah; Mrs. Enoch Hillyard (Elona), Logan, Utah; Mrs. Elno Draney (Laura), Afton; and Mrs. John A. Hopkin (Bonita), Palo Alto, Calif. He is also survived by 51 grandchildren and 61 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, at 1 p.m. in the Afton First Ward Chapel where many relatives and friends met to pay tribute to him. There was a profusion of flowers filling to overflowing the room where he laid in state at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elno Draney. Interment was in the Afton cemetary.

Clarence Gardner: Obituary

The following was published in the Star Valley Independent on 30 October 1959, pp. 1, 12:

Clarence Gardner, Church, Civic Leader, Dies at 84

Clarence Gardner, 84, pioneer, church and civic leader of Star Valley, passed quietly away at the Star Valley LDS Hospital, Sunday, Oct. 25 at 6 a.m. with the members of his family at his bedside.

Clarence Gardner was born at West Jordan, Utah, Nov. 6, 1875, where his father, Archibald Gardner, was bishop, millman and farmer. When he was 14, his father moved his family to Star Valley.

They established their home and set up their mills at the mouth of Swift Creek Canyon, east of the present site of Afton. He worked with his father and brothers in the grist, saw, shingle mills and on the planer. While logging for the mills with his brothers in the nearby mountains, he discovered the intermittent spring. They were the first white men to see it. It now furnishes the greater portion of the Afton water supply.

At the age of 16, he began to keep the accounts and books for the mills, a position he held until his recent illness.

He was married to Alice Ann Burton, Oct. 8, 1897 in the Salt Lake Temple.

From his boyhood, he was an enthusiastic and energetic church worker, using his leadership to encourage and support every progressive undertaking that would benefit his community or church.

He took delight in good music and was instrumental in establishing the first band in Star Valley, learning to play the cornet in this band. They played at the early celebrations in the valley. He helped to start a choir, and sang in the choir in his ward in Afton for 40 years.

He filled a mission to the Eastern States, where later his son Elworth and his granddaughter Elma also labored.

He worked as a teacher and in the superintendency of the MIA and Sunday School organizations in both ward and stake capacities.

When the Star Valley Stake was first organized, he was appointed a counselor to President George Osmond. At the death of President Osmond, he was appointed stake president. This position he filled with complete devotion for 27 years.

Through his influence as stake president, he was able to assist greatly in many church and civic improvements for the benefit of Star Valley. The building of the Star Valley Stake Tabernacle, Seminary and the LDS Hospital came about while he was stake president. They were always a source of special interest and pride to him.

As a civic and community leader he also wielded a strong influence in the affairs of Star Valley. After the incorporation of Afton as a town, he was its second mayor, elected in the year 1905. He also served as a councilman later.

He represented Star Valley and Lincoln County in the State Legislature for a period of 22 years, 18 of which he was a senator. While holding this office he held the position of President of the Senate, receiving many honors, such as Acting Governor on two different occasions.

His two terms representing Star Valley as county commissioner gave him further opportunity to serve for the benefit of his beloved valley.

Another public service in which he took great pride and satisfaction was his connection with Star Valley State Bank, in which he served as president of the board of directors for 30 years, holding this position at the time of his death.

Millman, dairyman, farmer, he struggled against many odds, always anxious to build up Star Valley's industry.

He was associated as a partner with his son, Kenneth in the local Western Auto Associate Store.

He was a tender, loving husband and father, taking great pride and satisfaction in his home and family. He had four sons and one daughter. Only his daughter Mrs. Herman (Marian) Fluckiger of Bedford and his son Kenneth Grant Gardner of Afton survive him.

He has 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, all living.

He is also survived by his brothers Bruce and Frank Gardner, of Afton, with whom he has constantly been associated in the milling business; his brother Wilford W. Gardner of Salt Lake City; and his sister, Mrs. Lillian W. Garner, of Hooper, Utah.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. in the stake tabernacle, with Bp. Gray Hillstead of the Osmond Ward, conducting. A large crowd of relatives and friends paid their last respects to him. He was buried in the Afton Cemetery.

Andrew Bruce Gardner: Obituary

The following was published in the Star Valley Independent, 10 October 1963, pages 1 and 6:

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 Gardners 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 Temple, 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 baptizing 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 town 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 sheepman 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.; Olive Thatcher, Sonoma, Calif.; and Ross, Afton. Also surviving are 28 grandchildren, 91 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Franklin R., Afton, and Wilford, Salt Lake City; and one sister, Mrs. Lillian Gardner, Salt Lake City.

James Hamilton Gardner: Obituary

The following was published in the Deseret News, 17 January 1952, p. A-7:

Gardner Rites
Dated Monday

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1 p.m. for James Hamilton Gardner, 92, prominent Utah Sugar beet industry leader, who died Tuesday in Salt Lake City of causes incident to age.

Mr. Gardner, former general superintendent of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, since his retirement had engaged until recently in the dry farming business near Lehi.

Bishop Warren Goates will preside at the services in the Lehi Fifth Ward chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Friends may call at the A. H. Wing Mortuary, Lehi, Sunday afternoon and evening and Monday prior to the services. Burial will be in the Lehi City Cemetery.