Robert Gardner (1862-1942): Obituary

The following was published in the Deseret News, 18 March 1942, p. 16. [Note: The original was published in one long column.]

Mourned
Robert Gardner, well-known Utah builder, dies in West Jordan.

West Jordan Leader Dies
Robert Gardner Closes Useful Career

Funeral arrangements were being completed today for Robert Gardner, 79, prominent Utah contractor, who died yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rulon Goff of West Jordan.

A son of Bishop Archibald Gardner and Mary Ann Bradford Gardner, he was born April 4, 1862, in West Jordan. He was a member of the Church, holding the office of High Priest.

Mr. Gardner was seriously injured while logging in American Fork Canyon in his early manhood. He underwent many operations and was a cripple for 11 years, walking only with the aid of crutches. However, he managed to farm successfully with the aid of his wife.

RECOVERED ABILITY
He was a weighmaster for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company for a number of years. His body was bent badly because of his accident, but when he finally recovered, he stood erect and walked perfectly without the aid of crutches. He then became a contractor and supervisor of road grading of railroads in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

He supervised the excavating and grading for the Utah Copper Mill, the United States Smelting and Refining plant at Midvale, the Utah-Idaho Sugar factories at West Jordan, Idaho Falls and Sugar City, Ida. He supervised the building of the electric tramway from Lark to Bingham and the Highland Railroad and two miles of railroad at the mouth of Bingham Canyon, the Orem Railroad and several other railroads in Utah and Wyoming.

INSTALLED PUMPS
He dug a number of canals and put in the first pumps at Utah Lake to aid irrigation in Salt Lake Valley. He constructed the Salt Lake Country Club Golf Course and for a time was field supervisor for the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company at Idaho Falls and Sugar City, Ida.

He married Carrie Andrus Dec. 19, 1888, in the Logan Temple.

He is survived by two sons, Robert U. Gardner of West Jordan and LaMar Gardner of Salt Lake; four daughters, Mrs. Irene G. Olson, Mrs. Jane Finlayson and Mrs. Elva Goff of West Jordan and Miss Emma Gardner of Salt Lake and 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Nine brothers, James H. Gardner of Lehi, Syrenus Gardner of Orange, Calif., Bruce, Ezra, Clarence and Frank Gardner of Afton, Wyo., Wilford W. Gardner of Salt Lake, Clarence Gardner of California, and Edwin Gardner of North Carolina, and five sisters, Mrs. Rebekah Gardner and Mrs. Ellen Gardner of West Jordan and Mrs. Serena Andrus, Mrs. Annie Francis of Spanish Fork and Mrs. Lillian Garner of Hooper also survive.