Matthew Gardner (1790 - 1873)

Born 5 Dec 1790 in Stephentown, Rensselaer, New York, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1873 at age 82 in Brown, Ohio, USA

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Biography

Autobiography of Elder Matthew Gardner

His Aged Father. —In February of 1832 my father, now in his seventy-third year, sent for me to come immediately to see him on special business. I went, of course. The business was of the most unpleasant character possible. Some two years before, he had leased his farm of about two hundred acres, with abundant stock —horses, cattle, etc., to Benjamin, his youngest son and namesake, Benjamin agreeing to return it in good order to my father at the end of five years, when the lease would expire. Benjamin, like some other younger sons, not having earned by labor the large property put into his hands, knew not its real value, but squandered it rapidly. The consideration of the lease provided that he was to support father and mother, which it was claimed that he had not done. He had disposed of nearly all the stock; raised very little grain or other products; and I found my parents almost destitute of some of the necessaries of life. My father requested me to accept power of attorney, and repossess him of the farm by taking it out of Benjamin's possession.

My Father's Mistake. —My father made a mistake, as parents generally do, in putting his property out of his power. Also, he did not consider that Benjamin, having never accumulated property, his former history did not warrant the expectation that he would either preserve what was put into his possession, or acquire property to replace it at the end of the five years. The lease did not prohibit Benjamin disposing of the stock as he pleased; and it was gone, and he was unable to replace or pay for it. The lease contained no provision that it should be void if he failed to comply with its provisions. These were serious difficulties, which increased my objections to taking any part in the matter. But father and mother insisted ; and from a sense of duty to my aged parents, I accepted the trust, and undertook the disagreeable task. My father advised immediate action by law, to dispossess Benjamin. I determined to have no lawsuit with my brother. I saw also that if I should go to law, he could keep possession during the five years, by the lease. A judgment for damages might be obtained, but he had nothing to pay the damages with. I finally persuaded him to leave the whole matter to arbitration. The result was that my father lost the stock, worth about ,000; but father got possession of his farm again. Having straightened and arranged this business, I felt quite relieved, supposing that my attention there was no longer needed. Not so. Father and mother insisted that I should manage their business, renting the farm, and taking care of them. It seemed impossible. They were four or five miles from my home. It would require more time and attention than my own domestic cares. Besides, to please old people is sometimes difficult. The burden appeared too heavy for me; but, on consideration, I concluded that duty to parents is among the first religious requirements, and I complied with their request, taking upon me the care of them, and the management of all their affairs. This charge continued till father and mother both died, or about fourteen years from the time my father first sent for me to repossess him of his farm. In justice to myself, I must add that for all this labor and care I accepted no compensation from father or the estate. My father appointed me the executor and administrator of his will. By divine grace I closed all the business without difficulty with any of the heirs, though there were then twelve children living.

A. D. 1832. —The summer after I was sent for to visit my father, in February, to repossess him of his farm, my wife and I were very sick. We were taken about the first of August with bilious fever, and, to all appearance, were brought very near to death.

Notes

Note N771 Matthew Gardner, son of Benjamin and Lucy (Hawks) Gardner, was born in Stephentown, New York, December 5, 1790. He married Sally Beasley, daughter of Jeptha and Sally Beasley, on May 20, 1813. To them were born the following children Barton Beasley, born March 27, 1814. Sally, born December 5, 1815. George Washington, born January 30, 1819. Jeptha Monroe, born April 10, 1820. Lucinda Eliza, born March 28, 1823. Louisa Maria, born September 15, 1825. Julia Elmira, born April i, 1828. James Alexander, born November 13, 1830. Mary Jane, born July 23, 1833. John Wicklif, born April 17, 1836. Elnathan Matthew, born September 12, 1839; died Sept., 1906.

Sources

• in dad's 12/1838 will probated 4/2/1840.

• https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=38149983

Williams, Byron, 1843. History of Clermont and Brown counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present.

• https://archive.org/stream/historyofclermon21will#page/n271/mode/2up/search/Gardner
• Source: S71 Book May, Lillian and Charles M. Gardner Periodical: Gardner History and Genealogy Publication: unknown. (1907) p 46 10 AUG 2014