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Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Kent, Ontario
James M. Gardiner


JAMES M. GARDINER, who for several years conducted a successful livery business in Chatham, has been a resident of the County of Kent for fifity years, during which time he has been a prominent, useful and highly esteemed citizen.   The family is of Scotch extraction, the grandfather of James M. having been a native of Scotland, where he passed his whole life.  His family consisted of six daughters and one son, William Gardiner.
 
William Gardiner was born in Scotland in 1806, and was married there in 1828 to Jane Lee, who was born in 1808, a daughter of Daniel Lee, all of Scottish birth and ancestry.  In his native land Mr. Gardiner was well educated, and followed the vocation of bookkeeper, and aftter coming coming to Ontario he taught school, cultivating a farm during the summer seasons.  His first residence was in the County of Durham, and later he removed to the County of Essex, where he died in 1891; his wife passed away in 1873.  Politically Mr. Gardiner was a Reformer.  Religiously he followed the teachings of the presbyterian Church.  Ten children were born to William Gardiner and his wife, namely:  John, of Tilbury township; David, of Harwich township; Margaret, the wife of James Glanders, of the County of Essex; William, a retired farmer; Nancy, wife of Thomas Ervin, of the County of Essex; James M.; Murry F., of Tilbury township,County of Kent; and three who died young.
 
James M. Gardiner was born August 20th, 1844 in the County of Durham, Ontario, and when ten years of age went to Tilbury township, County of Kent, where he assisted his father on the farm until 1865, at which time he began farming for himself, on Lot 12, West C.R., township of harwich.  There he continued for thirty years.  In 1896 e came to Chatham and embarked in the livery business in which he engaged until 1901 with eminent success, enjoying a large amount of patronage on account of the excellent service he gave the public.  His residence is on Queen street, in Chatham.
 
In 1866 Mr. Gardiner was married to Miss Agnes Ferguson, a daughter of David and Ann (Murry) Ferguson, and children as follows have been born to this union:  David Lee, who moved to Detroit, married Nellie Patterson, and they have one son, Burton.  William, who engages in the manufacture of brick at Blenheim, is unmarried.  Annie Bell married Fred Brundritt, of Harwich township, and has four children, Stanley, William, Albert and Harold.  james Malcolm, who resides in Detroit, married Alfy Bass and they have one son, Earl.  John Murry, who married Nellie Tompkins, lives in Romney township, County of Kent, and they have two children, Harold and Aggie..  Daniel, who married Aggie Horeston, has two sons, Robert and Willie.  Aggie Lee is now Mrs. Hough.  Arthur Malcolm is engaged with his father in the livery business.  jennie, Mrs. Bedford, has one son, Charles Herbert; she lives at home.  Murry died when young.  Henry Burges and Charles Lawrence are both at home.  It is unusual for so large a family to have but one vacant chair.  All of these children have been afforded excellent advantages of all kinds, and are among the respected and intelligent residents of their various localities.
 
Mr. Gardiner is connected with several local enterprises of prominence, notably the Binder-Twine Co., in which he is a stockholder and the Chatham Sanitarium.  His intersts are centered there and his influence is directed to the upbuilding and development of the resources, industrial, commercial and agricultural, of the County of Kent.  Politically he is active in the Reform party.  He and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian Church.
 
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