MAJOR GARDNER DEAD.
One of Clarksburg’s Prominent Citizens Answers the Last Roll Call.
The Clarksburg Telegram., January 14, 1898
Major Robert S. Gardner died at his home in this city last Friday, January 7, 1896, at a. m., of pneumonia. He had been sick but a few days and his death was a great shock to his many friends about town.
Robert Skiles Gardner was born in Bellefontaine, Oh., Jan. 18, 1839. His father, Isaac S., was a native of Pendleton County, and his grandfather, Andrew, of Front Royal, Virginia. His education was in common schools, Geneva Hall and Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware. He graduated at Cincinnati Law School,
Professional Life
April 1860. June 6, 1861, He joined the Twenty Third Ohio Regiment, was promoted to Quarter-Master Sergeant, then Regimental Quarter-Master, then Captain and Assistant Quarter-Master of Volunteers on Pope’s Staff; Depot Quarter-Master at Clarksburg from January, 1863, to February, 1864, and at Harper’s Ferry from March to November, 1864; then Assistant Chief Quarter-Master Depot of West Virginia, with rank of Major, to –ne, 1865; Depot Quarter-Master at Wheeling to March 12, 1868; when he was mustered out of service. Major Gardner was also in the mercantile business at Clarksburg to April, 1879, when he was made special agent of the United States Indian Service April 19, 1879, to June 30, 1880, –word illegible– Inspector, and served to June 30, 1888, and reappointed Special United States Indian Agent March 16, 1889.
He crossed the continent thirteen times, and inspected and visited every agency of Indians from two to six times. Major Gardner possessed superior business qualifications, and in all public stations rendered faithful and efficient service.
He leaves a wife, Mrs. R. S. Gardner, who is the daughter of Col. T. S. Spates, of this city, and two sons, Dell and Robert, to mourn his loss, to whom the TELEGRAM extends sympathy in this their sad bereavement.
CROESUS ON THE FORCE.
Inherits a Fortune, but Policeman Dell Gardner, of New York, Stays on the Force.
The Clarksburg Telegram., January 21, 1898
From New York World.]
Policeman Delmar S. Gardner, of the West Twentieth Street Station, has fallen heir to a fortune in which his brother, Robert S. Gardner, of Chicago, shares.
The estate, $70,000 in cash and $70,000 in real estate, was left by his father Robert S. Gardener, who died at Clarksburg, W. Va., on Jan. 5, of pneumonia. Policeman Gardner was notified of his father’s death by telegraph on Jan. 6 and at once obtained a leave of absence and went home.
After the funeral it was found that the elder Gardner had left $140,000 in cash and real estate in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Missouri.
After the funeral he returned to this city and last Wednesday reported for duty to Capt. Robert Walsoh, of the West Twentieth Street Station, who expressed his sympathy to the patrolman, and upon learning he had fallen heir to the property, congratulated him upon his good fortune and remarked: “Now that you have a fortune I suppose the police force of New York will lose a good man.”
“No, Sir,”
“No, sir,” replied Gardner, “I like the police and am going to remain on the force.”
Since then Gardner has received the sympathy and also the congratulations from all the policemen in the station.
Gardner’s father, Robert S. Gardner, was well known in the West and South. He was called Major Gardner, and was for twenty years an inspector of Indian agencies for the government, and traveled all over the country.
Major Gardner was a remarkable handsome man and was personally acquainted with many prominent men at Washington. He was born in Ohio and served in the war. President McKinley was in his regiment, of which Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes was in command. Gen. Garfield was also a member of the regiment at one time.
Policeman Gardner was born in Clarksburg, and came to this city about ten years ago. He became a policeman Feb. 7, 1891, and was assigned to the West Twentieth Street Station, where he has remained since. He is thirty-three years old, married, and lives at No. 404 Eight avenue. His brother, Robert S. Gardner, is in the confectionery business in Chicago.
