[p. 819] is a well-known resident and prosperous farmer of Wayne Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was born in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1857, and is a son of Alexander and Mary A. (Aiken) Gardner.
David Gardner, grandfather of James A., was born in Scotland and some time after his marriage moved to America, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of North Sewickley Township, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He married Janet Gow, and they became parents of the following children: William who moved to Ohio and there died in middle life; Elizabeth, who died in North Sewickley Township; Mary, who married Adam Rouser and resides in North Sewickley Township; Hannah, deceased wife of Richard Freed, of Beaver County; John, who lived in Virginia at the time of his death; Ann, wife of Thomas Staniard, died in Ohio, and David, who died in infancy.
Alexander Gardner was born in Perthshire, Scotland, February 29, 1824, and was four years of age when his parents located in Beaver County. He was united in marriage with Mary A. Aiken, who was born about the year 1826, and was a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Henry) Aiken. Alexander Aiken located in Wayne Township late in the eighteenth century, being among the earliest pioneers of the locality. They were parents of the following children: William, who married Margaret Vanemon, lived in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, at his death; Hon. James P., at one time associate judge of Lawrence County, married Nancy Jane Frew and was a resident of Slippery Rock Township; Alexander, who married Jane Kennedy, lived in Mt. Jackson at the time of his death; Robert C. married Tersa Aiken and now resides in the West; Martha, wife of Allen White, lived in Perry Township, Lawrence County; Sarah, who married John Allen, resided in Worth Township, Mercer County; Mary A. (Gardner); Jane, who married Archibald McMillen, died in Slippery Rock Township; the next child died in infancy; and Albert died as he was approaching manhood.
Alexander and Mary A. (Aiken) Gardner became parents of the following: Emma, who died at the age of sixteen years; David and Albert, twins, who died in infancy; and James A., William H. and Robert E. Alexander Gardner died January 9, 1891, and was survived by his widow, who passed away April 6, 1900.
James A. Gardner was reared on the home place and received his educational training in the public schools. He has always followed farming and is at present extensively engaged in general farming and stock raising. He purchased his home farm of 101 acres in 1893, of George Steffler, it having originally been a part of the Chew estate. He converted the residence into a two-story house and has made many improvements on the farm, which presents a neat and attractive appearance and is one of the best kept in the community. Mr. Gardner also has an additional tract of eleven acres.
James A. Gardner was united in marriage with Miss Laura Bell Wilson, who comes of an old family of the county. She is a daughter of R. V. and Elizabeth (Brittain) Wilson, of North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, and a granddaughter of Andrew and Sarah Ann (Vance) Wilson, both natives of Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County. The grandfather died in that township, and his widow in Beaver Falls. Mrs. Gardner's maternal grandfather, Thomas Brittain, married a Miss McMinn, and they resided in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. R. V. and Elizabeth (Brittain) Wilson had the following offspring: Tina, who married Daniel Lutz, resides in Montana; Laura Bell (Gardner); Leanna, wife of C. W. Townsend, of Beaver Falls; Frank, deceased, married Anna Kelvington; Elmer B., who married Anna Sutherland, resides in Perrysville, Ohio, and William and Cooper, who died in infancy. The mother of this family died in Virginia, and Mr. Wilson is residing in Beaver Falls at the age of seventy-one years.
The following children were the issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner: George Alexander, born October 11, 1880, married Flora B. Weimer, resides in Monessen, Westmoreland County, where he is employed as American Express agent, and they have three children, Kenneth Aiken, Mary Elda and Flora Belle; Mary Elizabeth, born on February 28, 1883, married J. C. Shoemaker, and they reside in New Castle and have a daughter, Blanche Maria; Emma Edna, born August 26, 1885, is a teacher in the public schools; James C., born June 4, 1887; Albert H., born August 11, 1889; Laura L., born March 28, 1892; Tina E., born February 23, 1895; Harry A., born January 25, 1898; Irene, born March 18, 1901, died March 11, 1902; and Martha Marie, born September 11, 1903. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are members of the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving acceptably in the office of justice of the peace.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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