Thomas Edmondson Gardner1

b. 7 July 1827, d. 23 February 1903
FatherJeremiah Caleb Gardner2 b. 1 Nov 1799, d. abt 1872
MotherMargaret Montgomery Edmiston2 b. 7 Mar 1804, d. abt 1866
Birth7 Jul 1827 Thomas Edmondson Gardner was born on 7 Jul 1827 near Glade Spring in Washington County, Virginia.1,3,4 
Childhood Thomas probably grew up on his father's land in Washington County as that is where the family was recorded at the time of the 1840 census. He was the oldest son in a family of 3 boys and 6 girls. In the late 1840s Thomas's parents sold much of their Washington County land. The 1850 census recorded the family living in adjacent Smyth County, but at some point between 1850 and 1860 Jeremiah and Margaret took their 6 youngest children and migrated to Texas.5,6 
Marriage20 May 1856 He married Ellen Eliza Lansdown, daughter of George Lansdown and Anna Cole Thomas, on 20 May 1856 near 7 Mile Ford in Smyth County, Virginia.7 
28 May 1859  On May 28, 1859 Ellen's sister Jennie Lansdown presented her with a new Bible. Jennie inscribed it:
Dear Sister
I present this Book of Books to you with the earnest desire that you may search it diligently and may the Lord our God direct you into paths of peace...


In the years to come Ellen and/or Thomas (and others) would preserve the family's birth, marriage and death records in this Bible, including information for generations who had preceded them. 
Cens-186013 Jun 1860  Thomas and Ellen did not join his parents in Texas but remained in Virginia. There they were recorded living in Smyth County in 1860 with the first 2 of the 10 children who would eventually be born to them. Thomas, at age 32, stated that he was the manager of a "salt works estate". He owned personal property valued at $12,250. Ellen was 32. Also living with them was 21 year old Virginia Lansdown who owned real estate valued at over $4,000 and personal property of $5,000.8 
Military  During the Civil War Thomas was a private in the Kings Company of the Virginia Light Artillery (Saltville Artillery). 
Cens-18703 Oct 1870  Thomas and Ellen were enumerated again in 1870. By then they were living in Washington County where Thomas was farming. He owned real estate valued at $6,000 and personal property of $1,200. Four children , all born following the 1860 census were also listed: Anna (8), Elvira [Edwin] (6), Hattie (3) and Rosa (1).9 
  Thomas and Ellen's two eldest children, Margaret and William, had both died in October 1865. 
Cens-188023 Jun 1880 The 1880 census clarified that Thomas and Ellen lived in the Saltville District of Washington County. Seven children were still at home, including 5 born following the 1870 census: Sarah (10), Mary (8), Thomas (5), George (2) and an infant boy listed simply as "baby" [later named Graham].10 
Cens-19009 Jun 1900 By 1900 Thomas and Ellen had returned to Smyth County where they were enumerated living in Marion. Thomas, at 72, no longer listed an occupation. Ellen stated that she was the mother of 10 children, 3 of whom were no longer living [daughter Hattie died in 1892]. Two daughters, Virginia and Mary, had not married and were living at home with their parents as was Graham (19), the youngest child.11 
  Son George had married the previous Fall; he and his wife were enumerated as the adjacent household.12 
  Son Edwin had married in Washington County, Virginia in the fall of 1888, but he and his wife migrated to California soon afterwards. George and his wife would follow about 1907. 
Death23 Feb 1903 Thomas died on 23 Feb 1903 in Washington County at age 75.3,13 
Burial He was buried in the Gardner-Dickenson Square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

Thomas and Ellen's home south of Saltville; photographed in 1950.
Thomas and Ellen's home was indicated on the 1890 Boyd map for Washington County
Thomas's side of Gardner monument; also another view
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Ellen Eliza Lansdown b. 25 Dec 1835, d. 10 Oct 1911
Children
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited4 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The first entry on the "Birth" page reads: Thomas Edmondson Gardner was Born the 7th day of July 1827 in Washington Co. Va.
  2. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. Birth data for Caleb Boudish Gardner and Elizabeth Graham, as well as for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson was recorded in the 1859 Lansdown-Gardner Bible. A list of children followed under the title: "Children and grandchildren of the above". The list included (surname Gardner): Mary Elizabeth Graham, Thomas Edmondson, Margaret Jane Buchanan, Sallie Lizalier Lucinda Beach, Susan Wells Sanders, Caleb Graham, India Campbell, Hattie Virginia Montgomery and Jeremiah Walter Clark.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 180. Stone reported to read: Thomas E. Gardner, 7 Jul. 1827-23 Feb. 1903.
  4. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 722.
  5. [S679] Jeremiah C. Gardner household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 17 (original scipt) followed by p. 215 stamped, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 33 of 115. Household includes: 1 male under 5; 1 male 10-14; 1 male 20-29; 1 male 40-49; 1 female under 5; 2 females 5-9; 2 females 10-15; 1 female 20-29; 1 female slave 10-24.
  6. [S465] Jeremiah C. Gardner household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., District 60, p. 199 stamped (following), dwelling 573, family 580, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 88 of 169. Enumeration reads: Jeremiah C. Gardner, 50, b. NY, farmer; Margaret, 42; Mary E., 24; Thomas E. 22; Margaret J., 20; Sallie L., 18; Susan W., 16; Caleb G., 14; India C., 11; Virginia, 9; Jeremiah W., 4; all b. VA.
  7. [S60] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1851-1891 & 1860 Census, p. 63. Record reported as: Thos E. Gardner, 28, b. Washington Co., VA, s/o Jeremiah & Margaret Gardner & Ellen E. Lansdown, 20, d/o George and Ann; marr: 20 May 1856.
  8. [S576] Thomas E. Gardener [sic] household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford Post Office, p. 20 (original script), dwelling 122, family 122, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 22 of 191. Enumeration includes: Thomas E. Gardener, 32, manager of salt works estate, owns pers. prop. of $12,250; Ellen E., 24; Margaret V., 3; William P. 6/12; Virginia A. Lansdown, 21, owns real estate of $4,200 and pers. prop of $5,000; all b. VA.
  9. [S635] Thos E. Gardner household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 187 (following page), dwelling 70, family 77, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 10 of 44. Thos E. Gardner, 43, farmer, owns real estate of $6,000, pers. prop of $1,200; Ellen E., 35; Anna T., 8; Elvira L., 6; Hattie V., 3; Rosa 1; all b. VA.
  10. [S163] Thomas Gardener [sic] household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, p. 234 (D) stamped, dwelling 455, family 467. Aug. 2006, image 52 of 63. Enumeration includes: Thomas Gardener, 52, marr, farmer; Ellen E., wife, 44, marr; Anna T., dau, 18; Edwin L., son, 16, farm laborer; Hattie J., dau, 13; Sarah V., dau, 10; Marry E., dau, 8; Thomas E., son, 5; George M., son, 2; Baby, son b. Apr; Mary Washington, 21, black, servant; all b. VA.
  11. [S682] Thomas Gardner household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 82, sheet 14B, dwelling 250, family 265, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 28 of 32. Enumeration includes: Thomas Gardner, b. Jul 1827, 72, marr 43 [?] yrs, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA, no occup listed; Ellen E., wife, 64, b. Dec. 1835, marr 4_ yrs, mother 10 children, 7 living; Virginia, dau, 26, b. Sept. 1873; Ma__, dau, 24, b. Sept. 1875; Graham, son, 19, b. Apr 1880, day laborer; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S682] George Gardner household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 82, sheet 14B, dwelling 251, family 266, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 28 of 32. Enumeration includes: George Gardner, 22, b. Mch 1878, marr 6/12, farm laborer; Lula, wife, 22, b. Oct. 1872, no children; both b. VA, parents b. VA.
  13. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Deaths records page includes this entry: Thomas Edmondson Gardner Departed this life Feb. 23rd 1903 aged 75 yrs, 7 mos, 16 days.
  14. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The "Birth" page entries begin with Thomas Edmondson Gardner and Ellen Eliza Lansdown followed by entries for 10 children. The first 6 entries appear to be in the same script; the script on later entries varies.