Thomas Edmondson Gardner1

b. 16 January 1875, d. 28 November 1930
Thomas E. Gardner Jr.
photo courtesy Robert Gardner
FatherThomas Edmondson Gardner2 b. 7 Jul 1827, d. 23 Feb 1903
MotherEllen Eliza Lansdown2 b. 25 Dec 1835, d. 10 Oct 1911
Birth16 Jan 1875 Thomas Edmondson Gardner was born near Saltville in Washington County, Virginia, on 16 Jan 1875.1 
Cens-188023 Jun 1880  He was the 8th child and 3rd son in a family of 10 children.3 
  Thomas left Virginia in the late 1890s or early 1900s and settled in the town of Dawson in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Dawson was the center of the Klondike Gold Rush which began in 1896. By 1904 the rush was long over and Thomas moved to the town of Fairbanks in the Alaska Territory. Fairbanks had been founded in 1901. An article published after his death referred to Thomas as a "pioneer Fairbanksan."4,5 
Cens-19107 Mar 1910  In 1910 Thomas lodged at the residence of a John Sullivan in Tanana in the Alaska Territory.6 
  Tanana was a small community in the interior of Alaska at the junction of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers. 
  Thomas worked as a freight and stage driver and also as a miner, and was later appointed Deputy US Marshall at Tolovana.4 
  Tolovana was a small outpost and trading station on the Tanana River east of Tanana and west of Fairbanks. In 1925, when a deadly diphtheria epidemic swept through Nome, Alaska, teams of dogs transported antitoxin 1,000 miles through blizzard conditions to reach the icebound town. Tolovana was the first transfer point for the dog teams. (See the citations for several interesting links).7 
  In 1923 Thomas purchased a lot and cabin in Fairbanks.8 
  In 1925 Thomas' brother Edwin and his second wife Marie traveled from southern California to Alaska. Thomas and Edwin were photographed in front of the Fairbanks cabin (see photo links below). 
Death28 Nov 1930 He died of an apparent heart attack at his cabin at Second and Bonnifield St. on 28 Nov 1930 at Fairbanks in Van Buren County, Alaska, at age 55.9,10 
Burial  Thomas' body was returned to Los Angeles for burial.5 
Will  Thomas' will, written in 1928, left his estate to his sisters "Mamie and Jennie" who lived in Los Angeles, California.4 

Related Links and Images:

This photo was taken around 1913 to 1914. Tom was apparently visiting southern California at the time. The photo includes Tom's brothers George and Edwin. It also includes his sisters Sarah Virginia ["Jenny"] and Mary Emma ["Mamie"]. The 3rd woman in the photo is Lulu Allison, wife of George Gardner.
Thomas and his brother Edwin in front of Thomas' cabin at Fairbanks, Alaska. The photo was probably taken in 1925 when Edwin and his second wife Marie visted Alaska from their home in southern California. The second photo shows more of Thomas' cabin
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited28 Jun 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 10th entry on the "Birth" page reads: Thomas Edmondson Gardner was born near Saltville Washington County Va January 16th 1875.
  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. 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.
  3. [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.
  4. [S2989] Thomas Gardner Found Dead Sunday, Daily News Miner, (Fairbanks, Alaska), Dec. 1, 1930, page p. 2; digital image, NewspaperArchive, (http://newspaperarchive.com/: viewed Sept. 2012).
  5. [S2989] Gardner's Body is Sent Outside For Burial, Daily News Miner, (Fairbanks, Alaska), Dec. 4, 1930, page p. 2; digital image, NewspaperArchive, (http://newspaperarchive.com/: viewed Sept. 2012). The article noted that Thomas' body was returned to Los Angeles at the request of his brother E.L. Gardner of Ventura, California.
  6. [S2951] John Sullivan household, 1900 U.S. cens., 4th District, Alaska Territory, pop. sched., Tanana, ED unknown cd3, sheet 10A (p. 98 stamped), dwelling 108, family 108, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2012. Household included: Thomas E. Gardner, lodger, 34, b. Jan. 1855 VA, parents b. VA, single, (occupation of all individuals on page was written over with tally numbers).
  7. [S525] For additional information see: http://tolovanaroadhouse.blogspot.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome. Several photos of Tolvana in the early 1900s are at the Alaska digital archives: http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm/search/searchterm/Tolovana
  8. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  9. [S2989] Thomas Gardner Found Dead Sunday, Daily News Miner, (Fairbanks, Alaska), Dec. 1, 1930, page p. 2; digital image, NewspaperArchive, (http://newspaperarchive.com/: viewed Sept. 2012). The obituary stated that Thomas' body was found on Sunday [Nov. 30th] by Dave Black and it appeared he had been dead for some time. However, a note added to the end of the obituary stated he had been seen alive on Friday night [Nov. 28th]. It appears the assumption was then made that he died later that evening.
  10. [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 Edmond__ Gardner Departed this life Nov. 28th [no year] aged 55 yrs 10 mos 12 days Fairbanks, Alaska 1931. [the year was added in a different script and is incorrect]