Susan Wells Sanders Gardner1

b. 3 April 1834, d. 28 August 1896
FatherJeremiah Caleb Gardner2 b. 1 Nov 1799, d. abt 1872
MotherMargaret Montgomery Edmiston2 b. 7 Mar 1804, d. abt 1866
Birth3 Apr 1834 Susan Wells Sanders Gardner was born in Washington County, Virginia, on 3 Apr 1834 according to notes taken from an old family Bible. However Susan's son stated she was born on May 17, 1833 when he appliced for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.1,3,4,5 
Childhood  Susan probably spent the bulk of her childhood in Washington County although the family also lived in neighboring Smyth County for a few years.6,7 
Migration  At some point between 1850 and 1860 Susan's parents, along with 5 of her siblings, migrated to Texas, settling briefly in Lamar County. 
Cens-186025 Jul 1860 There they were enumerated in 1860, farming in Hunt County.8 
Marriage22 Oct 1861 She married William Graham McCamant, son of Samuel McCamant and Matilda Dickenson, on 22 Oct 1861 in Hunt County, Texas.9,10 
  Susan's sister Sallie was married to William's brother, Alexander, and Susan's sister India was married to William's brother John. 
Occupationcirca 1862 In the early 1860s William and his brother Alexander moved their families southwest to the area that would become Hood County in 1866 and established a tannery business. They also farmed and raised livestock.11 
Cens-187025 Sep 1870  The 1870 census enumeration recorded them farming in Hood County. William owned land valued at $500 and personal property worth the same amount. Also enumerated was Mary [or Marg?], age 6, Susan, age 3, Julia, age 15 and Wm Grabrill, age 55.12 
  The children's names on this census are a bit problematic. Where was Iola, born in 1863? And who was the 15 year old Julia? Was the 6 year old Margaret? And what happened to Susan, age 3, who does not appear on the 1880 enumeration? 
Occupation  William spent several terms as the county surveyor for Hood County. When Somervell County was created from Hood County in 1875 he became the surveyor for the new county and was responsible for laying out the town site of Glen Rose, the county seat.4 
Residence  In 1871 William purchased land in the southern part of the county [just west of where Glen Rose would be] and began to build a rock house. It had 18 inch thick walls which were put together with sand and lime. The lime was prepared in a lime kiln on the property. There were also heavy oak beams and pine doors which are still in use today.4 
Cens-188012 Jun 1880 The 1880 census, reflecting the creation of the new county, enumerated Susan and William farming in Somervell County with three children, Iola (17), Margie (15) and Thomas (8). Walter Gardner [Susan's younger brother who had lost an arm in the Civil War] was living with the family and helping on the farm.13 
Widowed1885  William died in 1885. 
Death28 Aug 1896 Susan died on 28 Aug 1896 in Glen Rose, Somervell County, Texas, at age 62.14,15 
Burial She was buried in the old cemetery on the family farm in Somervell County.4 
Land1896  Following Susan's death the land and home were sold to George Lincoln Booker who added several rooms. The home is now known as the Booker house. It sits on a hill 2 miles west of Glen Rose on Highway 67. The state placed a Historical Medallion on the house in 1965.4 
  The old cemetery, which sat across current highway 67 from the home, was bull dozed and ruined some years ago.4 

Research Comment:

Local residents state that near the house there were also graves for 3 little Gardner children who died of yellow fever. There were no stones placed to mark the graves at the time the chlildren died, but the Bookers placed small cedar posts when they owned the home.16
It is possible the Gardner children were sons or daughters of Susan's younger brother Walter and his wife Callie. Walter lived with Susan and William prior to his marriage in Somervell County in 1888. It is certainly possible he and Callie also lived with Susan after their marriage, especially since Susan was widowed. However, the 1900 census lists Callie as the mother of 4 children, all of whom were living.

Susan's brother Caleb also lost 3 children before 1900 but at least 2 of those are known to be buried at Acton Cemetery. Or is it possible these "Gardner children" were actually children of Susan and William McCamant, but who were associated in people's memories, years later, with their mother's surname and not their father's? Note the presence of the 3 year old Susan on the 1870 census who does not appear in 1880. Unfortunately, with the loss of the McCamant Cemetery across the road from the old home, and with no specific information on the 3 children, it will probably be impossible to determine who is buried in either location.

Related Links and Images:

Find Lamar County on the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
Susan and William married in Hunt County in 1861. Find the location on the Texas map. You can also locate Hood County and Somervell County.

Family

William Graham McCamant b. 12 Oct 1836, d. 11 Oct 1885
Children
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited12 Dec 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 Bible included a list of children (all in the same script and apparently copied from an earlier record) for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson which contained this entry: Susan Wells Sanders Gardner was born April 3, 1834, married William G. McCamant.
  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. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "Susan Wells Gardner" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 310-11.
  4. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 373.
  5. [S3118] Membership application, Thomas Jefferson McCamant, number 75002/914 (national/state), Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Database with images. (Ancestry.com : viewed March 2013). Application dated 30 Nov. 1951 at El Paso, Texas based on service of ancestor James McCamant (provides 17 May 1833 as Susan's date of birth).
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  8. [S1551] Jerima C. Gardner household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat 4, p. 315 stamped (next page after), dwelling 354, family 354, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 28 of 35. Enumeration includes: Jerima C. Gardner, 60, b. NY, farmer, owns land val $3,000; Margaret, 58; Suasun [sic], 24; Gray, 21, farmer, owns land val at $80; Virginia, 17, Walter, 14; all b. VA.
  9. [S1731] Hunt County, Texas Marriages 1846-1911 (Greenville, Texas: Hunt Co. Genealogical Society, 1987), p. 300. William G. McCamant and Susan W. Gardner, 22 Oct. 1861, citing Marriage Record A:107.
  10. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 372. Source states William and Susan married 21 Oct. 1861 in Hunt Co., TX.
  11. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 27.
  12. [S1645] W MCammet household, 1870 U.S. census, Hood Co., Texas, pop. sched., Granberry post office, p. 30 (original script), dwelling 258, family 258, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2007, image 30 of 65. Enumeration includes: W. MCammet, 3_, farmer, owns real estate of $500, pers. prop same, b. VA; Susan, 26, b. VA; Marg, 6, b. TX; Susan, 3, b. TX; Julia, 15, b. TX; Wm Grabrill, 35, b. Ala.
  13. [S1554] G. W. McCamant household, 1880 U.S. cens., Somervell Co., Texas, pop sched., Justice precinct 1, ED 146, page 351 C (stamped), dwelling 127, family 127, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2005, image 15 of 25. Enumeration includes: G.W. McCamant, 40, marr, farmer, b. VA, father b. PA, mother b. VA; Susan W., 40, wife, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA; Iola, dau, 17, b. TX, at school, parents b. VA; Margie, dau, 15, b. TX, at school, b. VA; Thomas, 8, son, b. TX, parents b. VA; Walter Gardner, 33, bros-in-law, works on farm, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA.
  14. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  15. [S3118] Membership application, Thomas Jefferson McCamant, number 75002/914 (national/state), Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Database with images. (Ancestry.com : viewed March 2013). Application dated 30 Nov. 1951 at El Paso, Texas based on service of ancestor James McCamant (provides date of birth and death).
  16. [S1644] "Booker Cemetery" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 64. Cited as: "Mrs. Tom Price stated in an article about Glen Rose..."