George Thomas Gardner1

b. 25 March 1878, d. 12 October 1971
George Thomas Gardner (cropped)
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
Birth25 Mar 1878 George Thomas Gardner was born on 25 Mar 1878 near Saltville in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Marriage28 Nov 1899 He married Lavinia Allison, daughter of William White Allison and Mary Jane Ayres, on 28 Nov 1899 in Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia. She was known as Lulu.4,5 
Cens-19009 Jun 1900 After their marriage George and Lulu settled at Marion in Smyth County, Virginia. There they were enumerated in 1900 living next to George's parents. George was employed as a farm laborer.6 
Migration  Sometime after the birth of Edwin in early 1905 and before the birth of Allison in the spring of 1908 George and Lulu migrated to California.  
  George's brother Edwin had settled in Ventura County, California some years earlier. 
Cens-191015 Apr 1910 By 1910 George and Lavinia had also settled in Ventura County although the exact location is not clear from the census record. The street was listed as "county road" and the incorporated place as Santa Paula town. The township was corrected to read Ventura, but Saticoy precinct and Santa Paula had both been previously entered. George's 1910 census entry reported that he was a farmer and that his farm was mortgaged. Lulu's entry noted that she was the mother of 3 children, but only 2 were living at the time.7 
Cens-192020 Jan 1920 In 1920 the location of the family farm was described as on Telephone Road in Ventura township.8 
Cens-193016 Apr 1930 The 1930 cenus again listed the address as Telephone Road, but further described the location as the community of Saticoy. George reported that he owned the farm, and in response to a question unique to that years census, that he also owned a radio.9 
Milit-Reg12 Sep 1918  George's World War I draft registration, completed in Sept. 1918 in Ventura, described him as tall, of medium build with gray eyes and dark brown hair.1 
Death12 Oct 1971 George died on 12 Oct 1971 in Ventura County, California, at age 93.10 

Research Comment:

George's name was recorded in his parent's Bible as George Mirah [from Jeremiah] Gardner. The 1880 census listed him as George M., confirming this middle name was in use during his childhood.

However at some point "Mirah" was overwritten in the Bible to read Thomas. It appears that someone then tried to change Thomas to Thompson. George and Lulu's marriage was also recorded in the Bible (by whom and at what time is not known). That entry lists his name as George Thompson Gardner.

In 1918 when George completed the World War I draft form in his own handwriting he signed his name George Thomas Gardner.11,1

Related Links and Images:

This photo was taken around 1913 to 1914, probably during a visit to southern California by George's brother Tom who lived in Alaska. The photo also includes George's brother Edwin and his sister Sarah Virginia ("Jenny") and Mary Emma ("Mamie"). The 3rd woman in the photo is Lulu Allison, wife of George Gardner.
George and Lulu with their sons Edwin and Allison (probably about 1911). Note how excited the boys were about having their picture taken!
George and his brother Edwin

Family

Lavinia Allison b. 23 Oct 1878, d. 13 Nov 1951
Children
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited28 Jun 2013

Citations

  1. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed Aug. 2012), Data for George Thomas Gardner, Ventura Co., CA (Sept. 12, 1918).
  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. [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 11th entry on the "Birth" page reads: George ___ [his initial middlen name was written over with Thompson] Gardner was born near Saltville Washington County Va March 25, 1878.
  4. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 40. Entry abstracted as: George T. Gardner, resid Smythe Co., s/o Thos E. & __ Gardner, farmer & Lulu Allison, 21, d/o Wm W. & Mary J. Allison, Nov. 1899.
  5. [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. Entry on family data page titled "Marriages": Geo Thompson Gardner and Lulu Allison were married Nov. 28 1899 at Glade Spring, Va.
  6. [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. 1877, no children; both b. VA, parents b. VA.
  7. [S1560] George T. Gardner household, 1910 U.S. cens., Ventura Co., California, pop. sched., Ventura township, ED 214, sheet 1A (p. 115 stamped), dwelling 4, family 4, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 1 of 26. Enumeration includes: George T. Gardener, 32, marr #1, marr 10 yrs, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer, farm is mortgaged; Lula, 32, marr #1, marr 10 yrs, mother of 3 children, 2 living, b. VA; Edwin L., son, 5, b. VA; Allison, son, 1 11/12, b. CA; farm on "county road". Note: 2 other locations had first been entered for township and then lined over: Saticoy precinct, and Santa Paula township - Santa Paula town had also been entered as the name of the incorporated place.
  8. [S1544] George Gardner household, 1920 U.S. cens., Ventura Co., California, pop. sched., Ventura township, ED 273, sheet 13B, dwelling 287, family 288, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 26 of 33. Enumeration includes: George T. [?] Gardener, 40, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer; Lulu A., wife, 40, b. VA, parents b. VA; Edwin L., son, 14, b. VA; Allison S., son, 11, b. CA; farm on Telephone Rd.
  9. [S1562] George T. Gardner household, 1930 U.S. cens., Ventura Co., California, pop. sched., Saticoy, ED 56-31, sheet 14A (p. 233), dwelling 280, family 284, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 27 of 46. Enumeration includes: George T. Gardner, 52, marr, marr at 22, owns home, is a farm, owns radio, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer; Lula A., wife, 52, marr at 22, b. VA, parents b. VA; Allison S., son, 21, sgl, b. CA, parents b. VA, laborer; farm on Telephone Rd.
  10. [S1333] "California Death Index 1940-1997", Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). George T. Gardner data, downloaded Aug. 2006.
  11. [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.
  12. [S54] Virginia Historicial Society of Washington County, High On A Windy Hill Vol II, p. 276; Maryellen Gardner, May 31, 1903-1903, d/o G.T. and Lula Gardner.