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Note: From RUTH GARDNER SANDER written and oral history:
George Gordon Gardner, born April 2, 1831, died January 12, 1881, came to California in 1849 after serving in the Mexican War . His wife received a pension for this service. He may have been interested in finding gold the first time, but returned to Arkansas where he was a landowner. March (31) 1853, he married Sarah Tabitha Rice, born March 23, 1836 died August 22 1915. Her father, John Rice, owned land and a general store in Riceville, Tennessee, which was named after their family.
George and Tabitha left that year in a wagon train bound for California. My grandmother would not take her personal slaves with her because California was a free state. The wagon train may have been led by a brother, Matthew Culberson Gardner, or Uncle Matthew English. He was very successful in taking wagon trains across the U. S. when the Indians had become unfriendly. He is said to have accomplished this by always camping near the Indian villages. A blanket was spread in front of th Indian Chief and every family brought a gift and poured it on the blanket. There was one rule. Whatever container the family used must be full...a cup, a bucket..etc. The people in the train therefore became the guests of the Indians.
My grandmother told us about another train to California. One of the men saw an Indian squaw sitting on the hill and for no reason shot her and killed her. The Indians came to the train and said to give them the man or they would kill all the people in the train. The man was given to the Indians. His punishment: skinned alive.
The grandchildren would listen to these stories with baited breath. One of the members of the wagon train was Grandma English, grandmother of George Gordon Gardner. She was born in 1778 and died in California. What fascinated the children was the fact that this little old lady rode across the plains in a rocking chair. In her many voluminous skirts, the family money was hidden. She owned 500 head of cattle and brought them to California.
The reasons for coming to California at this time I believe was to get land to farm. This was achieved and the land is still owned by descendents in Wooden Valley, Napa County, California. The family lived near Suisun, California when they first came. George Gordon and Sarah owned a farm near Benicia/Suisun. George Gordon was one of the founders of the masonic lodge in Benicia or Suisun. I've been told they traded that farm, that first farm and four highly priced mules for 1500 acres in Wooden Valley. (1856)
MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS:
In 1846, President Polk declared war on Mexico. The cry for volunteers was taken up by the newspapers. George Gordon Gardner, age 16, joined Stephen Enyart's Independent Company of Volunteers (Mounted Infantry.) There were more volunteers than the army could make use of at the start of the war and Enyart's company was not enlisted in the first year. When the hostilities continued in 1847, Enyart's company was accepted into service. George Gordon and a company made up mostly of Fayetteville and Fort Smith men were mustered in at Fayatteville on June 9th of 1847, and sent to Mier, Mexico, where they served much of their time guarding wagon trains. His wife's pension file confirms that George Gordon enlisted in Stephen B. Enyart's Calvary at Fort Smith, Arkansas and that he was discharged in 1848 at Camargo, Mexico. His muster dates are listed as June 30 1847, En route for San Antonio; Aug 31, 1847 Rio Tria, Mexico; Oct 31, 1847, Mier, Mexico. On June 12, 1848 the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war. Honorably discharged, George Gordon returned to Arkansas.
GOLD RUSH:
In 1849 George Gordon Gardner crossed the plains as the boss of an ox team "purchased with the net gains of his Mexican trip." While he had been away in the war, one of his sisters, Nancy Jane Harriet Gardner, had married THOMAS BOYD, born 1821 in Virginia. This THOMAS BOYD went with GEORGE GORDON to California, leaving Nancy Jane and her two young sons in the care of Grandmother English. According to notes from descendents: GGG and Tom Boyd mined at Oroville. Also mentioned are Placerville and Marysville. A certificate hanging in the Napa Hall of The Native Sons of the Golden West says that Mr. Gardner was in California in September of 1949.
EXCERPT FROM LETTER written in 1937 by JAMES BUCHANAN GARDNER (son of George Gordon Gardner):
George Gordon Gardner, the pioneer, and his brother and sisters were raised by their grandmother, Nancy Gordon English, due to the early death of their parents. They were also well to do landowners and owned a mill. It was this grandmother (Nancy English) who at 75 years of age crossed the plains with them, bringing her 500 head of cattle and the family money concealed in her voluminous skirts. The chair in which she sat as she crossed the plains is in the possession of William Johnson, great great grandson, living in Wooden Valley, California on the ranch purchased in 1856.
The family was interested in education, the children attending college and seminaries in Napa. My grandfather's library contained such books as Josephus and Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
My father had one brother and four sisters, Nancy, Elizabeth, Mariah and Mary, who all came to California in 1853 and lived for a time in Suisun Valley. Great Grandfather English (Matthew English, born about 1774) was the one captured by the Indians and brought back the rifle we have.
Great grandmother English and her son Matt (Matthew Culberson English) are buried in what is known as the Scarlett place in Suisun Valley (moved now to Rockville Cemetery).
...settled in Suisun Valley on Andy Perry Place until 1855. Members of Congregational Church in Suisun. In 1855, they traded their farm in Suisun along with a pair of mules for a farm of about 1000 acres in Wooden Valley. Apparently a diary was made of the trip from Arkansas, and the last known relative to have possession of it was Dorese Johnson.
EXCERPTS from HISTORY OF WOODEN VALLEY, W. A. Lyons, Napa County Historical Society
Wooden Valley is a small, almost round valley that lies approximately nine miles northeast of Napa. I was named after John Wooden, who was the first owner of the valley to live in it. Born in Virginia in 1800, John Wooden came overland with a group of emigrants in 1846. The Donner party was amonst this group until they split at Fort Bridger. Wooden stayed with the train that continued on to Oregon. He joined Fremont's army on arrival in California, was stationed at Santa Clara and in 1850 came to Napa. In 1852 he bought the valley then known as Corral Valley, a portion of the Rancho Chimiles owned by Jose Ignacio Berryessa.
The Valley is almost completely surrounded by hills. The road from Napa goes over what is called Napa Mountain, this being the ridge running north from Mt. George. There are about five miles of steady climb from Napa and about two miles downhill to the floor of Wooden valley. This road was first built by Chinese laborers using picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. For many years it was very narrow, and in places vehicles had difficulty in passing each other. The problem was not as great as one might expect because all the traffic was towards Napa in the mornings and home again in the afternoons, so almost everyone was going the same way.
The GARDNER RANCH level land was originally planted to grain and corn, but late to orchard and grapes. The hill land was hevily wooded, and much wood was cut and sold in Napa and Suisun, thus clearing the hills and making the grass better for stock raising. Two running streams through the ranch provided ample water supply. Two of the Gardner children stayed on. Mariah married I. Johnson and remained on the part of the ranch east of the road; and Charles William who never married farmed theportion of the ranch on wthe west side of the road. The houses of the two ranches were just across the road from each otehr. Both ranchers wer very productive and Johnson and Gardner were prosperous farmers.
In the one room schoolhouse all eight grades were taught. The old schoolhouse has since been torn down and a new building put up a little to the north and west of the old one.
from INTERVIEW WITH RUTH GARDNER SANDER AND WILLIAM IRVING GARDNER
The road from the ranch to town was rough and a little treacherous. James' daughter Ruth would throw her shoes in the well to avoid having to take a trip to town. There was a one room school down the hill. When Uncle James was picking the kids up from school one day the horse took fright and the wagon overturned, but injuries only kept them out of school for a week.
Once some Indians had stolen some cattle and George Gordon and others went to get them back. They were chased and he pulled his pistol twice. The Indians stopped and he either didn't fire, or it misfired. If he had shot one of them they would have attacked. Phil Gardner still has 2 pistols from George Gordon Gardner.
The whole Gardner ranch was 1000 acres. 500 for vineyard and 500 for cattle. The original barn still stands but the house on the hill has been altered or added to. The ranch went to Maria and her husband and then to her son William and his wife Dorese. When they died it went to Dorese's sister. There was a diary of George Gordon's and no one knows who has it now or if it still exists.
DIFFICULT DECADE:
1860 United States Federal Census--Napa Township, Napa, California
George Gardner 29 Farmer
Sarah T.Gardner 24
John H.Gardner 6
George F. Gardner 4
James B. Gardner 3
Willie Gardner 1
From Old Napa Valley by Lin Weber: "The planting, harvesting, threshing and milling of wheat dominated much of life throughout the 1850's and early 60's. Wheat quickly became Napa's major crop, both in amount cultivated and dollars' profit. But the winter of 1860-61 was extremely cold. Water to the mill froze. The winter of 1861-62 was the wettest on record. The Napa River flooded (as did most of the rivers in California), sweeping away cattle, hogs and fowl. The winter of 1862-63 started with an early freeze and ended with a drought. Suddenly money was scarce. Land exchanged hands frequently as people sold out to pay their debts." George Gordon Gardner was forced to sell part of his land in 1861.
From the PROPERTY BOOK at the Napa Hall of Records: April 20, 1861
Book G p. 113 -- George Gordon Gardner to John Wooden;
Book G p. 114-- George Gordon Gardner to T. L. Grigsby;
Book E p 556-- George Gordon Gardner to G. W. Crowley.
Again from Old Napa Valley, by Lin Weber: "The Civil War was difficult for Napa Valley. There was a strong Southern faction. The pro-Union Napa County Reporter was aware of the rebel sentiment and began publishing frightened warnings urging local citizens to be organized and armed against attempts at rebellion. Union men formed militias, but their parades did little to reassure the public and fear of secessionists grew stronger. Paranoid articles in the Reporter told of secret secessionist meetings being held all over Napa County by men who were fully armed."
The Gardner and Rice families weathered these political storms and remained in Wooden Valley until 1867. According to Edward Ryce, on August 20, 1867, Isaac Rice moved to Vacaville, Solano County, "in order to obtain better educational facilities for his children. Buying town property there, he also rented land outside which he farmed with success till 1872." It is assumed the Gardner family moved to Vacaville at the same time and for the same reasons. In Dec of 1868 George sold some land to "S.D." George Gordon did not buy land in Vacaville. Instead he farmed the property next to Isaac Rice.
1870 US Federal Census -- VACAVILLE, SOLANO, CA
ISAAC RICE 50 Farmer Property: $20,000
Martha Rice 41 Keeping house
John Rice 21 Farm laborer
Melissa Rice 15
Sarah Rice 12
Thomas Rice 10
Mary Rice 6
Jessie Rice 3
GEORGE GARDNER 39, Farmer
Sarah Gardner 34
John Gardner 16, Farm laborer
George Gardner 14
James Gardner 13
William Gardner 11
Maria Gardner 8
Ada Gardner 5
It is presumed the Gardner family returned to their ranch in Wooden Valley in 1873 when the Rices moved to Contra Costa. The children were now able to pursue their educations in Napa. According to Ruth Gardner Sandner: The daughters attended young ladies' seminaries and James Buchanan went to Napa College Institute. JAMES BUCHANAN GARDNER graduated from Napa College Institute. He was a speaker at his graduation. The subject was 'true greatness'. Napa College and College of the Pacific merged and is now called University of the Pacific."
A CERTIFICATE hanging in the Napa Hall of the Native Sons of the Golden West says that Mr. Gardner was in California in Spetember 1949. He joined the Society of Pioneers in Sonoma in 1876.
1880 United States Federal Census -- Wooden Valley, Napa, California
George G. Gardner 49 Farmer
Sarah Gardner 44 Keeping house
John H. Gardner 26 Farmer
James B. Gardner 23 School Teacher
William C. Gardner 21 Farmer
Maria T. Gardner 18 At home
Ada N. Gardner 15 at home
Clem 30 Chinese farm cook
William T. Friend 50 hired farm labor
GEORGE GORDON GARDNER'S WILL--1880
In the name of God, amen. I George G. Gardner, being in ill health but of sound and deposing mind do now publish and declare this my last will and testament.
First, I will devise and bequeath all my real and personal property in the same maner and proposition as the law would otherwise distribute the same that is to say, my dealy beloved wife Sarah T. Gardner, to take her half of the community property and my share thereof, being the remaining half to go in equal shares to my children John H. Gardner, George Frank Gardner, James Buchanan Gardner, Charles William Gardner, Maria Tabitha Gardner and Nancy Adah Gardner and I hereby declare all my property to be community property.
Second, I hereby appoint my wife Sarah T. Gardner the sole executor of this last will and testament to act as such without bonds and I hereby authorize my said executress to sell all my personal property without any order on approval of the court in such manner and upon such time as she shall deem for the best interest of the estate or so much thereof as she shall deem advisable to sell, leaving it to her good judgement and discretion requesting but not requiring that she will consult other members of the family interested and endeavor to make such dispositon as will be satisfactory to all.
Third, I desire and direct my said Executrix out of the funds coming into her hands from my estate to satisfy all my just debts and expenses of administration and I also desire that she shall apply the surplus towards the payment of the incumbrances upon my property but I do not expressly require this, should there be in her judgement good reasons for a different course.
Fourth, I hereby nominate and appoint my dear wife Sarah T. Gardner guardian of the persons and estate of all my minor children to act as such without giving bonds. In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this day being the 21st day of Dec 1880. Witnesses: R. D. Robbins, Suisun City, CA; J. F. Wendell, Suisun City, CA; Filed January 22, 1880.
On January 12, 1881 -- George Gordon Gardner died. The funeral was held at the Congregational Church in Suisun at 2 o'clock, Friday, January 14. under the auspice of the Masonic Temple there. He is buried as Mason in Methodist Cemetery, Suisun, Solano, CA.
OBITUARY FOR GEORGE GORDON GARDNER in the NAPA COUNTY REGISTER
Mr. G. G. Gardner, a well known and highly respected citizen of this county, died at his home in Wooden Valley, Wednesday evening. Several weeks ago he had a severe attack of pneumonia, from which in due time he recovered sufficiently to get out, when he suffered an attack of hemorrhage of the bowels, and being too weak to battle with the disease he succumbed.
Mr. Gardner was born in Arkansas in 1831. He received such education as was usually imparted by the country schools of those times, and then entered the world's School of Experience, and being of a very practical turn of mind, made his own way without much trouble.
At the age of 16, he enlisted in the U. S. Army to serve during the war with Mexico. At its termination in 1848 he was honorably discharged and returned to his native state. In 1849 he crossed the plains as the boss of an ox team, purchased with the net gains of his Mexican trip. As was usual in the first years of California experience, he found it easy to make money and easier to lose it. In 1851 we find him in Suisun valley, Solano county. He returned to his old home in 1852 and while there married, and the following spring again crossed the plains to California, bringing a drove of cattle. In 1855 he purchased the home where he died, and since that time has been engaged in farming and raising livestock. He leaves a wife, four sons and two daughters to mourn his loss. The funeral will take place today in Suisun, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of that town, of which he was a member in good standing.
PIONEER FAMILY CELBRATES 100 YEARS AS RESIDENTS OF VALLEY
1954 NEWSPAPER CLIPPING found in Beverly Gardner Van Polen's Gardner memorabilia:
More than 80 descendants of George Gordon Gardner, who settled in Wooden Valley in 1854, and James A. Hill, a settler in Soscol just two years before, gathered at the Chimiles Farm Center recently to bring the family history up to date and to enable the senior members of he family to meet the third and fourth generations.
From as far away as Hanford, members of the pioneer clan came for the first time in 12 years to celebrate the family's 100th year in Wooden Valley. Two of the oldest members of the family, Mrs. Jennie Ewing Gardner, 87, of Napa, and Dr. George M. Gardner, 80, of Berkeley, were both able to be present and welcome the youngest family member, Linda J. Hill, born appropriately for this fourth generation California family, on Admission Day.
Many well known residents of Napa County were present, including William R. Johnson, assessor; Wesley Gardner, undersheriff; Paul Hartman, deputy sheriff; and James Ewing Gardner, land appraiser.
Several of those present brought items of interest to the clan such as the family Bible, scrapbooks and numerous yellowed newspaper clippings and photographs.
Direct descendants of the family who still maintain their home in Wooden Valley on the old home ranch are Mr. and Mrs. William R. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford C. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Hauck, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hill, Mr. and Mrs. John Borelli, and Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hill, who own the land on which the Chimiles Farm Center building stands.
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