THOMAS J. GARDNER
from Pope County History Book

      Thomas J. Gardner, born 6 November 1800, in Virginia, was the son-in-law of Martha "Patsy" Pace and Benjamin Langford -- of Greenville District, South Carolina.  It was probably in Jackson County, Alabama, c1821, that he married their daughter, Sinai.  C. H. Gardner, a brother of Thomas J., was in Jackson County, Alabama during this same time period.  Among the effects of Thomas J. Gardner is a letter directed to him at Dwight Mission, Arkansas Territory written by his brother, C. H., posted from Savannah, Hardin County, Tennessee and dated February 7, 1836.  In the letter, C.H. expresses hope that "brother Ellis" in Caldwell County, Commonwealth of Kentucky, would "come down" to join him and that the two would go "by canoe" to join Thomas and his "little family" in Pope County, Arkansas.  C. H. further states that his health is poor and that since he has taken a "teaching position" it would be three months before he could leave.  Sadly, his dream was never realized for he died between 1840 and 1850 when his widow, Jane, and children Angeline, William, Thomas, Sarah and Mary are found living in Henderson County, Tennessee.

      However, the brother Ellis A. Gardner who, on 14 October 1829, had married Pernecia, the daughter of Sarah and Jeptha Johnson, in Caldwell County, Kentucky, obtained his goal of reaching Pope County.  By 1840, he and Pernecia, with their children, Sarah J. and Thaddeus Alonzo were of settled in the North East Corner, Range 19, close by the Jeptha Johnson family.

      Thomas J. Gardner reached Pope County with his father-in-law, Benjamin Langford and other families from North Alabama and West Tennessee as early as 1828.  In an article appearing in the Russellville Democrat, July 20, 1876, by David Foster Williamson (one of the original settlers of Pope County) mention is made of ". . . . the settlements on Illinois Bayou above where Dover is located . . . and for morality and being orderly, good citizens and well to do. . .The name of Thomas Gardner as being among these citizens is recorded by the writer.

      Sinai Langford Gardner died sometime after 1833, leaving four small children, Eliza, Martha, Mary and Ellis Milton

thought to be the daughter of Mary Lynch and Frincis Pace who had migrated from Greenville District, South Carolina, before 1840 to Johnson County, Arkansas, evidently in order to be near "PATSY", the wife of BENJAMIN LANGFORD and sister of FRANCIS PACE.

      Census records reveal that the next two children of Thomas J. Gardner, William M. and Sarah, were born in Arkansas.  On 13 January 1840, in Fannin County, Texas, Thomas presented his claim for 640 acres of land and proof was given by William B. Pace and James Williams that he emigrated to the Republic in the "month of December A. D. 1839."  It was in Fannin County that his widowed daughter, Eliza Gardner Maddox, married Obediah Cook on 10 February 1846.

      By 1850, Thomas and Elena Gardner were in Williamson County, Texas with four additional children, Thomas, Jr., John Pace, Elizabeth (who later married William J. Webb) and Mansel Matthew.  Thomas, a farmer, and Elena helped organize and were charter members of the O'Possum Creek Baptist Church of Christ in the now ghost town of Macedonia.  On 3 August 1852, Milliner M. was born.  Later there were two other children, Elena (who married John Wesley Ward) and Annie (who married her cousin, T. F. PACE.)  Milliner M. Gardner married Frances Ellen Ward in Williamson County on 30 November 1871. Milliner was a land owner, farmer and banker.  He served for many years as County Commissioner an never drew opposition.  Three children from

made "house calls" and traveled by way of horse and buggy.  "Dr. Clint" and Laura had two sons, Daniel Clyde and Jesss Cecil, who was born 17 August 1899.

by Mrs. Carl E. Edwards