Simeon Gardner

Biographical Sketches

Soldiers Album

Simeon Gardner, of Gresham, Wis., and member of the G.A.R. Post No. 81 at Shawano, was born March 1831, in Kaukauna, Wis., and is the son of William and Nancy (Johnson) Gardner; the former died in 1883 and the mother is still living on the Stockbridge reservation. Mr. Gardner has five brothers living on the Stockbridge reservation and engaged in farming. He has one sister who lives in Shawano. He enrolled August 14, 1862, at Shawano, in Company I, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry, for three years or during the war, and received honorable discharge June 19, 1865, at Washington. The regiment left the state for Memphis, Tenn., in October; from there they accompanied the forces of General Sherman to Holly Springs in the movement to capture Vicksburg. They were in the Oxford raid and had just left camp at Hurricane Creek when the news of the surrender of Murphy at Holly Springs caused a total reversion of all movements, and they reached Holly Springs after a forced march, which greatly exhausted the men to no purpose and the regiment returned, after a pursuit of Jackson to Memphis, where they remained until November, 1863, engaged in provost duty.

Mr. Gardner was in the expedition from Memphis in November and about the last of the month, went from Moscow and on the 2nd day of December went nine miles on the double quick to the relief of General Hatch. He was engaged in scouting serve until another plan was formed for the taking of Vicksburg and in February, 1864, landed at that place and on the next day moved in the Meridian expedition. He was in action at Jackson and returned to Vicksburg after a month's absence. Not long after he was connected with another expedition to relieve Union City and went next to Paducah, where a fight with Forest was expected, but the rebel retired and the regiment moved to intercept him at another point. It was a failure and the command went to Decantur, Ala.

In May the action on the Courtland road commenced and Mr. Gardner was in the skirmishes in that vicinity during the months of June and July, and in August, was with the Command at Atlanta. He was engaged in the operations there and at Jonesboro. After the surrender of the city he joined in the pursuit of the rebels and in October, went to Atlanta, where the command made ready to proceed through Georgia and Mr. Gardner was in all the actions in which his regiment participated in the vicinity of Savannah. He was in all the movements at Beaufort and Pocotaligo and was in the sharp fighting on the Salkahatchie at River's Bridge. He was again in action at Binnaker's Bridge where his company with two others held the position while three regiments crossed the river and secured a foothold. He was in the fight near Cheraw, at Fayetteville and Bentonville and went to Goldsboro and Raleigh and after the surrender of Johnston's army moved Northward to Washington, where he witnessed the final scenes and returned to Wisconsin. He escaped serious injury, but passed four weeks in the hospital at Memphis with sickness and nine months was company cook. After the war he located at Shawano and went to Gresham in 1888. Mr. Gardner has become a substantial farmer. He married Margaret Zinn of Fond du Lac and they have one daughter named Samantha, who married George Button of Green Bay.

Simeon Gardner

Enlisted as Pvt. 32 Wis. Inf. Co I on 15 Aug 1862 at Shawano

Mustered out as Pvt. 32 Wis. Inf. on 12 Jun 1865 at Washington

Time served 2y 9m 28d

Born 15 Mar 1831 in Kaukauna

Died 31 Mar 1914 at Shawano

Buried Holy Angels, Mission Lake (per Dioceses records)

Grave Stone  placed at Woodlawn, Soldiers Plot City of Shawano

Parents William and Nancy (Johnson) Gardner

Child Samantha