Biographies
MRS. ANNA G. GARDNER
Before the first trans-continental line of
railway had been brought to completion and thus welded the west with the east
by links of steel, Mrs. Anna Gardner came to California with her parents and
settled in Sacramento. Among the pictures on memory's walls none is clearer to
her mind than those associated with the long trip from the eastern home of the
family to the then unknown and sparsely settled regions of the west. The
plastic minds of youth readily absorb and long retain incidents of importance,
and the young girl who experienced a most delightful trip via the Isthmus of
Panama has never forgotten those interesting events, although she since has
passed out of youth into the afternoon of life's busy day and now has an
honored place among the elderly matrons of Sacramento, whose growth she has
witnessed for a period of more than forty years. Her father, Daniel Sloat, for years made his home in New York City, where she
was born; her mother was a native of Kentucky and descended from southern
ancestry but New York City was her home from childhood. Almost immediately
after his arrival in Sacramento the father secured employment with the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company and continued with them for a long period, but eventually
returned to the east and there died. After having been spared to a ripe old
age, the mother passed away in 1901 at Oakland, this state.
The first grammar-school ever conducted in
Sacramento was attended by Mrs. Gardner. In 1871, while she was still a young
girl, she became the wife of Daniel Gardner, long a resident of Sacramento.
Four children were born of the union and of these two sons are now living. The
elder, Benjamin W., is a native of Sacramento and has spent his entire life in
this city, with the exception of the period of his active service in the
Spanish-American war; in his family there are four children, born of his union
with Miss Clara Schondobie, a young lady of
Sacramento. The younger son, Elmer R., likewise a native of the capital city,
has a responsible position as manager of the Telephone Company at Modesto, and
is fraternally very active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also holds
honorary membership with the Rebekahs. In the latter
organization Mrs. Gardner for years has been a successful worker and her
selection as past noble grand, also as the incumbent of other offices of trust
and honor, indicate the respect entertained for her executive ability and wise
leadership by the members of the order in Sacramento.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 951-952. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.