Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE W. GARDNER
GEORGE W. GARDNER. Throughout the Santa Clara valley,
which is known everywhere for its excellent fruit ranches, it would be
difficult to find a ranch more productive or more up-to-date in its
appointments than that owned and managed by Mr. Gardner. It comprises
twenty-six acres, devoted almost exclusively to the raising of prunes and
apricots, and is pleasantly located on the Dry Creek road. The dryer and
packing house are thoroughly equipped for preparing the fruit for the market,
and it is shipped under the name of “Peerless Brand,” which has a reputation
for quality which makes it a household word.
George W. Gardner was born in Nashua, N. H.,
May 16, 1859, a son of William and Sarah Jane (Curtis) Gardner, both
natives of New Hampshire. William Gardner came to California to try his
luck at mining in 1852, but returned to New Hampshire in less than one year.
Removing from his home in the east about 1861 to the vicinity of Utica, Ind.,
he conducted a farm until 1862, in which year he came to California by way of
the Isthmus of Panama and followed mining principally. The uncertainty of
results attending this calling led him to abandon it, and going to Fort
Atkinson, Wis., he engaged in merchandising there from 1865 until 1872. For the
third time, in 1872, Mr. Gardner again located on California soil, and
from then for about a year, until he retired to private life, he conducted a
retail grocery establishment in San Jose, under the firm name of
Sage & Gardner. During his early manhood Mr. Gardner had
taught school in New Hampshire and throughout his life he always took a deep
interest in educational matters. The Gardner school in San Jose is named for
him and to him is given the credit for its establishment. After an eventful and
useful life Mr. Gardner passed away in San Jose in 1896.
Mrs. Sarah J. Gardner was born in Piermont, Grafton county, N. H., and died in San Jose in 1894. In her
family were four daughters and three sons, but one of the daughters and two
sons died in infancy.
In the common and high schools of San Jose George W.
Gardner received an excellent education. When his school days
were over his father found in him an interested helper in all of his
undertakings, assisting him in the store and on his ranch. In 1880 the
son started in business on his own account by purchasing an eighty-acre ranch
on the Los Gatos road at the corner of Campbell avenue.
After setting it out to trees and improving it he sold it in 1901, and soon
afterward removed to the ranch on Dry Creek road previously purchased, and
which he now owns and occupies. The residence which the family occupies was
erected in 1903, and is supplied with every modern convenience.
Mr. Gardner was married in San Francisco to Miss Emma G. Pestner, a native of California, who at her death,
December 12, 1897, left three children, two sons and one daughter, to
mourn her loss. As a horticulturist Mr. Gardner ranks among the
progressive and successful men in the Santa Clara valley.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 July 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1249. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.