Our Family are Patriots!

We already knew that, but I found this paper with a family line on one side (David Gardner) and then this information on the back:
"This is the line in which Mrs. Ava Maxwell Bertch, Daughter of Milton Maxwell and Jerusha Swain joined the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Her number is 247014 and she was admitted through William Worth.
William worth was an old man living in Nantucket (Massachusetts) at the time of the Revolution, and he loaned money to the colonies to help them in their fight for Independence. So he is listed  as a "Patriot" which entitles you to be a member of the DAR. You also have another line Zacheus Macy who was an old man living in Nantucket he loaned money and also held public office during the war.

Very interesting if I do say so myself!
Memory

Obituary of Newton Gardner: Thursday February 20, 1902

The Falls City Journal



 

 

Death of Newton Gardner

An old and respected citizen has been called away

Newton Gardner, an old and highly respected resident of this city died at his home on North Fulton street early Monday morning after an illness covering a period of two weeks. The cause of his death was pneumonia.

The funeral services were held at the family residence on Tuesday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. Alexander. AT this time a large number of friends called to pay their last respects to their old neighbor. At this time the following tribute, prepared by Mrs. George W. Schock, was read by Miss Rebecca Wilson:

Newton Gardner was born September 21st, 1821, near Liberty Union Co. Indiana. He came to Nebraska in September 1865, and settled on a farm four and one half miles south of this city. Here he endured the discouragements and privations incident to the life of the pioneer, until February 1882 he retired from the active labors of the farm and purchased this home, to which he became very strongly attached.

On the 30th day of November of that year he was married to Miss Alice Stetler and brought his bride to this home, which was from thenceforth an earthly paradise to him. It is a remarkable fact that he has not spent a night outside of this home in the twenty years that have passed since February 1882. Here his children, Della and Harry, were born and have grown to maturity. He has always manifested more than an ordinary fatherly solicitude for his wife and children.

I cannot conclude this brief obituary and imperfect tribute to the dead without especial mention of a dominant characteristic of the man, his kindliness of heart. His temperament was poetic; plain and practical on one side, he was deeply sentimental on the other and his heart seemed to go out to embrace humanity and when his body was racked with pain and he could only speak in whispers, he was hear to say, "I want to be kind to everybody." He never used a harsh word when a kind one would accomplish the purpose and no one knew better than he how much more effective the latter are.

His genius was constructive and knew no bounds, and though he was great of brain, he was yet greater of heart, and his kindliness will ever linger as a fragrant memory.

As a further testimony of the regard in which Mr. Gardner was held by those who most intimately knew him, the following tribute was prepared and read by Mr. George W. Holland: 

It was my privilege to know Mr. Gardner intimately for nearly twenty-two years. When I first met him I bore a message to him from some of his relatives and friends in Iowa and it seemed that our friendship began there. The last nine years of his life he was my neighbor and I have consequently met him almost daily during that time. He was in some respects a remarkable man. He was a student by nature. Many and many a time have I heard him discourse on historical and scientific subjects which proved that he was well read and that his reading s and studies were of the best. In his business life he was punctiliously honest. In fact he condemned dishonesty in any form whatsoever. His word was as good as his bond and his bond was absolutely good. I doubt whether in all the men he ever knew or associated with one could be found who would say Mr. Gardner ever did else than according to his agreement. His life was not spectacular nor showy. He never performed an act in his whole career which had for its object the plaudits of men. The great question with him was it right, and with him "right was mighty" and he governed his deeds accordingly. Had he desired I have no doubt he could have had the greatest honors conferred upon him, but he cared nothing for that. His ambition was to be a good and honest citizen, a humble but worthy member of society, a loving and faithful husband and a just and tender father. Such men are the strength of our nation. We may be glad to look at the bright stars that have shone in the history of the past. We like to read of the brilliant names that brighten the pages of the world, but after all the great sturdy of manhood of the common people is what gives our nation its power, its strength and its glory. To that manhood Mr. Gardner belongs. He is one of its most illustrious examples, caring nothing for honors from his fellow man, yet honoring mankind by doing his duty faithfully and honestly. Caring nothing for being known as having a well trained mind, yet possessing culture and knowledge to a remarkable degree. Caring nothing for having an ancestry which can be traced from the Mayflower to the present distinctly and among which are many illustrious names, yet possessing it. In fact I think there is more in such a life as his, in such a career as his, than one more brilliant and more showy. The diamond glistens in the sunlight and gladdens the eye, but the iron builds homes, cities, nations and benefits mankind. Mr Gardner belongs to the iron class and the world will remember the men of iron long after the glittering baubles of humanity have been forgotten. He was a man whom to have known was an inspiration. Every act of his life, every sentence that fell from his lips, was ennobling and inspiring. One could not look at his kind deeds and not be made better. One could not hear his words of knowledge and judgment without having better opinions of mankind. "His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, this was a man."

His children can be proud of having such a father and now and in future years they can look back to his life and say, "He never wronged a man." His wife can remember with a blessed satisfaction him who journeyed along life's pathway with her, side by side, scattering good deeds, here and there encouraging friends and neighbors by examples of kindness and deeds of charity.

The quartet sung Mr. Gardner's favorite hymn-that old sacred song which is well known to so many people:

I saw a weary traveler in tattered garments clad.

struggling up a mountain-it seemed that he was sad;

His back was laden heavy, his strength was almost gone,

But he shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

The summer sun was shining, the sweat was on his brow;

His garments worn and dusty, his step was very slow.

Still he kept pressing onward for he was wending home

He shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

I saw him in the evening the sun was bending low.

He'd overtopped the mountain and reached the vale below.

He saw the golden city-his everlasting home

He shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"

Then I heard a song of trumph he sung upon that shore

Saying, "Jesus has redeemed me, I suffer never more!"

Then casting his eyes backward on the race that he had run

He shouted glad hosanna, "Deliverance has come!"

 

At the conclusion of the services the remains were followed to Steele cemetery by a large concourse of sorrowing friends. To the bereaved wife and children all these friends extend their sincere sympathy and with one accord voice the sentiments in the two above tributes.