Joseph Gardner is one of the early settlers of Lincoln Township. He is a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, born July 10, 1838, and is a son of Peter and Barbara (Miller) Gardner, who were born and reared and died in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. John Gardner, the father of Peter Gardner, fought in the war of 1812, and entered land near Cincinnati, Ohio. Peter Gardner and wife had four children - John, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth. Joseph Gardner, the subject of this sketch, lived in his native county until he was seventeen years old; he was reared on a farm, and attended school in a log school-house with slab seats. At the age of fifteen years he went to learn the cigar-maker's trade, and in two years came west for his health. He settled in Linn County, Iowa, at Mount Vernon, where he remained eight years. At the end of that time he went to Jones County, Iowa. Mr. Gardner was married December 22, 1869, to Miss Sarah Jane Short, a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Lohr) Short. They resided in Jones County until the spring of 1874, when they came to Shelby County. Mr. Gardner first bought 120 acres of land of Al Bacon, who had made some improvements; he also bought eighty acres of the railroad company, and he has added to this first purchase until he now owns 200 acres in a body. The farm is well improved; there is a good house, a grove, an orchard, a barn, buildings for stock, and cribs for grain. The school- house of district number four is on a corner of Mr. Gardner's farm. He devotes himself to general agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are the parents of eight children - Elizabeth Emerine Stittle, Peter Henry, Mary Millie Lary, Susan Ellen Roland, Ida Adelaide, William Franklin, Hattie May, and Judd Hiatt. Mr. Gardner is a member of the Republican party. He is also a member of the Evangelical church, and has been for thirty years. His wife was reared in the Lutheran faith. He gives a liberal support to all educational and religious enterprises in the county, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.