HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 
 
at the hardest kind of work-at ox teaming. 
After disposing of his ox team, he traded a two- 
year-old colt he owned for some carpenter's 
tools, and went to Alton,Ill., to "help build up 
the town." So well did he succeed that his em- 
ployer at the end of six weeks settled up with 
him and allowed him $1 a day; the matter 
of wages being left entirely with the boss. 
This was good wages in those days. Settling 
up his little bills, Mr. Gardner returned home 
on a visit to his wife and mother. He followed 
the carpenter and joiner trade till 1834, when 
he had the satisfaction of wiping out the last of 
the $500, and the interest, 12 per cent. In 1835, 
he had succeeded so well that he removed his 
family to Alton, erected a shop and engaged in 
house building on his own responsibility. 
Here he soon established a reputation for 
promptness, honesty and thoroughness, anid his 
business increased so rapidly that he had to 
turn away some jobs. His profits often ran up 
to $200 a month. In 1839, he had the misfor- 
tune to be sick and unable to work for nearly 
a year, and came near dying. Twice he visited 
Wisconsin to improve his health, and was 
greatly benefitted by his second journey, but on 
returning home the malady came back. He de- 
termined to move to Wisconsin in the springof 
1840, and setting out, arrived in Green county 
on the 10th day of June. Monroe then existed 
only in name. He built a cabin and saw-mill on 
the Skinner, eight miles west of the spot where 
this city now stands, which was then a virgin 
wilderness. Not a dwelling in sight, and the 
path of the Indian only served as an indication 
of the presence of humanity. 
This venture required so much hard labor and 
vigilance that it had to be given up; and shortly 
after, Mr. Gardner, upon the advice of John A. 
* Bingham, of New Mexico, who proved a friend 
indeed, engaged in the study and practice of 
law. He succeeded well; and fairly earned the 
reputation which he enjoyed for so maniy years, 
as a conscientious, careful and honest attorney, 
who regarded his client's interest as his own, 
 
always provided, he could measure his case by 
the square rule of justice and truth. He has 
been known to abandon suit and client, when he 
became convinced that he had been deceived as 
to the facts in the case. But he never aban 
doned a case wherein he thought he was right. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and prac- 
ticed law until his death, a period of over thirty- 
five years, in Green county,-having tried many 
important suits in the State and United States 
courts. He was appointed justice of the peace, 
in 1843, by Gov. Dodge, when Wisconsin was a 
Territory. He held public office in various 
capacities, to his own credit and to the entire 
satisfaction of his constituents. He carried the 
principles of integrity and industry, aided by 
experience and good judgment, intopublic life, 
and was regarded by all who knew him, as an 
honest, upright man. He was county clerk for 
four years, before the townsh-ip system of col- 
lecting taxes was adopted. Ile was district at- 
torney for six years. He was a member of the 
last Territorial legislature, and represented the 
eighth senatorial district in the first State Sen- 
ate, for two years. He refused a re-nomination 
and has always preferred to keep out of office 
when he could do so, without shirking his duty 
as a citizen. In politics, he was always a dem- 
ocrat, until James Buchanan was nominated for 
President; after which, until his death, he had 
been an enthusiastic republican. During the 
war he was appointed draft commissioner for 
this district and discharged his duty fiithfully. 
He was always an anti-slavery man.     He 
hated tyranny in any form and this made him 
generous to a fault, even to those who opposed 
him honestly and fairly. He had charity; he 
gave freely and nade his gifts all the more 
generous by giving quickly to those who came 
to him in distress. Many a young man, just 
starting out in life, engaging in business, will 
remember his kind words of advice, and ex- 
pressions of good wishes and hopes for their 
success. His hand and heart were in every 
good enter prise that needed or called for his 
 
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