George Ransom Gardner (January 19, 1837 – December 20, 1897) was an American politician and lawyer. Born in

Horseheads, New York Horseheads is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Chemung County, New York, Chemung County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 19,412 at the 2020 census. The name of the town is derived from the number o ...

, the son of George Ellison and Mary Ann (Monroe) Gardner, George moved to

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

in 1856, taught school, and worked on a farm. In 1856, Gardner returned to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

and worked on his family farm. During the American Civil War, Gardner served in the

48th New York Volunteer Infantry The 48th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 48th New York Infantry was organized at Brooklyn, New York and mustered in for three years service on September 10, 1861, ...

. He lost his right arm during the battle at Fort Wagner in

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. Gardner then studied law in

Watkins Glen, New York Watkins Glen is a village and census-designated place in and the county seat of Schuyler County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,829. Watkins Glen lies within the towns of Dix and Reading. To the southwest o ...

and was admitted to the New York bar in 1867. He practiced law in Watkins Glen, New York until 1870 and then moved to

Breckenridge, Missouri Breckenridge is a city in northeast Caldwell County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area with the United States. The population was 258 at the 2020 census. History Breckenridge was laid out in 1856, and named for Vice Pre ...

where he continued to practice law. In 1873, Gardner moved to Grand Rapids, Wisconsin (now

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin. The population was 18,877 at the 2020 census. The city also forms one of the core areas of the United States Census Bureau's Marshfield-Wisconsin Rapids Micropolit ...

), where he continued to practice law. Gardner served as district attorney and county judge of

Wood County, Wisconsin Wood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 74,207. Its county seat is Wisconsin Rapids. The county is named after Joseph Wood, a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Wood County ...

. In 1878, Gardner also served as mayor of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. In 1883, Gardner served in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

and was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. He also served on the board of education. Gardner died at his home in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin.'Proceedings of the State Bar Association of Wisconsin,' vol. 3, Taylor & Gleason Company, Madison, Wisconsin: 1901, George Ransom Gardner, pg. 265-266

Notes

1837 births 1897 deaths People from Horseheads, New York People from Caldwell County, Missouri People from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Farmers from New York (state) Farmers from Wisconsin Missouri lawyers New York (state) lawyers Wisconsin lawyers Wisconsin state court judges Mayors of places in Wisconsin School board members in Wisconsin People from Wood County, Wisconsin 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 19th-century Wisconsin politicians {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Republican-1830s-stub