John James Gardner (October 17, 1845 – February 7, 1921) was an American Republican Party politician who represented

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

's 2nd congressional district in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

for ten terms from 1893 to 1913, and was Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey. At the time of his election to Congress, Gardner was the longest serving member in the history of the New Jersey Senate, having represented Atlantic County for five consecutive terms from 1878 to 1893.

Early life and career

Born in

Atlantic County Atlantic County is a County (United States), county located along the southern coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the county had a population of 274,534.

, Gardner attended the common schools and the

University of Michigan Law School The University of Michigan Law School (Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Comparative Law (MCL ...

in 1866 and 1867. He served in the

6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry The 6th New Jersey Infantry Regiment (also called the "6th New Jersey Volunteers") was regiment of infantry from New Jersey that served in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Service The 6th New Jersey Infantry Regiment was re ...

from 1861 to 1865 and one year in the United States Veteran Volunteers. He engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

Political career

Gardner was elected alderman of Atlantic City in 1867. He served as Mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1868 to 1872 and again from 1874 to 1875. He served as member of the common council and coroner of

in 1876. He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from 1878 to 1893, serving as its president in 1883. He engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a delegate to the 1884 Republican National Convention.

Congress

Gardner was elected as 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 ...

to the Fifty-third and to the nine succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1913). In April 1898, Gardner was among the six representatives who voted against declaring war on Spain. He served as chairman of the Committee on Labor. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress and resumed agricultural pursuits.

Death

He died of heart disease at his farm in Indian Mills in

Shamong Township, New Jersey Shamong Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,460, a decline of 30 (-0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 6,490, which in turn reflecte ...

on February 7, 1921Staff
"Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner"
''The New Jersey Law Journal, Volume 44'', p. 95. Accessed February 4, 2013. "While not a lawyer it was not his fault that he was not a member of the New Jersey Bar. This is to be said of Ex-Congressman John J. Gardner of, formerly, Atlantic City, who died on his farm at Indian Mills, Burlington county on Feb. 7th last, of heart disease." and was interred in Atlantic City Cemetery in

Pleasantville, New Jersey Pleasantville is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 20,629, which was an increase of 380 from the 2010 census count of 20,249, which reflected an increase of 1,237 ...

References

External links

John James Gardner
at

The Political Graveyard The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 277,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information. The name comes from the website's inclusion of burial locations o ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, John James 1845 births 1921 deaths Mayors of Atlantic City, New Jersey Republican Party New Jersey state senators University of Michigan Law School alumni People from Shamong Township, New Jersey Presidents of the New Jersey Senate Union Army soldiers Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Nucky Johnson's Organization