Robert Gardiner was born in 1845 in Dundee, Scotland where he was an apprenticed
confectioner. At 18 he was foreman of the “Queen’s Bakery,” which caters to the Royal Family. He married at 22 on the Emerald Isle, the very day it sailed out of Liverpool to America, to Margaret Stewart. The trip took eight weeks and was
unpleasant. The original crew refused to return with the ship with good reason because the ship was lost at sea on the return voyage.
Robert was a man of remarkable physique and energy. He was known as one of the first candy makers in Salt Lake City. He owned a restaurant and candy making business at Main and 1st South, downtown Salt Lake City in what is now the Kern Building. Robert was heavily involved in railroad investments and mining. He even patented his very own copper ore extraction process. He died at 81 after living a long, vigorous and rather eventful life. He was the father of 10 children.
Full history of Robert Gardiner by
Clarence Gardiner
Robert and Margaret, Pioneers of 1868
John Murdoch, of New Cumnock in Ayrshire, composed these lines of farewell to his homeland:
Oh Scotland my country, my dear native home,Thou land of the brave and the theme of my song,Oh why should I leave thee and cross the deep sea,To a strange land far distant lovely Scotland from thee … But why should I linger or wish for to stay.The voice of the Prophet is “haste, flee away. …”
Robert, Margaret and Alfred used some Perpetual Emigration Funds to come to Zion. Their names are on the PEF list:
July 4, 1868, Bristol Mercury News, England: (A condenser is an apparatus that takes seawater and distills it so it is drinkable. Fortunately Robert had the keys to the commissary so he was able to boil his own water possibly saving his life.
September 14, 1868 Deseret Evening News:
Robert and Margaret came to America in 1868 on a ship called the Emerald Isle: Attached is a sailing card for the Emerald Isle (Robert, Margaret and Alfred Gardiner sailed on it). The card is several years older than 1868, but it is the most contemporary picture of the Emerald Isle of which I am aware (not much of a picture of the ship):
This card recently sold for $2,200.
Emerald Isle
Ship: 1736 tons: 215' x 42' x 21'
Built: 1853 by Trufant & Drummond at Bath, Maine
A famous clipper packet, the full-rigged Emerald Isle carried a total of 1280 Mormons in three voyages across the Atlantic Ocean.
The first passage began on 30 November 1855 at Liverpool with 350 Saints on board. Elder Philemon C. Merrill and his counselors, Elders Joseph France and Thomas B. H. Stenhouse, presided over the emigrant company. Captain George B. Cornish, a veteran mariner, commanded the vessel. In 1848 he was listed as master of the 895-ton ship Sheridan. The crossing was marked by some damage caused by high winds and heavy seas, the deaths of two children, and three marriages. After a relatively fast crossing of twenty-nine days the ship arrived on 29 December at New York harbor.
Almost four years later, on 20 August 1859, the Emerald Isle again skippered by Captain Cornish sailed out of Liverpool with fifty-four Saints aboard-fifty from Switzerland and Italy and four from England. Elder Henry Hug was in charge of the company. After a forty-two-day passage, of which there are no details, the vessel arrived on 1 October at New York.
This same ship began her third voyage with Mormon emigrants on 20 June 1868 at Liverpool. There were 876 Saints in the company, of which 627 were from Scandinavia and the rest from the British Isles. Elder Hans Jensen Hals presided over the company. His counselors were Elders James Smith and John Fagerberg. On this crossing the ship was commanded by a Captain Gillespie. After six days the square-rigger put into Queenstown harbor to take on fresh water, since the equipment to distill sea water for culinary use had broken down. On 29 June the voyage resumed, but life on shipboard became increasingly unpleasant. The officers and crew treated the Saints harshly, and Elder Hals protested to the captain and reminded him of the contractual and legal rights of the passengers. On one occasion a mate attacked a Sister Saunders, and a "Brother Jensen" pulled the mate away and chastised him. Soon a group of sailors threatened violence but were subdued after the master reprimanded the offender.
According to the Church Emigration record, no other emigrating company was known to have received such bad treatment. "Fortunately this is the last company of Scandinavian Saints which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a sailing vessel." However, it was not just the treatment from the ship's of officers and crew that created unpleasantness, but the water became stagnant and unfit for use, causing much sickness among the emigrants. No less than thirty- seven deaths occurred. Although many children died of measles, it was felt that the drinking water contributed to the high death rate. During the three days of quarantine in the New York harbor thirty-eight sick emigrants were taken ashore. On 14 August-after a fifty-five-day passage-the Saints landed at Castle Garden.
Described by her owners-Tapscott's Line-as a half clipper in model and a packet clipper in rig, the Emerald Isle hailed out of New York and was the largest vessel built at Bath, Maine, until the 1860s. She was somewhat full bodied, sharp, and heavily sparred. She was a three-decker but also had a forecastle deck with two large houses for a galley, storerooms, and crew's quarters and a small cabin abaft the main hatch. The first lower deck contained a steerage cabin with a double tier of staterooms on each side running forward to the main hatch. Each of these staterooms had eight berths. This graceful ship had a figurehead of a dog in the act of leaping. Her stern was half round with a carved moulding which had the Harp of Erin in the center, an American Eagle on the right, and a dog on the left. Underneath were written the mottoes on the Irish and American coat of arms-Erin-go-Bragh and E Pluribus Unum. The Emerald Isle was among the first vessels to have standing rigging of wire. In 1885 she was sailing under the Dutch flag and renamed Berendina Oriria out of Batavia.
From:Scandinavian Emigrant Ship Descriptions and Voyage Narratives (1852-1868)from Ships, Saints, and Mariners by Conway B. Sonne and other sources.
Small world special note: Conway B. Sonne's son Alma Sonne set Kent Gardiner apart for his mission to the British South Mission in 1965.
From another source:
The last two passages in sailing ships probably represent the worst and best experiences of Latter-day Saint emigrants crossing the Atlantic. In 1868, the ships Emerald Isle and Constitution . arrived in New York City within a few days of each other. No emigrant company received such harsh treatment as did the Saints aboard the Emerald Isle, in sharp contrast with the experiences of Saints on the two previous voyages of that vessel that included Church members. Officers and crew were abusive, a mate molested a young woman, sailors threatened violence, and water became unfit to use. "It was a ghastly voyage," recalled N. P. Nielson, a Danish convert. There were no less than thirty-seven deaths, and during quarantine in New York, thirty-eight sick passengers were taken ashore.18 18. Andrew Jenson, History of the Scandinavian Mission, Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1927, pp. 201-2.
Niagara Falls:On the way to Zion Robert, Margaret and Alfred stopped at Niagara Falls and took the train across the gorge:
Note: Photos taken in 1868 of the railroad Suspension Bridge at Niagara Falls. Robert, Margaret and Alfred stopped at Niagara Falls and crossed the Suspension Bridge on their way to Utah in August of 1868. Trains crossed on the top deck of the bridge and pedestrians and carriages could cross on the deck underneath. This was probably the closest thing Robert and Margaret had to a honeymoon. It certainly wasn’t crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a crowded ship with a sadistic crew and disease and death stalking them the whole way. Okay, maybe I am overstating things . . . But then again, maybe not. N
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August 25, 1868 Deseret Evening News:
September 3, 1868 Deseret Evening News. Robert worked for John W. Young in Echo Canyon later in the year:
September 5, 1868 Deseret Evening News:
September 19, 1868 Deseret Evening News:
September 19, 1868 Deseret Evening News:
September 24, 1868, Deseret Evening News:
October 2, 1868 Deseret Evening News: (Note: Robert Gardiner would have been working for John W. Young at this time. FYI, the Young in Sharp & Young is not John W. Young. )
October 6, 1868, Deseret Evening News: same story but a little easier to read:
October 20 1968, Deseret News:
Note:
Hi everyone, When Robert, Margaret and Alfred Gardiner arrived in Utah they stopped at the North Fork of Echo Canyon where Robert went to work for John W. Young. The North Fork of Echo Canyon is at the head of Echo Canyon. John W. Young had a contract to fill and cut part of the railroad grade in the North Fork of Echo Canyon. Robert, Margaret and Alfred lived in a dugout in the side of the canyon. I don’t know the exact date when John W. Young completed his contract work, but as can be seen from the attached clipping it was estimated that he would be done by November 15, 1868. That is consistent with Margaret and Alfred arriving in Salt Lake City the latter part of November 1868.
Once the contract in the North Fork of Echo Canyon was complete, John W. Young and his men moved to another contract about four miles south of Ogden near the mouth of Weber Canyon. This raises some questions for me and I am looking for some help. Why didn’t Robert travel with Margaret and Alfred to Salt Lake City? Was it because Robert moved on to the next contract near the mouth of Weber Canyon and Margaret and Alfred didn’t want to follow him to Ogden? (There was no reason for Margaret and Alfred to remain in the dugout at the head of Echo Canyon.) Did Robert join Margaret and Alfred in Salt Lake City a day or two after they arrived in Salt Lake City or was it two or three months later when the contract work near the mouth of the Weber Canyon was finished? I think it was Eva, Robert’s daughter, that wrote Robert worked on the railroad between Echo Canyon and Ogden. Was that just a reference to the railroad in general or is more meant by it? If Robert just worked at one spot at the head of Echo Canyon, why the more general reference? NG
January 27, 1969 Deseret Evening News: A clipping that refers to John W. Young and William Snow. Robert Gardiner worked under both men.
SLC in 1866, two years later Robert saw this scene:Later in life he was involved in a lawsuit. Here is Robert's signature:Backside of the above photo:Beatrice Lenore Gardiner Low (Robert's daughter) -In February 1870 spring came, or so it seemed to them and they moved into a dugout up in one of the many ravines on the East Bench. Here Robert built a huge adobe furnace and started his candy making. He would carry a sack of sugar home on his shoulder at night, make candy all night, and take it downtown (on his shoulder again) the next morning, bringing another sack of sugar back.
One day while he was downtown, a regular river came down the ravine and washed everything out of the dugout before Margaret could even get the baby out. She hurried to get him out on the hill where it was dry but the bedding was soaked, the precious sack of sugar was washed away; the flour had caked on the sack so hard that it was saved. That was enough dugout for them, but the baby took pneumonia and died.
He made a lot of money fast and bought a place on Main Street and a place on Second Avenue and R Street, and a place out in the Brighton Ward, part way to Saltair. They lived in the Second Avenue place for some time, but moved to Main Street where Robert had a restaurant and made candy.
Robert spent some time working on the Salt Lake Temple.
Clarence Gardiner on Robert:Robert Gardiner was a man of remarkable physique. His physical energy seemed boundless, and during his long life he engaged in a number of business ventures. Upon his arrival in the alley he was, of course anxious to establish himself in his chosen trade of confectioner and baker. After locating in the 20th Ward, one of his first investments was the purchase of a wheelbarrow. This he used, after building a small "candy factory; to transport sugar from downtown to his shop where he made it into candy and delivered it to the stores where he received merchandise and more sugar in payment for the candy. In this year of 1868, Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution was established which aided many of those who produced salable goods to dispose of them, exchanging them for the commodities they were in need of. In process of time, and by his industry and energy, Robert was able to establish himself in the downtown section where he build a flourishing business in the manufacture of all kinds of confections and later he operated a bakery and a restaurant on Main Street.
A new home was built in the 14 Ward near the center of the block immediately behind where the Kearns building now stands where the older members of his family were born. Success crowned his efforts and he accumulated what would be considered at that time a substantial fortune.
About 1883 the family moved about six miles west of the city on a farm. The small community was known as the Brighton Ward. He gradually withdrew from the candy business and became actively engaged in several new business projects. The soil of the farm was not fertile, or the farming venture successful. The family lived on this farm until 1884 when they moved into the city.
About 1890 a severe depression occurred, after an unprecedented business "boom", which caused widespread disaster in the industrial and financial status of the country. Fortunes were wiped out, and many hereto fore independent citizens were reduced to want and extreme poverty. The Gardiner farm was lost, investments failed and the accumulated assets of years were wiped out.
Deseret Bakery:Hi, another thought on this photo: Notice the power poles. Electric service in Utah began in the spring of 1881 when the Salt Lake City Light, Heat, and Power Company started supplying electricity to light some of Salt Lake City's streets, businesses, and public buildings. The next twenty years or so was a time of slow progress and faltering steps.
Article in the New Era on Robert Gardiner's candy molds:
Salt Lake Daily Herald, August 6, 1882:
What we know – The first mention of the Deseret Bakery or Robert’s restaurant that I have seen is an advertisement in December 1877. The last mention of the Deseret Bakery or Robert’s restaurant that I have seen is an advertisement on July 9, 1882. Robert did not own the two story building in which the Deseret Bakery was located. The building was owned by a Mr. Hopwood and was immediately north of Asmussen’s jewelry store. The address of the Deseret Bakery and Robert’s restaurant was 58 S. Main in Salt Lake City. On April 29, 1883, a millinery business advertises as being at 58 Main. Sometime between July 9, 1882 and April 29, 1883, Robert Gardiner closed his bakery and restaurant.
The “for sale” ad – The ad is for a two story bakery and restaurant. The location is being leased. That is consistent with Robert’s bakery and restaurant. The first “for sale” ad appeared in May 1882 and the last in October 1882. The last ad for Robert’s restaurant and bakery appeared during this time (between May and October 1882.)
Is the “for sale” ad for Robert’s bakery and restaurant? Without an address, owner name or more information, it can’t be determined for sure, but the time is right. If it is, what is the bad health referred to in the ad? Is that just another way of saying Robert was tired of the stress and hassle of running a bakery and restaurant? Something else? It does raise the question, why did Robert close what apparently was a profitable business? NG
SLC in 1880 when Robert was there busy making candy:Actual photos of Robert's candy making tools:January 15, 1878 Salt Lake City Tribune:
Book of Mormon from Robert to his brother Alfred:Close up:
Salt Lake Herald, 1894-07-14
1899 Deseret News:
May 8, 1900: The Official Gazette of the United States
Patent Office:
March 19, 1902, Salt Lake Telegram:
Robert's Timeline: About ten years ago I decided to do a timeline on Robert Gardiner’s life. I thought it might take me a couple of weeks, but I am still working on it. (There was more information out there than I thought.) Over those years I have looked at a lot of old newspapers and I noticed that a Robert Gardner was mentioned in quite a few newspaper columns under “Checkers and Chess” or “Checkers”. Sometimes his last name was spelled “Gardiner”, but usually spelled “Gardner”.
Apparently there were certain moves or strategies in the checkers matches that were given names. They are referred to in the newspaper clippings. Some of them were named Dundee and Edinburgh. Of course, our Robert Gardiner was from Scotland so I could see a possible connection there. I noticed one was named “Old 14th”, and Robert had lived in the 14th Ward for a time. But I figured that there could be a Robert Gardner, unrelated to our Robert Gardiner, that played checkers in Salt Lake City. So I put the clippings in a potential connection file. Then one day one of the newspapers added a middle initial to Robert Gardner’s name. Since our Robert Gardiner did not have a middle name that was enough for me to toss all of the clippings on checkers. Now I wish I hadn’t done that.
Last weekend I came across another clipping on checkers that mentioned Robert Gardner. It also mentioned that some friends of his from Green River were in town. Since Robert Gardiner had been on a survey on the Green River that caught my attention, but I still wasn’t willing to conclude that the Robert Gardner mentioned was our Robert Gardiner. But I am now after coming across the attached article.
The information that I wanted to look up and that I mentioned in my last email was when Margaret Stewart Gardiner broke her leg. I was able to do that last night. According to H.W. Cushing’s journal, Margaret slipped and fell on January 31, 1916 and broke her leg just above her ankle. Attached is a clipping from the Salt Lake Telegram dated March 19, 1916 that refers to Robert Gardner dropping out of a state checkers tournament because his wife had recently broke her leg, keeping Robert at home.
I realize that there may have been another Robert Gardner in Salt Lake City at this time that played checkers. The references to Dundee, Edinburgh, and Old 14th could just be coincidences, and another Robert Gardner could also have friends from Green River. But the likelihood that the wives of both Robert Gardners would break their legs at about the same time is just getting too unlikely for me. So my conclusion is that the Robert Gardner/Gardiner that is mentioned in the newspapers as playing checkers is our Robert Gardiner. I think that the one clipping that gave a middle initial for Robert Gardner was a misprint, just like they misspelled his last name most of the time.
If Robert Gardiner’s descendants have a reunion sometime, maybe a checkers tournament would be in order to see who in the family inherited the “checkers gene.” I am usually pretty conservative on making conclusions, but if you think I am off here please let me know. Thanks, A GGSon
Where did Robert and Margaret go to church? Clarence: "The first home of Robert and Margaret Gardiner in Salt Lake City was a dugout on the side of a hill. Mr. Gardiner immediately began to set up in his trade of confectioner, and by thrift and ceaseless endeavor was soon able to build a fine two-story home in the 14th Ward (Second Avenue and R Street) where some of the older children of the family of ten were born. After acquiring a substantial fortune for those times, the family moved to a farm about six miles west of the city where the other family members were born. (Brighton Ward) In June of 1894 the family again moved into the 14th Ward, and in the later part of 1902 they moved into the 11th Ward at 1243 Alameda Avenue which continued to be the family home until the children married and moved away."
14th Ward exterior:
14th Ward interior:
14th Ward interior:
11th Ward:
Brighton Ward:
During the 1800's in Sacrament Meeting everyone who knew Joseph Smith would bear their testimonies first. Can you picture Margaret and Robert in these meeting houses, with pictures of Brigham Young in front, listening to those who knew Joseph Smith personally? There's a picture. Kent
Late in life Robert lived in this home at 1247 Alameda Avenue, SLC, UT.At the time Robert Gardiner was living at the rear of 1243 Alameda, he was a widower. The only reason why he was living at the rear is because Charles Stewart Gardiner and his family were living in the main part of the house. I also think that he had a good marriage (at least from his point of view), although Robert's business ventures took him away from home quite abit. Clarence said that after Margaret Stewart Gardiner died Robert just wasn't the same because he missed Margaret so much. NG
Hi everyone, Attached is a photograph of Robert Gardiner, his son-in-law, William R. Gedge, and one of his great grandsons, Robert Layton, taken in 1926, the year before Robert Gardiner passed away. N
Finding Robert and Margaret's grave marker:
Below:See the driveway next to the chapel. Walk directly across 4th avenue. See how there is a bush in the middle of the first section. I believe they are next to that bush. If you walk west you will find quite a few famous LDS pioneers besides the pioneers we love. Kent
Hi everyone, Attached is a newspaper clipping from the Salt Lake Tribune dated April 5, 1889 that discusses the Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company. Among other things it refers to a statement signed by Robert Gardiner and the other directors of the Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company that was submitted to the President and Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. Also, the statement indicates that The Salt Lake, Nevada and California Railway Company is owned by the directors of the Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company and that The Salt Lake, Nevada and California Railway Company will be consolidated with the Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company as soon as the legal requirements can be fulfilled. The clipping contains alot of information, but I think it has been the hardest one for me to read so far. Nathan
Hi Kent, At the time Robert Gardiner was living at the rear of 1243 Alameda, he was a widower. I think the only reason why he was living at the rear is because Charles Stewart Gardiner and his family were living in the main part of the house. I also think that he had a good marriage (at least from his point of view), although Robert's business ventures took him away from home quite abit. Clarence said that after Margaret Stewart Gardiner died Robert just wasn't the same because he missed Margaret so much. If you could send me copies of your pictures of 1243 Alameda that would be very cool. I would really appreciate it. N
Hi Kent, ZCMI apparently was established in 1868. I am pretty sure there were bakers and confectioners in Salt Lake City during the 1850's. Robert arrived in 1868. The statement regarding ZCMI may be correct, especially if Robert was the only one selling toy candy. I haven't read it, but I admit that I haven't read all the histories either. Robert certainly sold bakery items, it may be that he sold other foods as well. I don't know, but I don't think I would characterize his business as a restaurant rather than a bakery (need to look at the information). I will have to check out the headstone issue. I am not sure what you are referring to. N
If you were wondering why the draft timeline from 1900 to 1927 for Robert Gardiner that I sent you doesn't say much about candymaking, the information below from Gary Layton may help explain it. If you want to learn more, try googling "J.G. McDonald Chocolate". Nathan
"I can remember my mother saying that the candy business had done well until McDonalds Chocolate's came in, and then [Robert Gardiner] had been unable to compete. McDonald's Chocolate's was difficult to learn about on the net due to a certain hamburger place, but I finally found: "The factory was built in 1901, the J. G. McDonald Chocolate factory was one of Salt Lake City Utah's premier confection businesses. By 1978, however, after decades of productivity, the factory was closed and the building was used as a warehouse."
Hi everyone, Attached is a newspaper clipping from The Salt Lake Tribune dated December 1, 1890 that refers to The Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company. Mr. Fulton, Mr. Bates and Mr. Bacon were directors of The Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company after it consolidated with the Salt Lake, Nevada and California Railway Company. Robert Gardiner was also a director. Mr. Fulton was president of the company at the time of consolidation. However, sometime between March 1890 and the fall of 1890 that changed. In April there were notices of shares being sold for past due assessments. It may have occurred at that time. In any event going forward The Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company is seldom referred to in the newspapers. Instead the papers refer to The Deep Creek Road and Mr. Bacon, a Salt Lake City banker, is referred to as the owner or proponent of that road. (The Deep Creek Road is the same road that the Salt Lake, Nevada and California Railway Company was going to build.) It may be that Mr. Bacon bought most or all of the shares of The Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company at public auction or he may have just been elected as president of that company. I don't know at this point. In any event I have not copied the numerous articles on the Deep Creek Railroad because I don't know if Robert Gardiner still had any interest in it. Nevertheless I will continue to copy articles that refer to The Wyoming, Salt Lake and California Railway Company with the hope that I can fine out more information. N
Hi everyone, Attached is the information Gary Layton found on Rock Creek and "Wanroad's". I appreciate Gary's work on this. It was very helpful. I think Gary found the correct spelling for "Wanroad" and I believe he located the Rock Creek referred to on the back of the photo. I think the location of Rock Creek, about 50 miles north of Price, Utah, could be verified by going to Rock Creek and comparing the mountains in the picture with the mountains around Rock Creek. Based upon Gary's research I believe Wanrhodes is the correct spelling. As stated below Wanrhodes was an American Indian who moved his livestock to the Duchesne area in the winter. Also, it turns out, Rock Creek is in the Duchesne area and partly on the Unitah and Ouray Indian Reservation.
While it is very plausible that Robert Gardiner road from Rock Creek to Wanrhodes Canyon near Spanish Fork and back, it is hard for me to come up with a reason why he would be doing that. Also, as I read the back of the photo it appears to me that it is saying the photo was taken 1/2 mile from Wanroad's on Rock Creek. It could very well be that the Wanrhodes, an American Indian, had a ranch or home on or near the Indian Reservation and the photo was taken 1/2 mile from his place on Rock Creek. It might be possible to verify this by looking at the land records for the area. Of course, that doesn't answer the question where Robert Gardiner road for 65 miles. However, it might have been Price, Utah since Price is about 50 miles away as the crow flies. Based upon what I know about Robert Gardiner my guess is that he was on a prospecting trip or with a surveying party when this photo was taken. It is easier for me to imagine him riding to Price and back to file a mining claim rather than riding to an area of summer pasture and then back again. Just some ideas for further research . . . If anyone has more information, please share it. (By the way, I hate to think what it would be like to ride 65 miles one way. Never mind riding back the same distance.) N
Hi everyone, Attached is a newspaper clipping from The Deseret News dated October 8, 1873 that mentions Robert Gardiner. (Look under "A Powerful Argument".) Most of the newspaper clippings that I have sent out I have had for awhile, but I just send them as I get the time to organize them. This article I was about to throw away because I wasn't sure it was our Robert Gardiner. I did not realize that our Robert Gardiner lived on the north bench in Salt Lake City. However, a couple of weeks ago I saw in the Church News an article on the anniversary of the Salt Lake City 20th Ward. I knew that Robert Gardiner had lived in the 20th Ward prior to 1877 so I read the article. The following quotes caught my eye, "the Salt Lake Twentieth Ward was sliced off from the Eighteenth Ward and created on a sagebrush-covered hill on the city's north slope" and "Twentieth Ward boundaries were simply from "A" Street east, and from South Temple Street north." Base upon that article and a Salt Lake City gazetteer for 1874 I am confident that the article refers to our Robert Gardiner. N
Hi everyone, Attached is a copy of a document prepared by Robert Gardiner. I like how he clarifies how his name should be spelled. N
Hi everyone, Attached is a newspaper clipping from The Deseret News dated June 27, 1877 that refers to Robert Gardiner. Look under "Circulating Magazine". When I read the clipping I could envision it referring to our Robert Gardiner. Because Robert had such diverse interests such as confectionery, railroad investments, invention of copper ore leaching process, mining, etc.I envision Robert as a thinker. He also seems to have been a fairly articulate writer based upon the few things that I have seen of his that he wrote. However, without more corroborating evidence I was about to throw the clipping away.
Before throwing it away I decided to do a Google search for the names of the other individuals in the article. A Google search for "A.N. McFarlane" brought up several hits including one in the BYU Library. Being in Utah I thought this might be a likely choice. It turns out it was a journal for Andrew Ferguson, who was a missionary in Scotland. That journal mentions James Gardiner, Robert's father, as well as A.N. McFarlane. In my next email I will hopefully provide you with a link to the journal as well as more information on why I feel comfortable that the Robert Gardiner referred to in the attached newspaper clippling is our Robert Gardiner. N
June 27, 1877 Deseret News:
Hi everyone, Attached are two clippings from the Salt Lake Tribune. The one dated September 30, 1897 is just for background information. The one dated October 2, 1897 refers to Robert Gardiner. At first I wasn't sure if "Robert Gardner" was our "Robert Gardiner", but then I noticed that the voting place for precinct 22 was at 242 West 1st South in Salt Lake City. Clarence wrote that Robert Gardiner moved to 1st West and 1st South from Brighton in 1894, the 1894-1895 Salt Lake City directory lists Robert Gardiner as living at 221 West 1st South, and the 1897 Salt Lake City directory lists Robert Gardiner living at 5 Aikens Court. I am not sure if 5 Aikens Court was just a name change for 221 West 1st South, but if not they were very close. (Another research project.) Another item to note is that Robert Gardiner apparently changed political parties (from Democrat to Republican). I noticed in one of the papers that Emmeline Wells was a Republican. (I believe that Republicans were generally for women's suffrage at that time while Democrats were against it.) Clarence mentions that Margaret Gardiner was one of "Emmeline's girls." I don't know if that means Margaret was a close friend to Emmeline Wells or just a supporter of women's suffrage. But in any event that may be why Robert Gardiner changed parties (just speculation on my part). N
Hi everyone, Attached is a clipping from the Deseret Evening News dated December 18, 1909 that refers to the Pixton, Teasdale, Gardner store (first paragraph). Apparently this store was going to be torn down to make way for the new Kearns building. I believe the Gardner referred to is J. P. Gardner (no relation), a clothier and businessman. However, in a newspaper article that I sent out some time ago (attached) it refers to Robert Gardiner as holding "out at the back of S.P. Teasdel's old store". This would seem to corroborate Clarence Gardiner's brief history. According to Clarence LeRoy Gardiner, when Clarence LeRoy Gardiner was born Robert Gardiner and his family were “living in a home immediately back of where the Kearns Building now stands on Main Street, between 1st and 2nd South” in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to Clarence LeRoy Gardiner, it was near this home that Robert Gardiner had established his candy factory. N
October 22, 2009
Dear Mr. Gardiner,
Thank you for your enquiry. We should be able to make photocopies of MS
17/9/20/2,4 & 6 at a cost of £5.06. MS 17/9/20/1 is just an envelope,
while MS 17/9/20/3 and MS 17/9/20/5 are copies of 4 and 6. Unfortunately
the book KLoc 373.413 1 A 172 is too fragile to copy. To o order copies
please complete the attached form and return it together with a cheque
(payable in £ sterling) made payable to the University of Dundee to:
Photocopying Orders
Archive, Records Management, and Museum Services
Tower Building
University of Dundee,
Nethergate,
Dundee
Scotland
United Kingdom
DD1 4HN
Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Baxter
Hi Kent
Thank you for your enquiry about the founder of Morgan Academy, Dundee. I have passed your enquiry to two colleagues. Stuart Allan is a former Chairman of Morgan Academy Former Pupils' Association and is an authority on the legal issues which had to be overcome to carry out the wishes of John Morgan. Iain Flett is the City Archivist in Dundee and is an amazing source of information. I am sure they will be able to help you.
With every good wish
Regards
David
October 26, 2009
Dear Mr Gardiner
The City Registrar runs a family search service and I copy this to him to ask if he can help you in any way.
I also "bcc" it to the Morgan FP Association.
Yours sincerely
Iain Flett
Hi Kent, Thanks for the information on the PEF. Do you know if they paid it back? I am still doing research on James Brown, but it looks like he is the right one. Both Robert Gardiner and James Brown were in the Aberdeen Branch at the same time. The censuses list James Brown as a confectioner and pastry chef. The 1861 Scottish census lists Robert as a pastry cook apprentice. So far it is just circumstantial, but it seems unlikely that Robert would apprentice with another James Brown when there was one in his branch who was a confectioner, pastry chef, etc. N
January 8, 2010
Hi everyone, Based upon a few emails I have received I can tell that I didn’t explain clearly why I think the James Brown that emigrated to Salt Lake City in 1864 and that I have sent information on recently is the same James Brown that Robert Gardiner apprenticed with in Scotland. The James Brown that emigrated to Salt Lake City from Scotland in 1864 was in the Aberdeen Branch with Robert Gardiner in the early 1850’s. (My impression is that it was hard to get an apprenticeship in Scotland in the 1850’s and 1860’s; good jobs were likely scarce. But the church connection would explain how Robert was able to secure one.)
According to the 1851 and 1861 Scotland Censuses James Brown was a Confectioner/Pastry Chef, if my memory is correct. Robert Gardiner is listed as a Pastry Cook apprentice in the 1861 Census, again if my memory is correct. I am still trying to tie down the connection some more. But it seems unlikely that Robert Gardiner would have known another James Brown that also was a confectioner/pastry chef to apprentice with, although it is possible. Of course, that would mean that Robert Gardiner would have worked with someone else or did something else between 1864 and 1868.
I would also like to find out more about the “Queens Bakery” as well. I don’t know if James Brown ever made a cake for Queen Victoria, but he apparently had the talent to do so. N