Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-25

/
He was born in 1850, the son of Mr..
and Mrs. John Gardner, who were res
idents of the town of Union His
| grandfather was born in bingham,
Mass and settled in Union, and later
moved TO Port Huron, Mich. John
Gardner later went West and it was
while in Michigan that Obadiah was
born. lie lived in Michigan until he
Was Z years old when he came back to
Union for the superior school aIvant-
ages. He remained in Union two Years,
attending school. and then at the
age Of II entered the employ of J. a.
| Creighton 6, Co, Thomaston lime burn
ers He learned all parts of the bust
ness, was earnest and faithful in
whatever he did and proved valued
| employee.
He entered the employ OF Charles
Sherer at Rcckland Meadows when
about Is years of age. Mr.. She"er was
! interested in both lime burning and
farming and here Mr. Gardner inprov-
ed his knowledge of farming and later
married Miss Sherer, Who is a very
| charming woman.
! lie gradually branehed into dairy
/ farming and until within a few years
had one Of the most beautiful herds af
thoroughbred Jerseys that could be
/ found anywhere in the State He in
stalled his own water system and with
| q horsepower motor and SPLEEN
did WELD of cream did a most flour
/ listing and successful dairy business.
Mr. Gardner has been identified with
| Grange work for the past p years and
| as lis duties as master Of the State
! Grange demanded his time and atten-
| ton IN increasing proportion hc was
| gradually Obliged to decrease his dairz,
business and has sold out a large poi
ton 81 lis herd although he still r.
! tains sumo choice cattle. He has Il
! large Lay farm upon Dodges' mountain
in Roekland and raises considerable
garden produce. He was also ut one
| time interested in d farming enterprise
in Nova Scotia, but has since aban-
doned his connection with that.
| MIR. Gardner was one of the charter
members and first overseer of Pleasant
Valley Grange nf Rockland. He was
| the second master Of Pleasant Valley
Grange aud has since held that honor
many times. He was eight years
member Of the executive committee of
the State Grange. was first chosen
| master in 1891 and was constantly re-
/ elected until 1907, when he was defeat
| ed by very narrow margin. He has
| twice been elected overseer, the second
officer in rank, in the National Grange.
He also had a strong following for the
| position of National master. but his
! location WAS against him.
The Grange has been a great gamer
| through the labors of Mr. Gardner
| During his mastership the membership
has far more than doubled. having
| increased from 2t,515 in 1897 to 81. OILS in
| 1907. A large number of Oranges have
| acquired their own halls during his
| administration and the Grange has
| come into great prominence as fac
tor in matters OF legislation. A demand
| WAS made at the annual session of the
| Maine state Grange a. Augusta in De-
| ceiabcr. 1910 while Mr. Gardeners can
| didacy for the United States Senate
was pending before the Legislature.
| that a farmer be chosen to represent
| Maine in the National Senate
Mr.. Gardner made his first entry into
! politics at about the same time that
he Joined the Grange, entering the
Rockland city council some - years
|
off Ward : from the city as a separate
| town Of West Roeltland, end the ward
| wished its strongest representative in
the city council. 1t was not until 1908
after he had retired as master of the
| State Grange. that he became a can
didate for Governor. He polled in that
| campaign 66,21S votes. the largest that
his party has ever polled with two ex-
no H. F.r..A
| Harris IF. Plaisted received over 80 00a
eotes, and the second in 1910. Wien
Governor Plaisted received -. 7ga votes
| He contested the Democratic nomina-
tion for Governor with Hon. Frederick
w Plaisted at the Democratic conven-
ton in Augusta in June, 1910, receiving
81 votes to 575 for Plaisted. In the con
test over the United States senator
ship in the 18th Legislature he received
II votes TO s. for Charles r. johnson
of Watervlle and Il for William NJ.
| Pencil of Portland. He WAS appoint
ed chairman of the state Board of AS
SCISSORS a few DAYS after the sena sorial
contest was settled and entered upon
the duties of that position in April Of
the present year
His home life on his Rockland farm
has been particularly pleasant, but,
owing to the duties of his office as
State assessor keeping him so much
of the time in Augusta, he had rented
his farm and leased house in this
| city. which he planned to occupy Oct.
l. He viii probably revise these ar
rangements and make his home at
| Rockland during his term of office as
| United States senator, His family con-
sists of his wife and two children,
| Nina, who has been a successful teach
er in the Rockland public schools and
who was married short time ago to
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