The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-08-10
PROMINENT Rec
HEIGHTS MAN DEAD
frank Z. Gardner, Pioneer Merchant,
Dies Suddenly Friday

~ ."
At the age Of Sc years Frank e.
Bardner, Rec Heights leading bust
ness man, pioneer merchant and farm
er, was suddenly called from a busy
life Of endeavor, seemingly with sew
eral years OF usefulness remaining.
But such is the will of a Divine Prov
idence that we know not of.
Frank Gardner was a sterling char
acter OF the pioneer days. a whole
souled man among men of like nature,
courageous, determined to overcome
obstacles. He was by common con-
sent selected for leadership by his
west side neighbors, and In the Ian
guage Of the street che played the
game fair" He cared little for public
honors for self, but often gave OF his
energy and talents to help a friend.
Besides many local honors and public
labors, his party called him to serve
on two occasions, once as its nom
inee for Supt. OF Schools, and later
as its successful candidate for two
terms in the state legislature.
But could he have known the uni
versal regret Of his friends at his
passing to the great beyond he would
have treasured such a memory above
any other earthly honor. Many Of the
remaining pioneers of the county
gathered at his home town Tuesday to
pay their last tribute OF respect to a
man whom they regarded as a brother
and who had performed his duties and
fulfilled his obligations to his day and
generation with greater credit and
distinction than many of us can hope
to enjoy.
He was laid to rest in the handsome
new cemetery just east of town, which
he was SO largely instrumental in
creating. II is located upon a gentle
raise of land just south of the Black
and Yellow Trail, at the foot of the
everlasting hills he loved, surrounded
by rows Of Elm trees that future gen
erations will see as a stately border
to his home of their dead. Through
mis- wisdom and business sasaCity a
permanent fund endows this cemetery
to keep 1t and preserve II as the one
loved community spot where all meet
in common sorrow regardless of
earthly distinctions of creed or class.
OBITUARY
Frank Riley Gardner was born at
New Auburn, Ohio, May 8, 1856, NOV
ing to Black Hawk County, Iowa, with
his parents at the age of five years,
where he grew to manhood. He re-
ceived his education in the public
schools Of Iowa, graduating from the
Iowa State Normal School at Cedar
Falls in the class Of 1882.
+. After teaching several years I'm Iowa
he and his brother, William, came to
South Dakota, eventually locating in
Spring Hills Township in Hand Coun-
ty, where they engaged in farming.
At this period he served as principal
of the Schools of Rec Heights, and
later filled the same position for sew
eraf terms. In 1885 he was united In
marriage with Kate M. Wetherell, of
GAINESVILLE, Iowa, bringing her to the
home in Spring Hills Township. Four
children were born to them there,
three of whom attained to manhood
and womanhood.
In 1893 still in partnership with his
brother, Will, they bought the general
store in Rec Heights which they oper-
ated under the firm name of Gardner
Brothers until 1908. AS the Rec Mer-
camille Company, the business has
been continued, and in 1t both broth
ers were active till the date of their
deaths.
In 1909 Frank Gardner was elected
from Hand County, a member of the
House of Representatives and was
reelected in 1911. During two terms
he was an especially active and ag-
gressive member and made a host of
friends about the state, many of whom
still speak with credit of his work in
the Legislature. During his second
term he was -honored with the Chair
manship of the House Committee on
Education, one of the three most i'm
portant House Committees. During
these years and up till the death of
Mrs. Gardner In 1916 both he and his
wife were prominent in the life Of this
community in religious, social and
business activities. The experience in
the Legislature, supplemented by his
reading which was intensive and COW
cred a wide range of subjects, served
as a broadening influence in his life
and till his death he retained a keen
and active interest in, and was well
informed of the larger affairs of State
and Nation.
In August, 1921 he was united in
marriage to Nettie Shearer of Rec
Heights, who, with two sons, Charlee
and Hugh Gardner, of Rec Heights. a
daughter. Margaret, of Chicago, two
brothers, Leroy Gardner, Of LaPorte
City, la. and Newman Gardner, of
Phoenix, Ariz., and a sister. Mrs. Bird
Rodeman. of Hood River, Oregon, sur
vive him.
He died quietly at his home in Rec
Heights the afternoon Of August 3rd.