John A. Gardner (1809-1892)

Colonel John A. Gardner was born in Robertson County, Tennessee in 1809. He was reared and educated in Robertson County and resided there with his parents until the age of seventeen. In 1826, he came to Weakley County but soon moved to Paris, Tennessee. While in Paris he established a weekly newspaper called "The West Tennessean", which he edited for only a year. He then sold out and returned to Dresden and began to study law. In 1829, he was admitted to the bar and started practicing law in Dresden. Almost a decade later in 1838, he again tried his hand at editing a newspaper. The paper was called the "Jacksonian" but he gave up on the business only after a few months. In 1841, he was elected to the State Senate and would serve six years before attempting to run for the United States Congress in 1847. By 1852 he organized the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad Company and later served as its president for four years. Following the Civil War he practiced law and continued to mingle in politics while he resided on his farm at Gardner Station. In 1870, he was appointed a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He elected to the State Legislature in 1878-1879. Colonel Gardner died on January 5, 1892 at the age of 83.
Return to previous page.