Legislator Details


Ransom Gardner
AKA:
Number of sessions served 1
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 39

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 1/1/1813
City: Fort Ann, NY
County:
Country:
 
Death
Date: 6/9/1876
City: Kalamazoo, MI
County: Kalamazoo County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:

Marital Information:
married Olivia A. Smith in 1839; children: Georgina, Ella [or Elvira], Fanny, Emma, Marley

Number of Children: 6

Background

Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: merchant, railroad contractor
Race:

Education:

Biographical Sketch:
He came to Jonesville, Mich., in 1837, and engaged In mercantile business. His first connection with railroads was the building of the station house at Jonesville, the next a contract to grade the Michigan Southern Railroad to Chi- cago. This was followed by track laying on the same road. He also built the Detroit & Toledo branch of the Lake Shore road; the road from Jackson to Adrian; the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan, and several others. He was em- phatically a leader and projector in the early days of railroad building. He was first a Whig and then a Republican. He resided at Jonesville until 1866 [the 1860 Census places him in Detroit], when he became a resident of Kalamazoo.

Notable Facts:

Sessions Served:

Seventeenth Legislature, 1853-1854
Chamber: Senate
Party: Whig
Committees Served On: Finance
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Jonesville
County of Residence Hillsdale
District: 15
District Description:

Date Elected: 11/2/1852
Date Sworn In: 1/5/1853
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes:

Bibliography:

MIBiog 1:319; USCen 1850, 1860; MIDeath 1867-97
View Bibliographical Sources