Biographical Sketch of

Gardner Green

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 814 - 815 


Gardner Green is a resident of Ripon, but was one of the earliest settlers of Marquette County and his business 
interests all lie in that and Green Lake County.  He is a real-estate dealer but in former years was connected 
with other business enterprises and by his energy and activity has done much for the upbuilding of these counties.  
He was born in New Hampshire, on the 14th of February, 1824, and is a son of David and Mary (Tuttle) Green.  On 
both sides the ancestry can be traced back to the early Colonial days.  Two centuries ago a Mr. Green, who was a 
descendant of the Pilgrim Fathers, settled on Gardner's Island near the city of New York.  Becoming acquainted 
with the daughter of the gentleman who owned the Island, he wooed and won the lady and shortly afterward removed 
with his bride to Boston.  He was a typical Puritan entertaining their narrow ideas as well as their lofty 
principles and was a firm believer in witchcraft.  Gardner Green, one of his descendants, though belonging 
to a later generation, was one of the merchant princes of Boston and for him our subject was named.
 
On the maternal side the family also dates its residence in America back to the early history of our country.  
The great-grandfather of our subject fought for independence throughout the entire struggle of the Colonies 
during the oppression of the mother country.  He left his home and family to strike a blow in the cause of 
freedom and endured all the hardships and trials incident to army life.  At the close of the war he was paid 
in Continental money, and as it was worthless he papered the walls of his bedroom with that currency, it there 
remaining for forty years as a memento of the service he rendered his native land.
 
David Green, father of Gardner, was a farmer by occupation and followed that business during the greater part 
of his life, but in connection with that business he also engaged in lumbering and iron-making while a resident 
of the East.  He came to Marquette County in 1853 and purchased land, which he operated through tenants, while 
he made his home in the village, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-seven years.  He was buried in the 
cemetery adjoining Marquette and two years later his wife was laid by the side of her husband.  Their family 
numbered four children, of whom Gardner is the eldest.  David M., the second, is a resident of Oshkosh; Cynthia 
died in Wilkesbarre, Pa.; and Jessie T. resides in Ellis Park, Chicago.  In the common schools of his native 
State Gardner Green acquired his education and under the parental roof he was reared to manhood, remaining with 
his parents until twenty-four years of age.  In 1848 he determined to seek his fortune in the West, believing 
that it furnished better opportunities for young men than the older and more densely populated States of the East.  
In company with his brother, David, he boarded a lake steamer at Buffalo, N. Y., and on arriving at Milwaukee came 
direct to Marquette County, with the business interests of which he has since been closely identified.  Shortly 
after his arrival he built a warehouse, 40x60 feet, with the intention of handling all the wheat raised in the 
county.  His idea was to ship by water down Fox River to Green Bay and thence to Buffalo.  For this purpose he 
built a steamboat, but, failing to get a water way, he disposed of the boat.  He and his brother, who was his 
partner in the business, then built small boats and dealt in produce and lumber, hauling freight by barges to 
Oshkosh, whence they shipped by way of the Northwestern Railroad to Chicago and on to the East.  They did a 
profitable business in this line for thirty years, during which time Mr. Green made trips up and down the river 
almost daily.  Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, while industry and energy are numbered 
among his chief characteristics.  Hard working and industrious, he would often return home worn out with the 
day's labor.  He made Princeton his home for about thirty-five years, but in 1879, after selling out his interest 
in the business, he removed to Ripon, where he is now residing.  He has laid aside all business cares to a great 
extent, devoting his time only to his real estate interests.  He owns thirteen houses and lots and four store 
buildings.
 
Mr. Green has found an able helpmate in his wife, who was formerly Miss Mary A. Thompson.  Their wedding was 
celebrated in May, 1856, more than a third of a century having passed since they started out on life's journey 
together.
 
Great changes have taken place since Mr. Green left his home in the East and cast his lot with the pioneer settlers 
of Marquette County.  The Indians were far more numerous in this region than the white people, but they gave very 
little trouble to their pale faced neighbors.  They subsisted mainly on fish, game and wild rice and their wigwams 
were scattered along the banks of the Fox River.  The now flourishing town of Princeton contained, at the time of 
the arrival of Mr. Green, but one building, but several others were in course of erection.  The work of progress 
and advancement has ever found in our subject a firm friend and liberal supporter.  He has given of his means for 
the advancement of public enterprises and the promotion of the best interests of the community, and is regarded as 
one of the best citizens of Marquette or Green Lake Counties.
 





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