On This Day in Family History - March 20

 Benjamin Franklin Gard married Elizabeth Kitchen 20 March 1855.

Benjamin Franklin Gard was my great-great-great-great-uncle.

His brother Justus Gard was my great-great-great-great-grandfather.

Justus Gard was the father of Adaline Lucretia Gard.

Adaline Lucretia Gard married Asa Gibson, and so formed the connection between the Gard and Gibson families.

Photo: Adaline Lucretia Gard, Asa Gibson

Adaline and Asa were the parents of my great-grandmother Lora Gibson.

Lora Gibson married Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr., and so formed the connection between the Gibson and Burford families.

Photo: Lora Gibson and Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr.

The Gibson and Gard families are the part of the family tree from which my mother was able to trace our lineage back to the Revolutionary War -- to qualify for membership in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). I think I mentioned a few days ago that on the FamilySearch website, the Gibson genealogy actually goes all the way back to Noah. Not only to Noah, but all the way back to Adam! Not only Adam, but one more generation back -- where Adam's father is listed as God!! Well, I'm pretty darn sure that's not all entirely true. Once it got to the first person who was supposedly connected to the Bible, it all went from there pretty much the same way it's documented in the Bible, which was undoubtedly the source they were using for "proof". Our own Gibson and Gard records go back as far as 1539 in England. 

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The earliest Gard I have a picture of is Seth Gard, born in 1775 in New Jersey. 

Photo: Seth Gard

This is the picture that is on his FindAGrave memorial, posted there by a person named Ivan Gard, who I assume is a descendant. It looks like a painted portrait, maybe, and not an actual photograph. And I don't think I've ever seen a picture of a person from the 1700s who had a flat-top haircut. But anyway, supposedly this is Seth Gard, born in 1775.

Here is some information I have about him from our family history --

Seth served as a private in Captain John S. Wallace's mounted Hamilton County, Ohio, militia during the War of 1812. Shortly afterward, he moved to Edwards County in the new Illinois territory. (That area of Edwards County later became Wabash County.) Seth Gard was a man of good character, much respected by his neighbors and often sought out for his good counsel. He first settled in Wabash County in 1814 and was located in Palmyra. He later settled on land secured from the government in Lick Prairie precinct that later became known as Gard's Point. He served as a judge of the early court, and was elected as a representative to both the territorial legislature and the state Constitutional Convention. In 1820 he was elected state senator from Edwards County. He was one of the charter members of the Barney's Prairie Christian Church and served as its first elder. He often preached, even until he was too feeble to stand and would preach from his chair. His home was most likely the farmstead closest to Nye Chapel. Seth Gard donated the land where the church now stands for "the building of any Christian denomination church and a burial ground." He himself was buried there in 1845. The church was not erected until many years later.

The next oldest Gard picture I have is another Seth Gard. This one was born in 1828 in Illinois.

Photo: Seth Gard and his 2nd wife, Eliza Helpman Conklin

Here's what we know about him from our family history --

Seth W. Gard, a pioneer of Denver township, was born in Wabash County, Illinois, August 6, 1829. He is the son of Justus and Anna Oman Gard, eldest of fourteen children and is of Irish-German extraction. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother in the Empire State. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Gard were born in German and came to America previous to the Revolution. Justus Gard came with his parent to the territory that now composes the State of Illinois, when seven years of age. They were among the first settlers of Illinois, having settled there in 1814. The father died in Wabash County in 1870, and the mother in 1854. In June 1852, the subject came to Richland County, Illinois, and entered 160 acres of land, upon a part of which his present residence now stands. He came to Denver Township with only 85 cents in money, and now owns 380 acres of good land, 220 acres of which are improved. He is one of the best farmers and stock growers in the county. Mr. Gard's marriage took place February 6, 1853, to Sarah J. Ulm, of Clay County. To this household were born seven children. Mrs. Gard died April 1, 1870. Our subject was re-married the same year, choosing Eliza J. Helpman Conklin. Mr. Gard was formerly a Whig, but now is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Scott. He has been a Mason since 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Gard are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Gard served as assessor of Denver township for the years 1860 and 1861, and in 1872 was elected Justice of the Peace. He is one of the leading farmers of the township, and the last ten years has marketed about $500 worth of pork. -- Source: an article in "Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois." published in 1884 by F. A. Bettey & Co. in Chicago.