The 1860 United States census showed Francis M. Gardner (age 13) living in Norwich Township, Franklin County, Ohio.
The 1880 United States census showed Francis M. Gardner (age 33, born in Ohio, brick maker) married to Emma J. (age 25) and living in Brown Township, Franklin County, Ohio.
Who Is the Oldest Brickmaker? We have often wondered who is the oldest brickmaker in the United States. We do not mean who is the oldest man, but who is the man who has spent most years in clay working. We have secured the names of a few old-timers, and shall have to depend on our readers to help us out with the names of such of their acquaintances as are veterans in the work, and the number of years they have been engaged in it. Following the list we have prepared to date, of those who have had not less than 14 years’ experience: …F. M. Gardner, Bentonville, Ark., 30 years. (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, January 1900, Volume XII, Number 1, Page 39)
Mr. F. M. Gardner, Bentonville, Ark., will start a brick plant next season at Grove, I. T. (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, January 1900, Volume XII, Number 1, Page 47)
The 1900 United States census showed Francis M. Gardner (age 53, born in Ohio in 1847, brick and tile laborer) married to Mary J. (age 34, born in Ohio) and living in Grove, Indian Territory. Children Carl (age 7, born in Ohio), Paul (age 4, born in Ohio), and Elsie (age 2, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
NEWS FROM THE CYCLONE STATE. Editor "Brick": I came to Pittsburg, Kan., about the last of April, and have found it a very enterprising little city. There are three clay plants here, the Pittsburg Pipe Co., being the one at which I am employed. …Pittsburg, Kan., F. M. Gardner (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, December 1901, Volume XV, Number 6, Page 282)
F. M. Gardner, of Pittsburg, Kan., has just mailed to us a copy of a handsome book advertising the business and beauties of the city of Pittsburg, Kan. There are over 50 illustrations, made from good photographs, and a short discourse upon the industrial facilities of the city. We glean that Pittsburg was incorporated in 1880 with less than a thousand population, and now boasts of 15,000 who enjoy unsurpassed school, church and social advantages. As a railroad, mining and manufacturing center, Pittsburg seems to be worthy of the consideration of the business investor. (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, February 1902, Volume XVI, Number 2, Page 71)
Editor "Brick": - Some time ago I promised to tell you of this part of the Sunflower State in the Verdegris Valley which is some two miles wide with a very rich black soil that is very productive, but would be more so f it was underdrained. I am at work for the V. V. V. Brick Co., formerly of Nevdashea, but which removed its plant here last spring, as there is a bluff 100 ft. high extending along the east side of the valley of the finest brown and blue shale, burning a dark cherry red. The company makes common builders, sidewalk brick and pavers, also curbing and a few drain tile. The capacity is 40,000 per day, but the plant is being enlarged. The machinery was furnished by the American Clayworking Machinery Co., Bucyrus, O. The mill's capacity is 60,000 with two "Eagle" represses. The company is now erecting eight clamp kilns and two down-draft kilns. The plant is ably managed by F. Fussman and Wm. Kimberly of Humboldt. Mr. Fussman is also connected with an oil and gas company which takes most of his time, as he is an experienced pipe layer. Burt Blacklooks after the trade. He also serves as superintendent during Mr. Fussman’s absence. Since coming here I never want to go back to wood or coal. All I wish is that I once more could have a plant of my own, as a drain tile plant would do well here. Also that some of the old Ohio manufacturers could come here and see how Nature has so abundantly provided material, including the gas fuel, for cheap making of all ware used by man. Mr. Kimberly said he thought he had a dollar for you, when I showed him your January number. Wishing "Brick" a prosperous future, I remain, Yours truly, F. M. Gardner, Sycamore, Kansas. (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, April 1903, Volume XVIII, Number 4, Page 190)
The Verdigris Vitrified Brick & Tile Co., Neodesha, Kan. The plant of the Verdigris Valley Brick & Tile Co. is located 4 1/2 miles south of Neodesha, Kan., and 2 1/2 miles north of Sycamore, on the edge of a high bluff, which extends for miles along the Verdigris river from north of Neodesha to south of Coffeyville. Transportation facilities are obtained over the Missouri Pacific R. R. The plant manufactures building brick, sidewalk brick, street paving brick and block, drain tile and hollow block. The plant was erected in the fall of 1892, commencing operations in 1893. Every year has seen fresh improvements and additions. Work is carried on all the year around. F. Keys is the president of the company, and J. W. Bogue, manager and treasurer. F. M. Gardner is the superintendent. About 35 men are employed. (Brick and Clay Record, Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, August 1904, Volume XXI, Number 2, Page 69)
The 1910 United States census showed F. M. Gardner (age 63, born in Ohio, railroad roundhouse) married to Mary J. (age 48, born in Ohio) and living in Billington Precinct, Adams County, Washington. Children Paul C. (age 16, born in Ohio), and Elsie Iona (age 12, born in Minnesota) also lived with the couple.
Page 1123. Letter From An "Old-Timer." There came into our office recently a letter from F. M. Gardner, Bay View, Wash., one of the old-timers in the brick and clay industry. Mr. Gardner was connected with the industry before the days of brick machines, pyrometers, or tunnel kilns. In his letter he brings out some interesting reminiscences of the time when the industry in America was in its infancy. His letter is printed below. "It has been some time since I have addressed a letter to you. In years gone by I gave some details quite frequently but time flies fast and as we grow old, we lose our ambition and do not build air castles as we did when young. We are content to sit and look into the glowing arch and see pictures of bygone days, of the days back in ’63 when we first saw a brick yard. Then we carried the brick three in a mold and we would see how quick we could dump them and make them square, being careful to keep the corners sharp and the molds clean. "Then, some years after, to attend the first tile convention in a small room in Columbus, Ohio, and to hear about machines making tile and brick. To listen to Penfield and J. W. Billings and others. Then we saw the conventions grow from a few to hundreds, heard Eudaly, young Orton and others that were engaged in fathoming the mysteries of clay from bank to finished product.
"Now here I am, seventy-four, still seeing the pictures in the fire and dreaming of days gone by, wondering how many of the old ones still survive the kiln fire on this side of the divide (I hope they are not at it on the other side). "Where is Kenfield and Windsor, who first gave us the news of the clay workers, those good old friends that did me many a good turn. I hope that they have got their reward for the favors they did, not only for me, but to the world at large. - Builders of men. "I will close by saying that Washington has the greatest opportunities and the greatest demand for tile and brick of any state I have been in. They have just begun to drain and they cannot get tile fast enough. Tile plants are about 100 miles apart on good roads. 3-inch tile is selling for $75 per M and other sizes up to 12 inch are selling as high as $360 per M. There are just two big plants in the state, the Denny-Renton Clay & Coal Co., Seattle, and the Washington Brick Co., of Spokane, and there is still room for more. "I am at the Star Brick & Tile Co.’s plant as looker-on. Enclosed is a photograph of a barge of this plant loaded with tile and being towed to Whitby Island some fifty miles across the bay. The load constitutes about 15 to 16 M.
"You may call this letter some reminiscences of an old has-been. I would like to hear from some of the old timers." Mr. Gardner has watched the developments of the industry thru a period of over fifty years and has noted great improvements and big strides toward a bigger plane of activity. If he
Page 1124. should be privileged to live thru the next fifty years he would undoubtedly see developments as great or greater than those achieved during the last half century. In order to hasten these advancements it is necessary for every manufacturer to stay abreast of the times, modernize his plant and introduce modern labor-saving equipment. (Brick and Clay Record, Industrial Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, December 28, 1920, Volume 57, Number 13)
F. M. Gardner died in Everett, Washington, on May 30, 1923.
F. M. Gardner. Funeral services for F. M. Gardner were held from the chapel of Challacombe & Fickel Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. The local order of Odd Fellows had charge of the services, assisted by the Odd Fellows of Tolt, of which order Mr. Gardner was a member. Burial was in Evergreen cemetery. (Everett Daily Herald, May 31, 1923, Page 14)