Abraham B. Gardner


Abraham Brookins Gardner was a Vermont attorney and businessman who served as Lieutenant Governor for two one-year terms.

Early life and business career

Abraham Brookins Gardner was born in Pownal, Vermont, on September 2, 1819. He was the son of David and Eunice Gardner. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Union College in 1842, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Gardner then studied law and became an attorney and business owner in Bennington, Vermont, including serving as President of the Eagle Square Manufacturing Company and the Bennington and Rutland Railroad.

Political career

A Republican, he was Bennington County Register of Probate from 1848 to 1857, State's Attorney from 1855 to 1857, and Vermont's Banking Commissioner from 1859 to 1860.
From 1860 to 1865 Gardner served in the Vermont House of Representatives, and he was Speaker from 1863 to 1865.
He was Lieutenant Governor from 1865 to 1867, and also served as a member of the Republican National Committee.

Later life

Gardner served in the Vermont Senate from 1870 to 1872, and in 1872 was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor as the fusion candidate of Democrats and Liberal Republican backers of Horace Greeley for President. Later in the 1870s he served as a member of the Bennington Battle Monument Commission.

Death and burial

Gardner died in Bennington on November 23, 1881. He was buried in Old Bennington Cemetery.

Other

His first name sometimes appears in records as Abram and his middle name is sometimes written as "Brooks" or "Brookings". Several of Gardner's relatives shared the Abraham B. Gardner name, including one who lived from January 6, 1858, to January 2, 1914, and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.