BENJAMIN GARDNER, Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Gardner was born in Factorville, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, on July 17, 1836, being the son of Wilbur Gardner, a carpenter, and afterwards merchant of that place. After leaving school the young man clerked in his father's store until 1856, and then began his railroad career as a flagman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. After a year he was advanced to brakeman, in which capacity he served until 1858, when he was transferred to firing. He ran between Great Bend, Pennsylvania, and Hamton Junction, New Jersey, until 1860, when he was promoted to engineer. After running two years he resigned in August, 1862, and enlisted in Company I, l32d Pennsylvania Volunteers, being mustered out of service in May, 1863. He returned to the D., L. & W. and ran until April, 1864, when he left to run an engine for the Government in Virginia. In August, 1864, he left the service of the Government and accepted an engine on the Philadelphia & Reading, but after two months he went to the D., L. & W., where he remained until April 1, 1865, when he resigned and entered the employ of the Erie, where he has remained continuously for the past thirty years, now having a passenger run between Port Jervis and Honesdale.

Mr. Gardner was married in October, 1860, to Miss Sarah E. Cooper, daughter of Milton Cooper, a merchant tailor of Nicholson, Pennsylvania. Six children have been born to them, three of whom survive; Wesley M., aged 31, is a bookkeeper; Paul W., 26, is private secretary to the Superintendent of the D. & H. Canal Company; Benjamin C., aged 24, resides at home; Katie died at the age of 15, Daniel at 6, and James in infancy. Mr. Gardner owns a fine home in Honesdale, and belongs to Lodge No. 54 of Port Jervis and the Knights of Honor of Honesdale.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the Oct. 27, 1900 issue of The New York Times:
Port Jervis, NY, Oct. 26 (1900) -- Engineer Benjamin Gardner of this place reported that soon after his regular passenger train over the Honesdale Branch of the Erie left the station at Glen Eyre, PA at about 7 o'clock last evening, his engine lurched and threw him against the boiler.

There were no marks to be found on the locomotive later, and Gardner supposed that the lurch was caused by some slight inequality of the track. Early this morning Trackwalker J. Garrity discovered a large black bear in the woods near the tracks, west of Glen Eyre.

The animal had evidently been badly wounded, and was dispatched by Garrity and subsequently brought to Glen Eyre on a hand-car. The animal measured (missing text) from tip to tip and weighed over 360 pounds. One side of the body was badly crushed, and it had evidently been struck a glancing blow by Gardner's engine.

From the November, 1909 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine (Hornell News):
Engineer and Mrs. Benjamin Gardner of Honesdale celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Oct. 15 (1909). Mr. Gardner was with the Erie from 1865 up to the time of his retirement under the (70 year) age limit rule two years ago.

From the December, 1909 issue of the Locomotive Engineers' Monthly Journal, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, P. 1049-1050:
Golden Wedding
Brother Benjamin Gardner, who was married to his estimable wife on October 15, 1859, and joined Div. 54 in 1865, proving true to both vows, recently held their golden wedding in Honesdale, Pa., where they now reside, of which the Wayne (Pa.) Independent says:

On Friday, October 15, 1909, the bride and groom of 50 years ago were "at home" to friends, about 250 of who called to extend their congratulations to this worthy couple. It was a very informal affair. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner not wishing to slight any of their numerous friends by omitting to invite them, had issued no personal Invitations, but had made known through the local papers that they would be pleased to greet all of them on the afternoon and evening of the golden anniversary.

Their pleasant home at corner of East and Fourteenth streets was tastefully decorated with clematis, amflax and cut flowers. In the dining room, where the guests were served to delicious refreshments the color scheme was gold and white, beautiful large yellow chrysanthemums forming the center piece and mantel decorations.

A pleasing feature of the gathering was the presence of the other members of the wedding party of long ago: A.J. Gardner of Factoryville, best man; the bridesmaid, now Mrs. A.J. Gilmore of Factoryville, and the flower girls, Mrs. Joseph Houck of Pittston, and Mrs. Clara Steinbeck of Newark, N.J. They received with Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, who were also assisted by Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Gardner of Scranton, Mrs. E.J. Jordan of Tunkhannock. and Rev. and Mrs. James P. Ware of Drifton. Others present from out of town were the two grandchildren. Perry Deen Gardner and Sarah M. Gardner of Scranton; Mrs. Milo Gardner of Carbondale; Mrs. Charles Garrison of South Orange, N.J.; Mrs. A.G. Perham and Mrs. Ellsworth Ames of Waymart.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were the recipients of many handsome gifts, an evidence of the high regard in which they are held by their many friends. There were gold coins, gold decorated glass, candelabra, linen and cut-glass. The Parish Aid Society, of which Mrs. Gardner had been an officer, presented her with an exquisite amethyst brooch, while the G.A.R. remembered her with a beautiful bracelet and Mr. Gardner with gold cuff buttons and scarf pin.

Directly after their marriage in 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner began housekeeping in Scranton, where he was employed as a locomotive engineer by the D.L.& W. railroad company. On Aug. 15, 1862, he enlisted in Co. I, 132nd Pa. Vol., and was mustered out May 24,1863 as first lieutenant. He was immediately employed by the Government as an engineer and located at Washington, D.C. In 1865 he became an Erie engineer, running between Port Jervis and Susquehanna, and in 1871 was given the passenger train from Honesdale to Lackawaxen. They then came to our "Maple City" and Mr. Gardner continued to govern the throttle of the engine that pulled the Erie's passenger train until two yean ago when he was retired on the age limit. He was, however, retained in the company's employ in another capacity and goes on duty regularly. He and his wife are exceedingly active and still youthful in heart and appearance.

During their long residence at Honesdale, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have made many friends by their cordial and charitable dispositions and sterling worth. They are both members of Grace Episcopal Church. Their two sons, Wesley M. and Paul W. Gardner, hold responsible positions in the city of Scranton. The former is president and treasurer of the Finch Manufacturing Company, and the latter is bookkeeper with the Eureka Specialty Printery Company.