Archibald Gardner

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Archibald Gardner (September 2, 1814 – February 8, 1902), a nineteenth-century pioneer and businessman, who with his knowledge of lumber, and grist mills, helped create communities in Alvinston, Ontario; West Jordan, Utah; and Star Valley, Wyoming.

Archibald's lifetime produced 36 gristmills and lumber mills in Utah, Canada, 5 in Wyoming, and two in Idaho, greatly improving the lives of those in the immediate regions.

Hundreds of miles of canals were also built to allow the transfer of water to the mills' machinery. Archibald was known as a businessman, father, mathematic, millwright, polygamist, husband, and Bishop.

He was elected as a local leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in March 1859 for the next 32 years.

Early life

Archibald was born in Kilsyth, Scotland, on September 2, 1814. Robert Gardner, his father, operated Black Bull Inn Tavern, and Archibald's house was rented at Gamill Mill, where Archibald was born. Robert Gardner and his wife Margaret Calinder had nine children, five of whom survived, William, Mary, Janet, Archibald, and Robert. During the Scottish uprising, Robert Gardner was believed to be a rebel and sentenced to prison. He was later released after no evidence of traitorious activity was found. Robert Gardner immigrated to Upper Canada (near Port Dalhousie) in 1822 with children William and Mary; the majority of the family remained with him the next year. Archibald's first mill was built in 1890 by following his father's footsteps. Archibald went on his own six years ago, relocating to Brooke, Kent County, Canada's Western District, (later named Alvinston). On the east end of Brooke township's sixth concession, he built a gristmill in Alvinston, Ontario. Archibald Gardner's gristmills were "built without nails" as was common to the time. Wooden pins and mortise were substituted. All shafts, bearings, cog wheels, etc. are included in the price list. "Gristmills were often the economic center of a village, from flour to baking bread." The gristmill district was located on a hill facing Alvinston. Gardner's Mill was a mill in the area for many years. In this area, Archibald also built a saw mill to produce shingles.

Archibald Gardner married Margaret Livingston in Brooke on February 18, 1839. In April 1845, Archibald Gardner was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Gardner sold his Alvinston mills at a reduced price and sent his family to the United States due to business pressures and persecution, based on his membership in the LDS Church. After his affairs were in order, Archibald fled to Canada in 1846. He was pursued by the local sheriff and posse, and compelled to cross the St. Clair River by Lake Huron. Archibald, who remained in Canada, survived the icy river, resulting in a miraculous escape to the United States.

Life in the West

Archibald moved to Millcreek after a season in Warm Springs with a failed attempt to build a sawmill. In 1848, the family moved the mill to Mill Creek, where the water flow was higher, just in time for the fall harvest. The family is said to have seen the first timber in the Salt Lake Valley.

Archibald Gardner and his brother Robert designed and started digging a two-and-a-half mile millrace in West Jordan to provide water to their Mills. The canal grew into what is now Taylorsville along the Jordan River. The west side of Salt Lake Valley had no water flow, so settlers had to install irrigation systems to grow food. The construction of its first gristmill built in 1858, the year before Archibald became the bishop of the West Jordan ward, the West Jordan ward. "Gardner Mill" was inspired by a group of small businesses, including blacksmith shops, logging and hauling, woolen and carding mills, a tannery, several stores, a shoe store, and later a broom mill." Archibald also operated 23 mills in Utah, with several of the mills selling its products to Camp Floyd and Fort Douglas in total.

In 1855, the Latter-day Saint Salt Lake Temple foundation was established. However, the foundation's activities were put on hold due to cracks and defects. Brigham Young, the president of the Latter-day Saints, and his advisors knew that the temple would not be able to support the weight of the monument. "Here, I will remain until the Lord tells me what I should do next," President Young said, pointing to Archibald's "Bishop, sit down" who told him what could be done. "The problem has arisen because of the use of too much mortar," Archibald calmly explained. This time, rather than using mortar, have each and every stone in the entire building cut to exact dimensions and place stone upon stone with precise fittings. In this way, cracking, settling, or spreading will be prevented." "You are correct, Brother Gardner," President Brigham Young said. That's my discovery.' The Salt Lake City, LDS temple, which has been in existence for almost 150 years, is still standing. "Because he [Archibald] had spent his life dealing out problems in a pragmatic manner," Clarence Gardner, the son of Archibald Gardner, believes this was a revelation from God. "His previous experiences made him equal to the occasion."

Archibald Gardner was unexpectedly involved in the mining industry in 1863. George B. Ogilvie discovered a "attractive piece of ore" while logging for Archibald Gardner. The ore was found to have traces of silver and was sent to General Patrick Edward Connor at Fort Douglas. On September 17, 1863, Claimants held a meeting and organized the Jordan Silver Mining District. Except for George B. Ogilvie, who was given two shares as the discoverer, each individual (including Archibald Gardner and Patrick Edward Connor) was given one share. Archibald Gardner was elected the first recorder for the district. The West Mountain Mining District was later identified as the Jordan Silver Mining District in the Jordan Valley. It is now known as the Bingham Copper Mine owned by Kennecott.

Archibald became a polygamist in 1849, at Brigham Young's behest. Margaret Livingston wanted to divorce him, but Brigham Young thought it was a sinful thing to do until she met with her. The last of Archibald's 11 wives was unconstitutional, and it occurred after the 1862 Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was in force. Archibald was pursued by federal agents enforcing anti-polygamy legislation following an unbalanced polygamist status after 1882. In 1886, he travelled to California to visit his brother William. Archibald and his brother Robert in southern Utah visited Mexico on their last trip to evading federal agents. In 1889, Archibald built a home in Afton, Wyoming (Star Valley). He built additional mills and lived near and with two wives, Laura Althea Thompson, his fifth wife, and Mary Larson, his 11th wife, and several of his 48 children. Archibald buried Althea in the Gardner family plot when she died in Afton in 1899. Archibald stayed in Utah, building another gristmill in Spanish Fork. Archibald Gardner, 86, was admitted to St. Mark's Hospital for an operation on a strangulated hernia. "I go to solve the great mystery" after the surgery, he was seen to say, "Here I go to solve the mystery." Archibald Gardner died in the early morning of February 8, 1902, and is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

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