Merced County Biographies

L. C. GARDNER

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        A progressive business man of Merced is found in L. C. Gardner, more 
familiarly known as "Rube" Gardner, a nickname acquired during his fifteen years 
of active connection with the baseball leagues of our nation. He first engaged 
in professional baseball in 1904, and, with the exception of two years, 
continued with decided success until 1919, when he engaged in business in 
Merced. First he conducted an auto service station at the corner of Sixteenth 
and M Streets for three years, then moved to his new location on Seventeenth and 
M Streets, where he carries a complete line of service supplies and automobile 
tires. He was born in Huntington, Tenn., on November 5, 1883, a son of Daniel 
and Mollie Gardner, farmer folk. The mother is now deceased, while the father is 
still living.
        L. C. Gardner was reared on the home farm in Tennessee and attended 
public school in Huntington; he was also engaged in the grocery business in his 
native state for a time. At the age of twenty-one he took up professional 
baseball and for four years played with the southern league; then he went to 
Panama as United States deputy collector of customs and remained in this 
capacity for two years, when he again took up baseball, coming to the Coast 
League in 1912, and was with the Oakland Club until 1919. His career as a 
baseball player was distinguished by marked ability and he won an enviable 
reputation as a successful player. Mr. Gardner employs the most modern methods 
in the operation of his business, which is growing steadily under his capable 
supervision.
        The marriage of Mr. Gardner united him with Miss Emma Story, a native of 
Savannah, Tenn., and they are the parents of one son, Jack, born at Panama in 
1909. Mr. Gardner is a public-spirited citizen who supports men and measures 
calculated to advance the prosperity of his community. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Elks and the Knights of Pythias; and he belongs to the Merced 
Chamber of Commerce.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 863-864