Martha Matilda Carpenter Gardner

I have an old studio photograph identified as that of Martha Matilda CARPENTER GARDNER. She is also identified as "Grandma WARDEN'S Mother". The photograph appears to be a photograph of an earlier drawing which was taken by the S. A. Dann Studio in Fleetville, PA. Martha appears to be in her 20's or 30's at the time the original drawing was produced.

Based on limited research and thanks to the assistance of genealogists I was able to gather the following information regarding Martha and her family:

Martha Matilda CARPENTER was b. 25 Feb 1833 in North Abington Township, Lackawanna Co., PA the daughter of Leonard CARPENTER and Waite “Waty” SMITH. Martha was one of 9 children born to this couple including Martha Matilda; Orville or Orvilla E.; Nichols or Nicholas; Nelson; Sarah Jane; George W.; Myron Jay Kasson; Almyra “Myra”; and John Smith CARPENTER, all born between 1833 and 1858.

Martha married Jeremiah GARDNER of Factoryville, PA (son of Champlin GARDNER and Eunice BILLINGS) and they had three children including Milo Monroe; Watie or Waitey or Waite Atie; and Nelson R. GARDNER, all born between 1859 and 1861 the first two in Springville, PA and the third in Clinton, PA. Martha was known by her middle name “Matilda” throughout her life.

Matilda and Jeremiah farmed in Gibson, PA until Jeremiah volunteered for the Civil War and died just weeks later of meningitis at Camp Cadwalader in Philadelphia, PA and he was buried in the Philadelphia National Cemetery. Matilda died on 30 Aug 1872 in North Abington Township, Lackawanna Co., PA, and she is buried in the Franklin Cemetery in North Abington.

Matilda’s orphaned children were sent to the Orphans of Veterans Home at Harford, PA. Her son Milo married Harriette CURTIS and they had three children including Dr. Burdett Curtis GARDNER and two others. Her daughter Watie married Hiram Sutton WORDEN or WARDEN and Watie died in 1955. Then son Nelson R. GARDNER married Rena C. MULLER and he died in 1917.

I’d love to get this wonderful old portrait to a family member and would appreciate you contacting me if you are a member of this family or know someone who might be.

Thanks,
Shelley