IDFirstMiddleLastDOBDODCOD
85ChloeN/AGardner18287/31/1855N/A

veteran
exhumed
purchaser
cemetery
N/AFALSEN/AAdams Street

lot
plot
N/AR16 G7
relations
Daniel Gardner (husband, b. 24 May 1818-3 Oct 1877) Silas (son, b. c1848) Alzina (daughter, b. 7 May 1850-4 Dec 1887) Silas Gardner (father in law, b. c1780) Jemima Gardner (mother in law, b. c1790) Clark Gardner (brother in law, b. 1828)

comments
Chloe was born around 1838 in Ohio; her maiden name was McCraavy. She married Daniel Gardner 1 Nov 1846 (Daniel Gardner-Chloe McCraavy marriage license). There are no McCraavys in Middleburg censuses. Chloe was enumerated in the 1850 census, in Middleburg Twp, age 22, born in Ohio, in the household of her father-in-law Silas Gardner (70), a farmer with real estate worth $3,000, born in NY. Mother-in-law Jemima (60), also born in NY, husband Daniel (34), a farmer born in Ohio, daughter Alzina (4 mos.), son Silas (2), brother in law Clark (22, a farmer), and Charles Laughlin (26, a laborer from Ireland. The family lived near the early pioneers Charles Green and Enoch Watrous, and also near Henry Carman Sr. Silas Gardner was one of the very earliest settlers of Middleburg Twp, when there were fewer than 100 people (Shaw 12-13). Chloe's mother in law Mrs. Silas Gardner was considered one of the "pioneering women" of Berea (Shaw 30). Daniel Gardner has several deeds in his name. In 1844, he had purchased 66.5 acres in Strongsville for $600 from Jonathan Pickard (son-in-law of Daniel Fairchild, another early pioneer) (Daniel Gardner deed, 23 May 1844). In July of 1852, Daniel and Chloe sold land in Strongsville to R. B. Strong for $600. The language of the deed suggests that Chloe was illiterate; it says "I did examine the said Chloe Gardner separate [sic] and apart from her husband, and did then and there make known to her the contents of the forgoing instrument and upon that examination she declared she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and that she was still satisfied therewith." The separate examination of the wife was normal for the period, but sometimes the examiner merely wrote "I showed her…" rather than "I made known to her…" (Daniel Gardner deed, 14 Jan 1853). By 1856, Daniel Gardner was a Trustee of Middleburg Twp (Daniel Gardner deed, 6 Feb 1856). The remainder of the deeds refer to the period after Chloe's death. The Cleveland Plain Dealer printed her obituary on 11 Aug 1855: "In Middleburg, July 31. Mrs. CHLOE GARDNER, wife of Daniel Gardner, aged 27 years." Daniel remarried three years after Chloe's death, on 20 May 1858, to Maria H. Thorpe (Labaj; Daniel Gardner-Maria H. Thorpe marriage license). By the 1860 census, Daniel (44) was living with 2nd wife Maria H.[almost illegible] (24), had extensive real estate worth $18,000 and personal property worth $2,000. Chloe's son Silas was 12, her daughter Alzina was 10, both attending school, and Mariah had a 9 month old baby, Charles. Silas Gardner was still alive and working as a farmer at 79. This census record was taken 19 June 1860, which is key in identifying this baby Charles as the Charley Gardner, age 11 mo, who is buried near Chloe. In the 1870 census, Daniel Gardner was still prospering, now 54, with real estate worth $25,400 and personal property worth $1525. Wife Mariah [sic] (34) kept house, son Silas (22) was a farmer, daughter Alzina (20) was at home. New children Jennie (9), Warren (6), Marthy or Mattie (1). Alsina, Jennie, and Warren were attending school. Silas was still hanging on at age 89. There is no mention of Charles, who died 8/16/1860 ("Inscriptions"). In the 1880 census, Daniel (64) is still a farmer in Middleburg Twp, living with 2nd wife Maria (44), her children Warren (16), Jennie (19), Mattie (11), and Chloe's children Alzina (30 and unmarried) and Silas (22). All the boys worked on the farm, all the girls were at home. They had a servant, Mathew White (30), who did not list his place of birth or his parents'. Their neighbor was Robert Wallace, quarry owner. There is no Daniel Gardner household in the 1900 census in Middleburg. Chloe is buried in the lot 88, bought by her husband Daniel Gardner. She died before Berea village began keeping records of burials in 1856, and before Berea had a local newspaper. In 1904, a transcription of the Gardner tombstones read (in alphabetical order) "Betsey, dau of C & L Gardner, died July 13, 1856, age 1 yr, 11 mo, 5 days," "Charley W, son of D & M.H Gardner, died Aug 16, 1860 age 11 mo 5 d" and "Chloe, wife of Daniel Gardner, died July 31, 1855, ae 27". In 1934, a transcription was taken again, in order of location--following the Cards to the SE "Charley W, son of D & H.H Gardner, died July 16, 1860, age 11 months," Chloe, wife of Daniel Gardner, died July 31, 1855, age 27 yrs," Betsey, dau of C & L Gardner, died Feb 15, 1856, age 1 y 11 m" In 2007, Chloe's stone is broken and does not appear to match in size the base against which it rests. But it appears to be in the correct lot. Daniel Gardner is buried in Woodvale Cemetery, Sec. 1, with Mary H, a daughter Jane, daughter Alzina, and son Silas. Chloe Gardner has a sandstone personal headstone. The lot number is 88, the row number is Row 16, and the Grave number is Grave 7. A fizz test was performed and a magnifier was used to examine the grain. It is white with black speckles. It is 27 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 3.5 inches thick. The marker faces East and all of the inscriptions are facing East. Only one person is commemorated with this marker: Chloe. There is no decorative motif or lettering that can be observed. The top of the stone looks like it was curved when it was new. It is broken, broken, but repaired, covered with lichens and moss, dirty, and lying on the face. The stone had a bit of lichens on it. The stone looks like it was broken three or more times and then repaired. However, it is broken again. One of the halves is lying on its face. There are also only traces of the original inscription. Relief carving was used on the marker. All that can be seen on the stone is “Chloe.”

sources
Willard H. Shaw, A Collection of Historical Facts on Berea, Ohio. Centennial,1836-1936. Souvenir edition. Berea, OH: Mohler Printing Co., 1936. E. S. Loomis and D. T. Gould, "Inscriptions from the Old Berea Cemetery," 1904, Berea Historical Society "Cuyahoga Cemetery Inscriptions," Vol. I, compiled by the Western Reserve Historical Society, 1934 1850 US Federal Census, Silas Gardner household, series M432, roll 673, p. 185. 1860 US Federal Census, Daniel Gardner household, Series: M653 Roll: 954 Page: 108 1870 US Federal Census, Daniel Gardner household, Series: M593 Roll: 1193 Page: 407 1880 US Federal Census, Daniel Gardner household, Series: T9 Roll: 1009 Page: 211 Chloe Gardner death notice, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 11 August 1855 (found by Grant Gretta) "Number of burial lots and price," Adams St Cemetery folder, Berea Historical Society Chloe Gardner tombstone photograph, Jeremy Feador, 2007. Daniel Gardner-Chloe McCraavy marriage license, vol. 4, p. 374; Daniel Gardner-Maria H. Thorpe marriage license [misindexed as Mary S. Francisco], vol. 9, p. 86; Cuyahoga County Historical Marriage License index; Cuyahoga County Library, Fairview Park branch Daniel Gardner deeds, Cuyahoga County Recorder's Office online, recorded 23 May 1844-21 Apr 1880. Don Labaj, Berea Families CD, 2006. Daniel Gardner family monument, Woodvale Cemetery, Middleburg Heights, OH. Baldwin Wallace College History Dept. Cemetery Documentation Project, Chloe Gardner, Grant Gretta, 8 November 2007.