Craven VanHorn Gardner

Craven VanHorn "C.V." Gardner

Craven VanHorn "C.V." Gardner was born Auagust 16, 1836 in Lincoln Township, Morrow County, Ohio. When the Civil War broke out, C.V. Gardner walked 500 miles to a recruiting station in Council Bluffs, Iowa. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted as a First Sergeant. He was 24 years old. He was mustered into Company A of the 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry on November 7, 1862. On February 24, 1983, he was promoted to Captain. Craven's four brothers (Asa, Isaac, James Madison, and Washington) also served in the Civil War. Craven mustered out on August 10, 1865 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Following the war, he migrated from Kansas to the South Dakota Black Hills, where he erected the first frame structure in the gold-mining town of Deadwood on Gold Street and Main in June 1876. Craven was an entrepreneur who convinced W.A. Laughlin and A.W. Merrick --who had a print press in Custer City -- to come to Deadwood, South Dakota and set up the first newspaper. The Black Hills Pioneer printed its first edition in June 1876.

Craven died December 15, 1930 at the Soldiers Home, Hot Springs, Fall River, South Dakota at the age of 94. He is buried (Row 9, Grave 19) in the Soldier's Cemetery, Hot Springs, South Dakota.

Information provided by Cathy ???? . Sources used included the Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion, At the Foot of the Mountain by John R. Honerkamp, and John Dukellis Rootsweb Tree.

Captain Craven VanHorn "C.V." Gardner in his GAR Uniform