Jefferson Gardner, Principal Chief to the Choctaw Nation

Jefferson Gardner

Jefferson Gardner, son of Noel and Hannah Gardner, was born near Wheelock Academy o­n July 12, 1847. He attended school at Norfolk in old Towson County and then entered Spencer academy for two years. Jefferson married Lucy James in 1862. After her death he married Lucy Christy in 1864. Upon her death he married Julia Christy, a sister of his second wife. He engaged in farming and raising stock along the Mountain Fork River near Eagletown. In 1878 he entered into the mercantile business. He was also Postmaster of Eagletown for many years.

Politically, he served as county clerk, district clerk, and representative in the Tribal Senate, treasurer of the Choctaw Nation and as circuit judge of the second judicial district. Jefferson Gardner was elected Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation in August 1894. He was a candidate of the Progressive Party. He defeated Jacob B. Jackson of the National Party. He passed away at Idabel o­n April 6, 1906. He was buried in the Joe Christy Cemetery near Eagletown.

Jefferson Gardner became the Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation in October, 1894 succeeding Chief Wilson N. Jones. He was a son of Noel and Hannah Gardner and was born near Wheelock, Choctaw Nation on July 12, 1847.4 His parents were both mixed blood Choctaws and natives of Mississippi. The father of Jefferson Gardner had been a student at Choctaw Academy, Kentucky and was, at one time, an interpreter for the missionaries. Farming and stockraising were his gainful pursuits. The young lad was placed in Norfolk School in old Towson County in the fall.

http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v019/v019p213.html

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1894-1895 Jefferson Gardner

Several wives with vague details; here is the best I could assemble…

First wife: Lucinda James, who died in 1863.

Second wife: Lucy Christy, daughter of Joe Christy. She died in 1882.

Third wife: Julia Judy Christy, daughter of Joe Christy. She died in 1897.

https://choctawspirit.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/lost-in-time-the-fir...