Representative Washington Gardner

Washington Gardner (February 16, 1845 – March 31, 1928) was a lawyer, Methodist Episcopal minister, Civil War veteran, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was born in Morrow County, Ohio, and as a young man entered the Union Army during the American Civil War. From October 1861 to December 1865, he served in Company D, Sixty-Fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During his military service he was severely wounded in action at the Battle of Resaca in Resaca, Georgia, an experience that marked him for life and later informed his deep involvement with veterans’ organizations.

After the war, Gardner resumed his education, first attending school at Berea, Ohio, and then at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. He subsequently enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1870. Pursuing both religious and legal training, he studied in the school of theology at Boston University in 1870 and 1871, and later completed his legal education at Albany Law School, graduating in 1876. That same year he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he practiced for one year before turning to the ministry.

Gardner entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church after his brief legal practice, serving as a minister for twelve years. His dual background in law and theology contributed to his reputation as a thoughtful public speaker and civic leader. In 1888 he was elected commander of the Department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic, reflecting his continued commitment to the welfare and recognition of Civil War veterans. From 1889 to 1894, he served as a professor at Albion College in Albion, Michigan, further cementing his standing in the state’s educational and religious communities.

Gardner’s formal political career began in state office. On March 20, 1894, he was appointed Michigan Secretary of State by Governor John T. Rich to fill the vacancy created by the removal of John W. Jochim. He subsequently won election to the office in his own right in 1894 and again in 1896, serving as Secretary of State until 1899. His performance in this statewide role positioned him for national office and increased his visibility within the Republican Party.

In 1898, Gardner was elected as a Republican from Michigan’s 3rd congressional district to the 56th United States Congress, defeating incumbent Democrat Albert M. Todd. He took his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 4, 1899. A member of the Republican Party, Washington Gardner served six consecutive terms in Congress, being re-elected to the five succeeding Congresses and serving continuously from March 4, 1899, to March 3, 1911. During this significant period in American history, he contributed to the legislative process and participated actively in the democratic governance of the nation. As a member of the House of Representatives, he represented the interests of his Michigan constituents and took part in debates and votes on the major issues of the era. In the 61st Congress, he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of Commerce and Labor, overseeing matters related to governmental spending in that department. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the 62nd Congress, bringing his twelve-year congressional career to a close.

After leaving Congress, Gardner remained prominent in veterans’ affairs and Republican politics. He was elected commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1913 and 1914, the highest office in that national organization of Union veterans. He later sought higher office within Michigan, becoming an unsuccessful candidate in the primary election for Governor of Michigan. Despite these setbacks, he continued to be regarded as an influential figure in state and national Republican circles.

Gardner returned to federal service in the post–World War I era. On March 22, 1921, he was appointed Commissioner of Pensions, a position of particular resonance given his own Civil War service and long association with veterans’ organizations. He served in that capacity until March 4, 1925, administering benefits and overseeing matters related to the nation’s pension system for former service members and their dependents. After completing his term as Commissioner of Pensions, he retired from public life. Washington Gardner died in Albion, Michigan, on March 31, 1928, and was interred in Riverside Cemetery in Albion. His legacy in the community is commemorated by Washington Gardner Middle School (formerly Washington Gardner High School) in Albion, Michigan, which bears his name in honor of his service as an educator, soldier, and public official.