History of the Restoration Movement


Matthew Gardner

1790-1873

The Life of Matthew Gardner

Matthew Gardner was born in Stephentown, New York on December 5, 1790. In the fall of 1800, his father moved their family to what is now southern Ohio, near the Ohio River. In the summer of 1810, Christian minister, Archibald Alexander, came into the region where the Gardner's lived, and preached in their home. In August, young Matthew expressed faith, repented and confessed Christ. In September, 1812 he attended a Christian Conference in Bracken County, Kentucky, where he determined to commence public speaking. Barton W. Stone was in attendance at this meeting.

On May 20, 1813, Matthew married Sally Beasley. Within weeks he was called to arms to defend his nation in the second war with England. His term was short, and he returned to his home and purchased 100 acres from his father-in-law for the purpose of farming the land. Matthew and Sally were the proud parents of eight children.

The 2nd day of March 1818 was of particular significance, in that Matthew Gardner was ordain to the Christian Ministry. Immediately, he set out to establish a congregation of the Christian church in his community. The Union Church in the west part of Brown County, Ohio was instituted during the summer of 1818.

Beginning in May 1821, Gardner, a lover of good singing, produced a hymal with a thousand songs for use in the Christian churches. Over the years there were several editions printed and distributed among the churches of the Christian Connection. In 1841, he voiced concern that the only paper available in the Christian movement was, The Christian Palladium, from New York. He determined to begin a new paper from among churches of the west. The Christian Union began the fifth of May, and he served as editor.

In 1823, Matthew subscribed to Alexander Campbell's Christian Baptist. From that time, Campbell, his reform and teachings, became a study to the Christian preacher. In 1832 when churches under the influence of Barton W. Stone merged with the Reformed Baptists of Kentucky (Campbell's Disciples of Christ) he strongly objected for many reasons. One was the teachings of Campbell on salvation, that baptism for remission of sins was necessary to be saved. His second objection was that Campbell's Disciples refused to allow "women to enjoy privileges in the church equal to men. The Christian church had women preachers. Third, Disciples take the Lord's Supper every week. Such regularity, in his thinking, demeaned the greatness of the feast. Fourth, Gardner believed that the Disciples of Mr. Campbell taught that the fullness of the action of the Holy Spirit was through the Scriptures alone, to which Christian Churches denied.

Over the years of Gardner's ministry, he took opportunities to hear Alexander Campbell, and discuss his differences with him personally. He debated Disciples preachers, and fought time and again when Disciples preachers sought to divide the churches he worked to establish and build. He was deeply saddened over the years at lost companionship with so many preachers and churches who left the Christian Connection for the sake of unity with Campbell's Restoration Movement. So much was his effort to destroy the influence of Alexander Campbell in Christian Connection churches that he wrote a pamphlet in 1868 and distributed it among the churches. To make sure it was preserved, he inserted its contents into his autobiography.

Through the years of his life, Matthew Gardner, experienced false accusations about his integrity, on occasions being dragged before magistrates. At times he had to go to law in order to clear his name when falsely accused. Each time he was exhonerated, but deeply stressed in the process. He experienced heavy loss in his family over the years, experiencing the deaths of three of his children, and one of his daughters-in-law. When Sally, his wife of fifty-six years, passed away in September 1869, his world was turned upside down. In his autobiography he went into great details to speak of his loneliness and love for his dear Sally.

Late in life, Andrew Gardner reckoned that his ministry he brought over 5000 people into the church as well as establishing twenty-two congregations of the Christian Church.

In his eighty-third year, while on his ninth excursion to the home of his youth, New England, Matthew Gardner was attending a camp meeting, when he fell in his hotel room, breaking his left leg near his hip. His sons were able to make the journey to collect their father and take him back home. However, his health continue to fail until, on the 10th of October, he passed away.

Next to his wife, his body was planted under the sod just behind the Union Church he had established in the inaugural year of his ministry, there to away the determination of his Creator.

Matthew Gardner's Autobiography was released the following year, being edited by his long-time friend, and pastor of the First Christian Church in Cincinnati, Nicholas Summerbell D.D. The work was published by Christian Publishing Association.

Written by Scott Harp, 08.02.2018, with information gleaned from Matthew Gardner's Autobiography.

 

Chronology of the Life of Matthew Gardner

1685-1690
Matthew Gardner's (MG) ancestors came from England to America and settled in Rhode Island. p. 9      

September 13, 1760
MG’s father is born in Rhode Island. p.9

1770
MG’s father’s family moved to New York, on the line of Massechusetts.p.9

September 29, 1762
MG’s mother, Lucy Hawks, is born in Connecticut. She was his father’s second wife. p.9

1788
The territory now known as Ohio was first settled. p.10

December 5, 1790
MG was born at Stephentown, New York, the fourth child of ten. p.9

1796
At 6 yrs old MG had a religious experience – p.13.

Fall, 1800
Gardner family moved to Ohio, setting out on September 1. Reached Pittsburgh by October 1. Took four weeks to come down to Limestone, (now Maysville, Ky). Moved into the new house about 16 miles west, they built on the river, 1 January, 1801. MG was 10 years old.

April, 1809
At 17 MG decides boards a flatboat heading to New Orleans. = Striking out on his own. Becomes a universalist under the influence of the riverboat captain, Mr. Jenkins, p.15

June, July 1809
MG gets deathly ill in New Orleans, p.18

October 20, 1809
MG finally gets home from nearly walking from New Orleans. p.21

Summer 1810
Archibald Alexander, the Christian minister comes into the neighbor to preach. He preaches at the home of MG’s father. p.22

August 1810
Gets religion and confesses Christ, p.23,24

September 1, 1810
MG attends a camp meeting in Adams County, near the place called Bentonville. Hears Barton W. Stone for the first time. P.25

October 1810
MG and a few others are baptized by Archibald Alexander “in the beautiful water of the west fork of Eagle Creek, below the old state road to Decatur, about two miles from my father’s house.”  A church was organized there afterward. P.25

December 5, 1810
Turns 20 years old. Some of the best times of his life. P.25

December 5, 1811
A few days before his 21st birthday MG’s father evicts him from his home, never allowed to return, due to his refusal to exit the Christian Church. (His father had left the church due to a disagreement with Archibald Alexander over working on the “sabbath”) p.27

September 8, 1812
Attends a Christian Conference in Brachen County, Ky, where Archibald Alexander lived. B.W. Stone in attendance. Here MG “commenced public speaking” p.29

Late Autumn 1812
Went on a preaching tour with Elder David Kirkpatrick. P.29

May 20, 1813
Marries Sally Beasley. P.30 Three days after their marriage he returned to preaching.

July 1813
MG answers the summons to arms in the war with England. P.30

January 1814
After buying 100 acres from his father-in-law, he moves into a cabin, already built on the property. P.31

March 2, 1818
MG ordained to the ministry

Summer 1818 ?
MG organizes Union Church in the western part of Brown County, two miles from Higginsport soon after his ordination. P.41

January 1, 1819
Church moves into a two room building, p.41

1819-1820
MG plants a church at Bethel, in Clermont County, 30 miles east of Cincinnati, on the old state road to Portsmouth. P.42

Summer of 1820
Contends with Methodist circuit rider, Rev William J. Thompson. P.42-44

October 1820
Southern Ohio Christian Conference is organized at Brush Creek in Adams County, Hymn-Book committee appointed. p.44

December 5, 1820
MG turns 30 years of age, p.45

May 1, 1821
With the help of MG, a hymn-book with 1000 songs is produced for the SOCC, p.45

Fall of 1821
William L. McCalla, Presbyterian, moves and settles across the river (Kentucky side) preaching in a Presbyterian church. For a time he and MG share the same school house to preach when McCalla would come over to preach to a few Presbyterian families living in MG’s neighborhood. P.46.

November 1822
MG goes to court accusing Rev. McCalla of slandering him spreading false rumors through a pamphlet he wrote. 4-day trial, ending with hung jury. pgs. 48-51

1823
Organizes a Christian church at the old stone meeting house, NW of Maysville about 5 miles, and about 3 miles from the Ohio river. P.51, 52

1823
MG subscribes to Alexander Campbell’s Christian Baptist. p.74

August 1823
MG brings suit against William L. McCalla once again for lies and slander in a pamphlet he wrote slandering MG. This time in Augusta, Kentucky. 4 day trial, MG wins the suit p.52-58

1822 or 1823
MG began preaching in Georgetown, Ohio, county seat of Brown County. Church organized amidst much opposition of Presbyterians and Methodists. Building erected soon after. P.60

1824
Began preaching about 5 miles west of Union Church, a church was established, called Pisgah Christian Church.  p.60-61

1824
MG re-published a hymn-book, second edition, 3000 copies. 50 cents each. p.61

March 1824
MG gets knocked overboard the ferry heading to Kentucky side. Saved by 14 year old boy. Also gets thrown from a horse. p.61-63

August 1825
MG visits Cane Ridge while on a preaching tour in Kentucky. Seemed to him as holy ground. p.64.

1826
MG re-publishes the second-edition of the hymnal – 3000 – printed at Georgetown. P.66

1826
MG establishes a church at Russellville, a town on the Ripley and Hillsborough Pike. A brick chapel was built. The church grew to 300. Elder John T. Powell invited to preach there.  P.66

1827-1828
Establishes a church south of Covington about 7 miles. P.67

1829
MG publishes a 4th edition of the church hymnal. P.67

1830
MG publishes a pamphlet on the Godhead, in reaction to Mr. John Rankin, Presbyterian who had published a document to promote Presbyterian view. P.68ff

March 1831
MG purchases another farm, 130 acres. p. 69

Summer 1832
MG and wife become very ill, near to death. P.71

Spring 1833,34
MG preaches at Millersburg on road between Maysville and Lexington. Church established there. P.71,72

Early 1830s
Alexander Campbell’s movement – discussed beginning on p.72.

1835
MG published an expose’ against Campbell teaching. p.74

1835
MG purchased 400 acres for two of his sons to farm. They pay him back. p.79

Fall 1835
MG goes to Jamestown near Zenia and preaches in the Disciples church house. Establishes a Christian Church there. p.79-80

June 11, 1839
MG’s first debate. He debates a Disciples’ preacher by the name of John B. Lucas, on the subject of baptism. p.80ff

1839
Elder John Phillips organized a church at Higginsport, on the Ohio River. About 3 miles from Union Church. p.92

1840
MG falls out with Elder McClain p.85ff

1839 or 1840
MG organizes the Mount Pleasant Church in Clermont County, between Felicity and Ohio River. p.88

October 20, 1840
MG meets John B. Lucas again at Lebanon, Ohio in a debate over baptism. p. 88ff

April 14, 1841
The Western Christian Association was organized. MG was elected editor of a new paper called, “The Christian Union.” p.92-93

May 15, 1841
The Christian Union releases its first monthly issue. p.93

August 15, 1842
MG debates Thomas Gilmer, a Universalist, at Higginsport church. p.93ff

Later Part Of 1842
Millerism began spreading in the area. William Miller, who taught that the world was coming to an end in 1843. “Forty-three-ism” p.95

1844
Miami Conference of Christian Church begins new paper.

June 4, 1844
CM met C.B. Thorp, a Universalist on the subject of Universalism. p.97

Spring and Summer 1846
CM contends with the Free Masons. p.99

1846
Alexander McClain joins the Temperance Movement. CM contends with it. p.100

October 20, 1846
CM debates C.B. Thorp again, the Universalist, at Aberdeen. p.101ff

1849
MG wrote a book against Freemasonry, and accused by Mason as being a womanizer, led to his being a defendant in a court case. p.105ff

December 5, 1850
MG was 60 years old. p.110

May – July 1851
MG makes a visit to his New York home, and other places in New England. p.111-113

July 1851
MG’s fourth son, James Alexander Gardner died of bloody-flux. p.114

August – September 1854
MG makes another trip to New England. p.118-120
January 22, 1856
Trial within the church over hay stacks that he had purchased from a member. The member thought MG had defrauded him out of $193. 16 years previous, the case was settled in the state Supreme Court where it was determined that MG owed the man nothing. But, the man started bringing it up again. So, MG had the local magistrates try it again. Again, MG won the case. The plaintiff had to pay court costs. p.122ff

August 1857
MG makes another trip to the northeast. p.124

1860
MG’s daughter, Louisa Maria Devore, died, leaving seven children behind.  

May 21, 1860
Storm hit the church where MG was meeting. Full of Christians at Bethlehem Church. The winds ripped the roof off the building. No one perished, but several hurt. MG was not hurt at all. p. 131

Summer, 1860
MG wrote a pamphlet on “Facts for the Churches, Elders, and Brethren of the Southern Ohio Christian Conference.” In it he condemned freemasonry.  p.132-133

October 1860
Southern Ohio Conference met and charged MG with false statements in his pamphlet, and it was determined that either he rescind his pamphlet or be censured. p.135ff

October 1861
MG approached by the Union Church to become its pastor again. He had determined to give up full-time work by the time of his 70th years. So he declines the invitation, but commits to come and preach for them on a regular basis. p.140

1863
The Ripley Christian church had a Disciples’ preacher come in for a meeting. There was an effort to merge their efforts. MG appeared. When given the opportunity, he expounded three differences in the Christians and the Disciples. “First: Disciples do not permit women to enjoy privileges in the church equal with those of the men. The Christians do. Second: Disciples do not receive into full church fellowship any believers who are not immersed. Christians do. Third: Disciples eat bread and drink wine for the Lord’s Supper, every first day of the week. Christians do not.” The merger failed. p.144

May 1864 - July 4, 1865
MG devoted himself to his recollections of his life, recording them into an autobiography. p.151

MG claims to have organized twenty-two congregations of the Christian Church. 5000 have come into the church by his preaching. At Union church up to a thousand have been received. At Bethlehem church above 1300. p.153-154.

August 1865
Makes his fourth trip back to the northeast. p. 155

October 18, 1865
MG attends the 46th annual session of the Southern Ohio Christian Conference. p.162.

October 1866
MG resigns his pastorate at Bethlehem Christian Church due to having preached over 40 years. p.172.

April 1, 1868
MG completed a pamphlet, in which he gave a written explanation and defense against Mr. Alexander Campbell’s teaching, he called, Campbellism. p.183-199

May 7, 1868
MG’s son, George Washington Gardner died at the age of 50 years, 3 months, and 7 days. p.200

March 16, 1868
Elder John Phillips of Antioch College died. Gives a brief sketch. p.207, 215

September 20, 1869
Death of Sally Gardner, the wife of MG. Eulogizes her presence in his life. p. 212ff.

June 15, 1870
Rewrites his will. p.220

July 13, 1870
Elizabeth Gardner, his son, Elnathan Matthew’s wife, died suddenly leaving two children, the eldest only four years old. p.221

August 9, 1870
Makes fifth trip home to the northeast. p.221

December 5, 1870
MG turned 80 years old. p.223

June 27, 1871
Rewrites his will, and begins his sixth trip back home to the northeast. p.225
Arrived home on October 2nd. p. 228

June 13, 1872
Makes his seventh trip back to the northeast. Ends in September. p.237ff

November to March, 1872-1873
Makes his eighth trip back to the northeast. p.243.

June 10, 1873
Begins ninth trip to northeast. MG records his last entry in his autobiography. p.244.

July 26, 1873
MG fell in his room while at a Camp Meeting near Hyannis, Massachusetts. He broke his left thigh-bone at the hip-joint. p.249

August 15, 1873
MG goes to live in the home of his son-in-law S.H. Hopkins, p.251

October 10, 1873
MG dies, buried on the grounds of Union Church, p.260

Source: The Autobiography Of Elder Matthew Gardner, A Minister In The Christian Church Sixty-Three Years, ed. by Nicholas Summerbell, D.D., pastor of the First Christian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dayton, Ohio, Christian Publishing Association, 1874.

Chronology prepared by Scott Harp, 08.2018

The Autobiography Of Matthew Gardner

Directions To Grave

Shinkle Ridge Cemetery is located in Higginsport, Brown County, Ohio. From Cincinnati, take Hwy 52 east. This road hugs the Ohio river for many miles; called the Ohio Scenic Byway. Passing through the small community of Utopia, turn left on county road 548. Turn left at the end of the road on Boudes Ferry Rd. Turn right on Shinkle Ridge Rd. The church and cemetery are on the right. The Gardner monument is behind the church building. Look for a pink granite monument.

GPS Location
38.799323, -84.007870

Elder Matthew Gardner

A Christian Minister

Born In The State Of New York

December 5, 1790

Died October 10, 1873

He claimed no merit of his own
His trust was all in Christ alone

He Preached The Gospel 63 Years

Photos Taken in 2015
webpage produced 08.02.2018
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com

Special Recognition: Thanks to C. Wayne Kilpatrick for locating and photgraphing the grave of Matthew Gardner.

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