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Gardner, Richard Nelson "Dick"

Senate 1931-43 (District 51)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

Counties Served:  Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/11/1881 (uncertain)
Birth Place: Ashfield, Massachusetts
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 12/4/1953
Gender: Male
Religion: Congregational
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Dick
City of Residence (when first elected): Staples
Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota, Law Department; Law Degree; 1906

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Attorney: Staples, Minnesota (City Attorney, 14 years); 19?? to 19??
School Board/Administration: Staples, Minnesota (Board of Education, President); 19?? to 19??
Judge: United States District Courts (Referee in Bankruptcy); 10/01/1943 to 07/01/1951 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Toensing lists his birth year as 1882. The Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 7, 1955, p. 1436 lists 1881. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 lists that he was born in Ashfield (near Northampton) on September 11, 1882.

He was born near Northampton. His family moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota while he was young. He moved to Staples, Minnesota in 1907.

He was President and a founder of the Staples Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Staples Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Wadena Chapter of Royal Masons, Wadena Knights Templar, Scottish Rite Bodies of St. Paul, Zurah Temple of Shrine Minneapolis, Royal League, and Knights of Pythias.

He died in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Religion provided by his Senate Memorial.

Total Days Served: 4652

SESSIONS SERVED

53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/3/1942
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 10/1/1943 (unfinished term)
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Soldiers Welfare and Soldiers Home
  • State Parks, Memorials and Monuments
  • University
Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
Session Notes: He resigned to become a Referee in Bankruptcy with the United States District Courts.

52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/8/1938
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
  • State Parks, Memorials and Monuments
  • University

51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/8/1938
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
  • State Parks, Memorials and Monuments
  • University

50th Legislative Session (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/6/1934
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • General Legislation
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
  • State Parks, Memorials and Monuments
  • University

49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/6/1934
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/8/1935 to 1/2/1939
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
  • State Parks, Memorials and Monuments
  • University

48th Legislative Session (1933-1934) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/4/1930
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/7/1935
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Public Welfare
  • Reapportionment
  • Soldiers Home
  • University

47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/4/1930
Residence: Staples
Term of Office: 1/6/1931 to 1/7/1935
Counties Represented: Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
  • Banks and Banking
  • Judiciary
  • Military Affairs
  • Public Health
  • Public Institutions and Buildings
  • Public Welfare
  • Reapportionment
  • Soldiers Home
  • University
Articles & Books About
Richard Gardner Memorial. Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 7, 1955, p. 1435-1436.

"R. N. Gardner, Former State Senator, Dies." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, December 5, 1953. p. 1


These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.