1900 Census:
Name Orrin A A Gardner
Age 66
Birth Date Sep 1833
Birthplace Ohio, USA
Home in 1900 Belleville, Republic, Kansas
Ward of City 1
Sheet Number 14
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation 321
Family Number 329
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Head
Marital Status Married
Spouse's Name Mariah Gardner
Marriage Year 1863
Years Married 37
Father's Birthplace New York, USA
Mother's Birthplace Ohio, USA
Occupation Florist
Months Not Employed 0
Can Read Y
Can Write Y
Can Speak English Y
House Owned or Rented Own
Home Free or Mortgaged F
Farm or House F
Neighbors View others on page
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Orrin A A Gardner 66 Head
Mariah Gardner 73 Wife
Rose Gardner Daughter
May Bailey 19 Granddaughter
1883 GAR roster: https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/10513956?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a2279377470506f65327633575179776d6a526e64573073637156742b6c37742b63666476394561782f4c556f3d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d
Name O A A Gardner
Age 50
Birth Year abt 1833
Birth Place Meigs Co, Ohio
Report Year 1883
Post Name John Brown Post
Post Number 44
Post Location Belleville, Republic
1910 Census:
Name Orin A Gardner
Age in 1910 76
Birth Date 1834
[1834]
Birthplace Ohio
Home in 1910 Belleville, Republic, Kansas, USA
Sheet Number 1b
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Grandfather
[Grandfather, Grandpa (Grandfather)]
Marital Status Widowed
Father's Birthplace New York
Mother's Birthplace Ohio
Native Tongue English
Occupation Retired Farmer
Able to read Y
Able to Write Y
Enumeration District Number 0096
Enumerated Year 1910
Neighbors View others on page
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Henry L Skeels 39 Head
Eva J Skeels 30 Wife
Orin A Gardner 76 Grandfather
Alice E Mosse 14 Cousin
1856 Iowa State Census:
Name O A A Gardner
Residence Age 23
Birth Year abt 1833
Birth Place Ohio
Residence Date 1856
Residence Place Davenport, Scott, Iowa, USA
Gender Male
Initial muster:
Name Orrin A.A. Gardener
Side Union
Regiment State/Origin Iowa
Regiment 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry
Company A
Rank In Private
Rank Out Private
Alternate Name Orren A.A./Gardner
Film Number M541 roll 10
So to summarize:
Orrin Augustus Adolphus Gardner was born Miegs Co Ohio, relocated with family to Scott Iowa where he apprenticed as a carpenter, spent time as postmaster. Enlists as a private in Co A , 11th Regt Iowa Infantry. Finds himself involved in the runaway slave in Callaway Co. Co A is disbanded. Appears to be promoted to "Capt" and PM in Mexico Mo by US Grant shortly after 11th Iowa gets there. Marries Louisa West in Mexico. Is involved with Radical politics and Newspaper in Mexico Mo. Goes to Gratiot prison as part of his roll in the slave issue.
Post war in 1870 he is in Columbia Mo but by 1880 is now in Rebuplic KS with a new wife and fresh kids. Lives there rest of his life, files for pension (as a private, seems Iowa never recognized him as a Captain or rank was stripped) Dies in 1915.
See for family tree:
https://gw.geneanet.org/randallgardner?n=gardner&oc=&p=orrin+augustus+adolphus&_gl=1*lr50fr*_gcl_au*MTgzNTg5OTYzOS4xNzA5MTIxODcy*_ga*MjExNDg5MDI5My4xNzA5MTIxODc1*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*NTNlZDRkZDgtODA4OC00ZmE3LTllYTQtYzkwN2E4NjRiZjBhLjcuMS4xNzA5NDg3MjIzLjAuMC4w