My Genealogy Hound

Gardiner D. Newcomb, now living retired, came to Creston in 1883, and for twenty-three years was connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company here. He was born at Burnham, Maine, in 1834. His father, William Newcomb, was a native of Massachusetts and of English ancestry. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and assisted in capturing the British craft off the coast of Maine, being one of six men who captured an English sloop that was freighted with spelter, copper and silk goods, for which after his death his heirs received thirteen hundred dollars from the government. During the period of hostilities he was also taken prisoner. He died in 1850, at the age of sixty years. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church, in which he held membership, while in political belief he was a whig. In early manhood he married Elizabeth Sidens Parker, who was born in Thomaston, Maine, and died in 1866, at the age of sixty-six years. She was of German lineage.

Gardiner D. Newcomb was of the ninth generation born in America and was one of a family of thirteen children. He attended the common schools at Burnham, Maine, and also Freedom Academy, and after completing his education learned the machinist’s trade, which he followed in one or more of its branches throughout his business life.

In early manhood Mr. Newcomb was married on the 16th of June, 1857, to Miss Marian J. E. Densmore, who was born March 27, 1837, in Washington county, Ohio. She died March 12, 1861, leaving a son, Charles, who was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1858, and is now living at Seattle, Washington, where he is engaged in the real estate business. On the 28th of December, 1865, at Zanesville, Ohio, Mr. Newcomb was again married, his second union being with Lucy A. Humphrey. They became the parents of four children: Lulu, who was born at Laurel, Maryland, in 1866, and is now the wife of Stuart Latimer, a merchant of Broomfield, Iowa; Florence, who was born in Pontiac, Illinois, in 1870, and is now deceased; Carrie, a native of Davenport, Iowa, living at Broomfield; and George D., who was also born in Davenport. He attended school at Corning and at Creston, this state, and after studying pharmacy received a certificate from the state pharmaceutical board. With his parents he removed to Creston and is now proprietor of the George D. Newcomb drug store in the Summit House block. He married Earla Dunn, a daughter of Murray Dunn.

In the year in which his first wife died Mr. Newcomb enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining the army on the 11th of December, 1861. He became a corporal of Company I, Sixty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry and participated in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, the second battle of Bull Run and several fights on the Black Water, Fort Wagner and Morris Island, being severely wounded in the left shoulder at the last named place. He also served as first sergeant of Company I, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was mustered in with the latter rank on the 1st of January, 1864. He then continued with the army until after the close of the war, being honorably discharged August 3, 1865.

For some time after the war ended Mr. Newcomb lived at Laurel, Maryland, having charge of shops for the manufacture of portable engines and sawmills. In 1868 he removed to Pleasant county, West Virginia, and soon afterward made his way to Pontiac, Illinois, where he remained until 1870, when he took up his abode at Davenport, Iowa. While there he had charge of stair building in the government buildings at Rock Island, Illinois, and in 1883 he came to Creston, where he has since remained. For twenty-three years he was in the employ of the Burlington Railroad Company here but is now retired, having gained through his former activity and enterprise a competence sufficient to supply him with the necessities and many of the comforts of life.

In his political views Mr. Newcomb is a stalwart republican, interested in the party and its success. He belongs to Potter Post, G. A. R., and is a consistent and faithful member of the Baptist church, in which he has served as deacon for a number of years. His life has been one of activity, crowned with honor and success and under all circumstances and at all times he has been loyal to justice, truth and right.