John J. Gardner

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John James Gardner (October 17, 1845 – February 7, 1921) was an American Republican politician from New Jersey. He served as a U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 2nd district from 1893 to 1913. Earlier, he was Mayor of Atlantic City (1868–1872 and 1874–1875) and a member of the New Jersey Senate from Atlantic County (1878–1893), serving as Senate president in 1883. Gardner fought in the Civil War with the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry (1861–1865) and later served in the U.S. Veteran Volunteers. He studied at the University of Michigan Law School in 1866–1867, worked in real estate and insurance, and later engaged in farming. He was a delegate to the 1884 Republican National Convention and, during his time in Congress, chaired the Committee on Labor. In 1898, he was among six representatives who voted against declaring war on Spain. He lost reelection in 1912 and returned to agricultural work. Gardner died of heart disease at his farm in Indian Mills, Shamong Township, New Jersey, and was buried in Atlantic City Cemetery in Pleasantville, New Jersey.