"Awful" Gardner

[coreygardner]

I am researching a famous prizefighter named Orville "Awful" Gardner. He was born in 1825 at New York. Gardner began his career in the 1840's and around 1842, Gardner killed Jim Morris in a street fight due to a body slam at Newark, New Jersey. He fled to New York City where he earned fame as a boxer, trainer, and all around badass.

Awful Gardner was described as being "over six feet tall and powerfully - built" even in advanced age according to a reporter. He was an emigrant runner, whatever that means?

Gardner was a Bowery Boys thug, ruffian, and he was always in the newspapers for barroom brawls in the early 1850's. He was described as a clever fighter and he beat Allen McFee in 1847 after 33 rounds. He lost by TKO after two rounds to Dublin Tricks after he bit his ear off.

Gardner trained all of the heavyweight champions of that era, Tom Hyer, John Morrissey, and Joe Coburn.

Gardner was a contender and favorite to win the Heavyweight Championship of America against Dominick Bradley in 1856 according to a newspaper.

He later converted to Christianity and he was a celebrity of the 19th Century. His brother was a notorious pugilist named "Horrible" Howell Gardner. He was described more as an athlete than thug and also later became a preacher.

Does anyone have a fighting record for the notorious Awful Gardner?

[twomuch2222]

Corey, have you done any geneaology on this gardner line? I am descendant of Howell's father (Hezekiah) and I have looked much for info on the boys...other than in pre AA literature, Court records and an occasional NY Times article, I haven't found much. Let me know if you have anything about these bad boys! Thanks!

[coreygardner]

What is your email address?

Maybe we could swap information on the notorious Gardner brothers.

[Boilermaker]

Is this little write up of an Orville Gardner set to of any interest to anyone? It seems he got the better of this scrap.

http://fultonhistory.com/Process%20Smal ... ehtml&.pdf

[twomuch2222]

[email protected]
marcia wilson
daughter of dawn gardner
daughter of fred b gardner
son of fred e.gardner
brother of orville john and howell

[twomuch2222]

corey
The Great Fight Underbelly by Maryland historical society on web has lithograph of hezekiah and orville