Hon. Gardner Batchelder Emmons, a successful business man of Concord, N.H., who is now serving his first term as a State Senator, was born in Bristol, Grafton County, this State, February 18, 1847, son of Horace M. and Maria (Batchelder) Emmons. The paternal ancestors have been identified with the history of Bristol, N.H., for at least one hundred and fifty years; while the Batchelders have been inhabitants of Reading, Mass., about two hundred and fifty years.
Gardner B. Emmons attended the public schools of Bristol in his boyhood, and completed his course of study in New Hampton Institute at the age of eighteen years. For the first two years of his active career he was employed in a provision store in Bristol, coming thereafter to Concord. He subsequently established himself in business in Tilton, N.H. Returning to Concord in 1871, he has since been engaged in the meat provision business in this city. He is half-owner in the Concord Coal Company, a Director in the Concord Street Railway Company, a Trustee Miles City, Custer County, Mont.
In politics Mr. Emmons is a stanch Republican. He has served four years on the Board of Aldermen, and in 1889 he was a member of the House of Representatives in the legislature. In the fall of 1896 he was nominated by acclamation for State Senator, and was elected by a larger majority than had been received by any of his predecessors. Mr. Emmons is a voter in Ward Six, which has not been represented in the Senate for many years.
On November 25, 1869, Mr. Emmons was married to Sarah Jane Flanders, of Concord. By this union there have been four children, three of whom are living: Harry G., a drygoods merchant in this city; Oscar F., who is also in Concord; and Hattie S. For a quarter of a century Mr. Emmons has been a member of the First Baptist Society, and for seven years he has served as a Trustee and the Treasurer. He has been connected with the White Mountain Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Wonalancet Club, the leading social organization of Concord.