Pleasant Grove, Utah County 1864
Relocated in 1979

John Gardiner, an English immigrant, came to Utah shortly after his conversion to the LDS Church. John built this one-room, 13 foot by 22 foot cabin in Pleasant Grove, after living in a small dugout with his wife, Harriet Dyer. They had no children. John took a second wife, Annie Nichols, in 1883 who bore ten children—seven boys and three girls. A lean-to of rock and adobe was added to accommodate the children of the second marriage, who also used the loft, which is accessible only by an outside ladder. Lofts provided extra space for storage or sleeping without using the main floor. John was a successful farmer who also raised a fine orchard of fruit trees.

A photograph of John Gardiner now hangs in the home, showing one of the interesting fashions of the time period; animal fat was used to grease the men’s hair and make it stand straight up!