(c) 2014 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Olga Eliza Gardner Monks

American, 1869 - 1944

BiographyGeorge Augustus Gardner (1829-1916) was the second son of John Lowell and Catherine E. Peabody Gardner. Born in Boston, he graduated from Harvard College in 1849. Shortly thereafter he became a member of the firm of John L. Gardner & Company at 39 State Street. He owned many merchant ships. When the Civil War caused a decline in shipping, he took an interest in railroads, banking and real estate. He owned properties in Boston, Bourne, New York, and Maine. He served as vice-president of the Provident Institution for Savings and as a director of the Old Colony Railroad, Boston & Providence Railroad and Boston & Lowell Railroad. He was one of the heaviest taxpayers in Boston. His wealth made it possible for him to serve his city as a philanthropist.

In 1854 he married Eliza Endicott Peabody (1834-1876, daughter of George and Clarissa Endicott Peabody). They had four children survive into adulthood: George Peabody (b. 1855, m. Esther Burnett), Ellen (b. 1860, m. Augustus Peabody Loring), John Lowell (1867-1939), and Olga Eliza (b. 1869, m. George Howard Monks).
http://www.masshist.org/collection-guides/view/fa0201 I.S. 12/29/2017

John Lowell Gardner died in July of 1884, and on October 23, 1884, George A. Gardner purchased 51 Commonwealth from his father’s estate for $50,000 (the price at which John L. Gardner’s will specified his son could purchase the house).

George Gardner’s four surviving children — George Peabody Gardner, Ellen Gardner, John Lowell Gardner, II, and Olga Eliza Gardner – lived with him at 51 Commonwealth.

George P. Gardner married in June of 1884 to Esther Burnett and they moved to 186 Beacon. He was a trustee and later would serve as president of various textile companies.

Ellen Gardner married, also in June of 1884, to Augustus Peabody Loring, an attorney. After their marriage, they lived at the Hotel Copley at 18 Huntington.

Olga Eliza Gardner married in June of 1897 to Dr. George Howard Monks and they moved to 267 Beacon.

George Gardner continued to live at 51 Commonwealth until his death in August of 1916. John Lowell Gardner, II., continued to live at 51 Commonwealth during the 1916-1917 winter season, but moved thereafter.

On November 13, 1916, Olga (Gardner) Monks purchased 51 Commonwealth from her father’s estate, and George and OIga Monks made it their home. They previously had lived at 67 Marlborough. They also maintained a home in Monument Beach.

George Howard Monks was a surgeon, specializing in plastic surgery, and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Dental School.

George Monks died in January of 1933. Olga Monks continued to live at 51 Commonwealth until her death in April of 1944.
https://backbayhouses.org/49-51-commonwealth/ I.S. 12/29/2017

Person TypeIndividual

Last Updated8/7/24

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