Awful Gardner

Hezekiah Orville "Awful" Gardner (c. 1825-c. 1895) was a notorious prizefighter, gambler and thug who became one of America's first celebrity Christian converts, as well as a distinguished trainer of pugilists.

Early life

Hezekiah Orville Gardner was born around 1825 at New York, being a brother to four other sluggers. He was the older brother of Howell "Horrible" Gardner, a notorious pugilist turned evangelist himself. Orville "the Awful" Gardner was described as being over six feet tall, and having a powerful build, even in advanced age.

Fighting career

He used the name Orville "the Awful" Gardner, becoming one of the best fighting men in New York along with the famous John "Old Smoke" Morrissey and the infamous William "Bill the Butcher" Poole. The name 'Awful Gardner' brought fear into all fighting men in the country during the 19th century. Gardner became known as the celebrated prizefighter of Newark City and was known as a street fighter. Gardner killed a man and was forced to leave Newark for New York City where he became an emigrant runner.