H. J. GAMBLE, M. D., one of the leading and most successful physicians of Washington county, is a native of Allegheny county, Penn., born in Elizabeth township January 9, 1846. Samuel Gamble, his great-grandfather, was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, March 17, 1702, and in an early day came to America, settling in Fayette county, Penn. He was married twice, first to Prudence , by whom he had twelve children. He afterward married Elizabeth Patton, by whom he had two children, viz.: Rebecca Lyon, born 1781, and John. John Gamble, the youngest son of Samuel, was born in Fayette county, Penn., May 9, 1783, and for many years was a prominent school teacher in his section. On March 15, 1808, he married Mary, daughter of Hezekiah and Mary (Brent) Douthitt. John Gamble moved to Westmoreland county Penn., and conducted a general store and a hotel at West Newton until 1817, when he proceeded to Allegheny county and purchased a large tract of land in Elizabeth township, all of which is still in the possession of his descendants. He died November 7, 1875, his wife having preceded him to the grave March 27, 1848. Mr. Gamble was a member of the Round Hill Presbyterian Church, of which he had been an elder many years. Politically, his sympathies were with the Democratic party, and for a long time he served as a justice of the peace in Allegheny county. He was gifted naturally with a mind clear on legal points in law and equity and was looked up to as the general adviser of the community among whom he might be living.
Samuel H. Gamble, father of subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., February 8, 1812, and received a liberal education at the subscription schools of the district during the winter months, the rest of the year being devoted to laboring on the farm. On October 30, 1832, he was married to Margaret J., daughter of John Irwin, of whom special mention will be made further on. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Gamble settled on a farm in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county, where he died July 14, 1879 (the mother is still living). He was a member and substantial supporter of the Round Hill Presbyterian Church, and in politics he was a Democrat until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he became a Republican. He was an active and progressive self-made man. Six children were born to him, as follows: Sarah Ann, who married Caleb Edmundson (they reside on their farm in Forward township, Allegheny county); Harriet, married to John Bridenthall (he and wife resided in McKeesport; Mrs. Bridenthall died l869); Oliver Perry, a farmer and merchant at Independence, Kans. (he married Harriet Hefley); John H. (subject); Rebecca Jane, married to William Hayden, a farmer and dairyman near McKeesport; James Harvey, a farmer and dairyman of Forward township, Allegheny county, residing on the old farm (he married Margaret McKinney).
Dr. Gamble's maternal great-grandfather, John Irwin, was born in Pennsylvania, was an agriculturist and died on his farm in Allegheny county. He married Margaret Fulton, of that county, a Covenanter who came to Westmoreland county with her parents when she was nine years old. After her husband's death, she moved to Washington county and settled on her farm. The home farm in Allegheny county is now owned by William Irwin. To John and Margaret (Fulton) Irwin were born children as follows: Martha, Margaret, Polly, Susan, Henry and John. Of these John was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., and was married to Sarah La Fever, a native of Allegheny county, Penn., and daughter of Minard (a cooper) and Charity Elinor La Fever, French Huguenots, and early settlers of Allegheny county. John and Sarah (La Fever) Irwin settled on the homestead of his mother in Forward township, where he carried on farming operations. They had ten children. Mr. Irwin, for his second wife, married Ann McConnell, by whom he had six children. Mr. Irwin served in both the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk war. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in political affiliations was first a Whig, afterward a Republican.
H. J. Gamble was reared in his native county, and at the common schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood home received a liberal education. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was assigned to the army of West Virginia, participating in the Shenandoah campaign, and during the latter part of their service they were with Sheridan. At the close of the war our subject received an honorable discharge and returned home. In 18 he entered the academy at Monongahela, where he remained some time, then attended the Normal School at Edinboro, Erie Co., Penn., and, afterward the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill. Having now completed his education, in turn he became an educator, and for some time taught school in various parts of the States of Illinois and Kansas. In 1870 he entered the office of James C. Gamble, M. D., in Lawrence, Kans., where he remained some three years, reading medicine, at the end of which time he attended the Homeopathic Medical College, of Missouri, in St. Louis, from which he was graduated in 1874. Dr. Gamble commenced the practice of his chosen profession at Lawrence, Kans., remaining there one year, after which he practiced a year in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co., Penn., and then in 1876 came to Monongahela.
On May 11, 1876, Dr. H. J. Gamble was married to Mary J., daughter of John Reynolds, and six children blessed their union, viz.: Harvey R., Robert R., Charles O. (deceased), Harold, and Margaret (deceased) and Mary (twins). Dr. and Mrs. Gamble are members of the Presbyterian Church; in politics he is an active Republican, and was nominated for Congress by the Prohibition party in 1888. In that year he was appointed supreme medical examiner of the Equitable Aid Union, and he has held various local offices of trust. Dr. Gamble is a progressive and energetic citizen, and takes an active interest in anything that is beneficial to his city. In 1886 he erected Gamble's Opera House. He is one of the leading educators of the county, and takes advanced ground on all educational questions.
IRWIN FAMILY.
(a) John Irwin married Margaret Fulton, and had children as follows: (b) Martha, Margaret, Polly, Susan, Henry and John. Of these (b) Martha married Martin Adams, and had four children; (b) Polly married Abel Finley, and had children: (c) David, James, Martha, Mary and Margaret; (b) Susan married Robert Douglas, and had children: (c) John, Robert, Presley, William, Margaret and Isabel; (b) Henry married Katherine Johnston, and had children: (c) Margaret Ann, Sydney, John, Hetty Elinor and Martha.(b) John Irwin was twice married, first time to Sarah La Fever, and had children: (c) Harriet, Margaret Jane, John Brady, Joseph La Fever, Charity Elinor, Mary Catherine, Rebecca Ann, Martha Ann, Henry Fulton and Susanna. Of these (c) Harriet married Hezekiah Douthitt Gamble (for children see Gamble family record further on); (c) Margaret Jane married Harvey Gamble (for children see Gamble family record further on); (c) John Brady married Martha Case, and had children as follows: (d) John (deceased), Nancy Diana (married Fantley Ball and had one child, (e) Myrtle), Rosella (married Frank York, and had two children), Joseph, Henry and Mary (all three deceased), Daniel Risher, William Douthitt, Sarah Mary and James Gamble (last named deceased); (c) Joseph La Fever married Jane Westbay Finley, and had one child: (d) Harvey Austin (married Mary Torrence, and had one child, (e) Harry Lowry); (c) Mary Catherine married (first) Thomas Clark, and by him had children: (d) Zwingle, Margaret Ann (married to Lorenzo Wilgus, and had one child, (e) Olive C.); Mary Catherine married (second) Thomas Penney, and by him had children: Duane, Olive Jane (married to William Smith, and had children: (e) Duane Penney, Maud W. and Nellie); (c) Martha Ann married Sinclair Edmundson and J. Ralston, and her children were: (d) Presley S. Edmundson (married Sarah Jane Spikler, and had children: (e) Ann Gertrude and Kate), William Orlando Edmundson; Harvey Gamble Edmundson (married Alice Straight, and had children: (e) Clara Jessie, V. Viola, Mary and Edna), Sarah Jane Edmundson, Finley Ellsworth Edmundson and Henry Burke Edmundson; (c) Henry Fulton married Eliza Peet, and had children: (d) Evangeline, Myrtle Bell and Susan D.; (c) Susanna married Eli McLaughlin, and had children: (d) Sarah, Margaret and James.
(b) John Irwin's second wife was Ann McConnell, and their children were (c) Sarah Alice, Nancy Diana, Finley Douglas, Loressa, William Wilson and Amaretus. Of these Sarah Alice married Thomas Wilson and had children: (d) Anna Bell, Susan Poe, Samuel Morrow, Loressa, Nora Tell and Irwin; William Wilson married Nora McHenry, and had children: (d) Frank, Albert, Harry, Anna Bell, John, Marion, Margaret and Harriet E.; Amaretus married John Wilson, and had children: (d) Edward, Elizabeth, Clyde I., Herbert, Erskine, Loressa M., Elmer and one unnamed.
LA FEVER FAMILY.
(a) Minard La Fever married Charity Elinor , and had children: (b) William, Isaac, John, Eliza Rachel, Abram, James, Rebecca, Hannah, Katie, Sarah, Ann, Polly and Diana. Of these (b) William married Mary Price, and their children were: (c) Price, Chambers, Irwin, John, Levi, Abram and Isaac; (b) Isaac married Sarah , and had children: (c) Abner, William and Rebecca; (b) John married Harriet , and had children: (c) William and Curtis; (b) James married Elmira Peet, and had children: (c) Mary, Ann, Rachel, Hannah, James and Thompson; (b) Rebecca married William Williams, and had children (c) Vaughn, Mary, Ellen, Rachel and Eliza; (b) Hannah married George Stevens, and had children: (c) Eliza, Thomas, Martha, Harrie and William; (b) Katie married William McConnell, and had children: (c) Mary, John and Katie; (b) Sarah married John Irwin, and had ten children, as already enumerated; (b) Ann La Fever married Kirkpatrick; (b) Polly married Cromwell; (b) Diana married Thompson Peet, and had children: (c) Charity Elinor, Melissa Ann, James Burke, Mary Hannah, Maria Jane, Sarah Hepsah and Eliza Emily.GAMBLE FAMILY.
(a) Samuel Gamble, born March 17, 1702, married (first) Prudence , and had children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Martha, 1750; Jonas, 1751; Prudence, 1753; David, 1754; Jane, 1756; Esther, 1758; Aaron, 1760; James, 1764; Rebecca, 1765; Samuel, 1767; Mary, 1770; Sarah, 1771. (a) Samuel Gamble married (second) Elizabeth Patten, and had children: b) Rebecca Lyon, born 1781, and John, born 1783.(B) John Gamble married Mary Douthitt (daughter of Hezekiah and Mary (Brant) Douthitt), and their children were (c) Hezekiah Douthitt, Elizabeth, Samuel Harvey, James Carothers, John, Mary Brant, Oliver Perry and Hiram.
Of these, (c) Hezekiah Douthitt married Harriet Irwin, and had children (d) Mary, John N., James Harvey, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Hezekiah Douthitt, Margaret Jane, Martha and Catherine Celia. Of these, (d) Mary married Samuel Bell (had children: (e) Hezekiah Gamble (married to Mary Atkinson by whom he had two children: (f) James and Vedora), James Gamble, Xenophon, Alexander Miller, Mary Aletta and Charles Douthitt); (d) John N. married Margaret J. Boyd; (d) James Harvey married Rhoda L. Harrison (had children: (e) Corwin, Bell, Anna Martha, Charles Sumner, Findley Wilson, Robert Alvey, William Knox, James Douthitt and Harriet Mary); (d) Sarah Ann married Adam McConnell (had children: (e) Harriet Ann (married to John Edie), John Findley, James Everett, Celia Iantha, William Clarence, Ella Jane and Clyde Irwin); (d) Elizabeth married Charles C. Taylor (had children: (e) Selwyn Melvin (married to Mary Nolan), Lulu Maude (married to Albert Munhall) and Anna Laura); (d) Rebecca married Daniel Risher (had children: (e) Sarah Crady, Nancy Denny, Charles Bayha, John C., Harriet, Dillie Munson and Douthitt Gamble. Of these, (e) Sarah Crady married James B. Neel, and had one child (f) Susan Rebecca; (e) Charles Bayha married Mary Fairfield, and had one child, (f) Mary; (e) John C. married Minnie McEnulty, and had one child, (f) Louise). (d) Hezekiah Douthitt Gamble married Emma Bell Hair (children: (e) Hattie Leila, Burtus Douthitt, Eva May, and Laura Margaret); (d) Martha Gamble married Henry N. Patten; (d) Catherine Celia married Euclid Allen Richards (children: (e) Vincent Gamble, Clyde McConnell, James Melvin, Floyd Herbert, Frank Allen, Harriet Marie and Mary Ella).
(c) Elizabeth Gamble married Levi Edmundson, and had children: (d) Havilah Gamble, Drusilla Douthitt and Lacea Phillips; of those (d) Havilah Gamble married Sarah Pearse (children: (e) Alberta, Joseph, George, Elizabeth and Margaret), and (d) Drusilla Douthitt married J. J. Bowers (children: (e) Elizabeth, Edwin, Harriet, Alice and Anna).
(c) Samuel Harvey Gamble married Margaret J. Irwin, and their children were (d) Sarah Ann, Harriet, Oliver Perry, John Henry, Rebecca Jane and James Harvey. Of those (d) Sarah Ann married Caleb Edmundson (children: (e) Mary Jane, Margaret, Rebecca, Catherine, Anna Martha and Charles); (d) Harriet married John Bridenthall; (d) Oliver Perry married Harriet Hefley; (d) John Henry married Mary Jane Reynolds (children: (e) Reynolds, Robert, Charles, Harold Selwyn, Mary and Margaret); (d) Rebecca Jane married William Hayden (children: (e) Lawrence, Meredith and Bennett); (d) James Harvey married Margaret McKinney (children: (e) Nancy, Olive, Frank and Mary).
(c) James Carothers Gamble married Hannah Thomas, and had children: (d) Xenophon, Mary and John; of these, Mary married Mr. Presley (one child: (e) Laura).
(c) Hiram Gamble married Jane Torrence, and had children: (d) Hezekiah Douthitt, Power Torrence, Ellert A., Oliver Perry and Mary Elizabeth; of these, Power Torrence married Emma Wilson (children: (e) and Mary).
Text taken from page 1425 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]