Pg 559

         HON. ANDREW GAMBLE, deceased, who was a prominent business man and banker of Columbus Junction, Iowa, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1816. His parents, William and Margaret (Nixon) Gamble, were of Irish birth, and emigrated from their native country to America in their youth. The father was a farmer by occupation, and being a poor man, could not afford to give his children the advantages of education so essential to them. At the early age of thirteen years our subject was obliged to earn his own livelihood, and worked as a farm hand until the age of eighteen. As he had received no educational advantages, he then attended the public schools during the winter, working upon a farm in the summer months, and made such good use of his opportunities that at the age of twenty-four he was employed as a teacher. Later he attended school in Union County, Ind., and in 1845 was elected Sheriff of that county, serving until 1847. At the expiration of his term of office he came to Louisa County, Iowa, and engaged in farming in Union Township. In the fall of 1849 he was elected to the Third General Assembly of the Iowa Legislature, and served on several important committees.

Mr. Gamble and Miss Ellen Colton, daughter of Patrick and Hannah (Timmony) Colton, were united in marriage in Union Township, this county, Jan. 17, 1864. Mrs. Gamble was born in Adams County, Pa., April 2, 1835, and came to this county . . .

Pg 560

. . . with her parents in 1842. Soon after their marriage they removed to Keithsburg, Ill., where the husband was engaged in mercantile business for a year and a half, when he returned to Louisa County, embarking in the grocery business at Columbus City, which he carried on successfully for four years. While a resident of that city he was chosen Justice of the Peace, holding that position for six years, and at the same time was a member of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors. He was one of the incorporators of the Louisa County National Bank of Columbus Junction, was a member of its Board of Directors, and was chosen its first President, which position he held until his death, which occurred April 6, 1876, at the age of fifty-nine years, eight months and five days.

Mr. and Mrs. Gamble were the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters: Eva E., wife of Martin Fogarty, now a resident of Jamestown, Dak.; Kate C. wedded Charles Turner, a resident of Chicago; Emma died at the age of three years and four months; William is single, and resides with his mother on the old homestead; Margaret, wife of Frank Parmeter, a railroad engineer of What Cheer, Iowa; Andrew H., the owner of a cattle ranch in Colorado; Nanna M., a teacher, of Dakota; John C., who is single, is a plumber and gasfitter, of Kansas City, Mo.; James N. died at the age of six years; Josie D. is attending school at Iowa City; and Edward B. is at home.

In 1846 Mr. Gamble and his family removed to the farm of forty-five acres where his widow and children now reside, which is situated in Columbus City Township, adjoining the southern line of Columbus Junction. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which his widow is an honored and influential member. Socially, he was a Mason, belonging to Columbus City Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M., and in politics affiliated with the Republicans, being a man of much influence in the local political circles. Possessing superior ability and mental force, he was a successful business man, and attained honorable prominence in the community where he resided. In him his fellow-citizens placed implicit trust and unqualified confidence. It was the high respect in which Mr. Gamble was held by the people of Louisa County, and his great popularity, that led to the selection of him as the first President of the Louisa County National Bank by the projectors of that institution. In all his intercourse with the world, either in a business or social way, he was known as a genial, kindly gentleman, whose integrity was never questioned, and whose friendship was something to be coveted as more than the usual fair weather civility of the average man of the world.