The Wilson McKnight Gamble Family
Marian and Agnes Wilder were the daughters of
Flora Gamble Wilder, the daughter of
Wilson McKnight Gamble, the son of
William Clifford Gamble, the son of
William Gamble, the son of
Robert Gamble of County Cavan, Ireland
Wilson M. Gamble was the father of Stella, Flora, and Alice Gamble. He was born in Bowerston, Harrison County, Ohio, in 1844 and died in Tulare, Tulare County, California in 1908. This link is to information about the life of Wilson M. Gamble.
Wilson McKnight Gamble (1844-1908)
Recently the sites of three original Gamble family farms have been identified west of Bowerston, Harrison County, Ohio. The original farm was that of William Gamble, (1770-1845), begun in 1815 by William and his wife Nancy McKnight Gamble (1770-1843). Known as "The Old Farm", it was operated by the elder William (known in his later years as "The Ould Wan". After his death it was operated by his son Alexander Gamble, and later by his son John D. Gamble. Click on the link below to read about the Old Farm.
The "Old Farm" of William and Nancy Gamble
Along with The Old Farm listed above, the farm site of Wilson Gamble's father, William Clifford Gamble was identified, as well. Begun about 1826, it bordered the farm of his father (and later brother Alexander). This farm, was known in the Gamble family as "The Tunnel Farm", because a tunnel for the Pan Handle Railroad was built in view of the William C. Gamble farmhouse in the mid1850's. The tunnel was removed to a straight railroad cut about 1950. William C. Gamble moved from this farm to another which bordered The Old Farm after the Civil War, where he lived until his death in 1884.
The "Tunnel Farm" of William Clifford Gamble
William Gamble was the older brother of Wilson M. Gamble (by about two years). Nothing except a brief mention in census documents is known about his brief life, but the story of his experience in the Civl War is documented.
William Gamble III (1843-1865) joined the Union Army in the autumn of 1861, serving in the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Resaca in Georgia in May of 1864, went north to convalesce at an army hospital there, and spent time at the Gamble home, before returning to his regiment in the spring of 1865. Shortly after returning, he was shot down by a Confederate deserter and died three days later, on April 4, 1865, at Pocataligo, South Carolina. He is buried at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina, a short distance from Parris Island Marine Base. Documents here include muster rolls, casualty sheets, report of expense to provide him travel to the Gamble home, and an inquiry into the circumstances of his shooting. William Gamble served in the same company (about 100 men) as James H. Hatheway, the older brother of Sarah Jane Hatheway, the wife of William's brother Wilson. Also in this company was John Hagerty, the first cousin of Sarah Jane and James H. Hatheway. John Hagerty died in the Civil War, as well. In the spring of 2014, William Gamble's grave (misspelled has "William Gambois") was found in section 9 of the Beaufort National Cemetery. According to the caretaker, his grave was most likely moved there between 1865 and 1870. It isn't known if the Gambles ever knew how he died (although as he was with his regiment it's probable they knew this) or where he was buried (which is not so certain--there were a huge number of soldiers whose burial spots were unknown to their families--the graves registration system was in its infancy at this time) We may have been the first people to visit his grave.
William Gamble Civil War Papers
A timeline of the history of Wilson McKnight Gamble's family.
This is an excellent link of compilations of several Gamble descendants that provides specific locations of Gamble homesteads, dates of immigration, as well as family lore about the Gamble ancestors of Wilson Gamble.
Gamble Family Information--Excellent Link
Robert Gamble was the uncle of Wilson M. Gamble. This is a transcript of a letter he wrote in 1896 telling the story of the
George Gamble family coming to America. George Gamble was the maternal grandfather of Wilson M. Gamble.
Robert Gamble letter telling the story of the Gambles coming to America in 1821
This is information about the William and George Gamble families. They were brothers, and both the grandfathers of Wilson M. Gamble.
About the families of William Gamble and George Gamble, the grandfathers of Wilson M. Gamble
This is a link to information about the gravesites of William Gamble and his wife Nancy McKnight Gamble, both presumably from County Cavan, Ireland, who came to Ohio in the early 1800's. He was locally known as " The Auld Wan" . They were Wilson M. Gamble's paternal grandparents.
Gravesite Information About William Gamble and Nancy McKnight Gamble
Gravesite Information for William Gamble and Nancy McKnight Gamble
This provides a link to the gravesite of William Clifford Gamble, the father of Wilson M. Gamble and the grandfather of Stella, Flora and Alice Gamble. He is buried next to his second wife, Ruth Dew, who was Wilson Gambles step mother. During his lifetime, William Gamble was known as "Uncle Willy" locally.
Gravesite Information about William Clifford Gamble, (1806-1884)
William Gamble III was the older brother (by about two years) of Wilson M. Gamble, our great grandfather. William served in the same regiment and same company as the older brother of Wilson's wife, Sarah Jane Hathaway, James. William died of his wounds four days before Appomattox in 1865. His burial place is unknown, but is believed to be Pocataligo, South Carolina, where he was hospitalized and died. The following link is to a record of the 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Service Record of William Gamble III
This is a link to gravesite information about William T. Gamble, the first cousin of Wilson M. and William Gamble III (above), who died a prisoner of the Confederates in 1864 at Danville, Virginia. From US Census records, it appears that the three Gamble boys grew up in close proximity to each other, with their fathers' farms nearby or adjacent to each other. It seems very likely they knew each other well.