William Gamble

As printed in 1894

JLLIAM GAMBLE is undoubtedly one of the self-made men of Huron county. By his labor he developed a valuable farm, and in the face of difficulties and disappointments established himself among the well-to-do agriculturists of Greenfield township.

Thomas Gamble, a native of Lincolnshire, England, was there married to Mary Kick, and to them three children were born, namely: Joseph, William, and Mary Ann, who married George Wallace and is now residing at Cascade, Iowa. In 1843 the entire family emigrated to the United States, the voyage from Liverpool to ISTew York being accomplished in ninety days. The journey from Manhattan Island to their destination in Huron county, Ohio, was also long and disagreeable. Here Thomas Gamble purchased a small parcel of land and built a cabin, the first home of the family in America. Mrs. Gamble died in 1849, and was buried at Olena, in Bronson township. This was a severe stroke of misfortune, resulting as it did in scattering the children and leaving the father in a condition of depression, which incapacitated him for an active life. He now lives in a comfortable home furnished by his son William.

William Gamble was born October 15, 1842, in Lincolnshire, England. On the death of his mother he went to live with an aunt, in Fairfield township; but owing to a disagreement with her transferred himself to his uncle's home in the same township. Ultimately he went to the home of his grandfather, Edward Pick (who came either from England in 1842), and resided with him until 1853. From that period until young Gamble was twenty-one years old he resided at the house of James Youngs, Sr., and worked for him, receiving at the close of the decade the sum of one hundred dollars for his services. So far in his career little opportunity for educating himself was offered, beyond what could be gleaned in the school of experience. In February, 1864, he married Elizabeth Bennett, who was born October 8, 1847, in New Haven township, and to this marriage five children were born, namely: Mary, who died young; Lillian, Mrs. Charles Earl, of Olena, Huron county; Helen, Mrs. Fred Sparks, of New Haven township; William T. and Jay, both residing at home. Mrs. Elizabeth (Bennett) Gamble is a daughter of Allen and Harriet (Youngs) Bennett, and granddaughter of James Youngs, Sr. From 1855, when her mother died, to the date of her marriage, she resided with her grandfather.

The farm on which Mr. Gamble now lives was first occupied by him in 1864, when he purchased sixty-six acres of it on credit. How he worked by the day and year to pay for this tract is a creditable item in the history of the man. By 1866 he had saved sufficient money to warrant him in beginning work on this farm. He split 500 rails for his first five bushels of seed potatoes, and by closely observing the principles of economy and industry was enabled to pay for the sixty-six acres within a few years. He then purchased a second tract, and extended the area to 183 acres; in 1872 he erected a new dwelling house, since which year all the farm buildings have been constructed. This progress has not been accomplished under the most favorable circumstances. His leg has been broken twice, and sickness has invaded the household at intervals, so that at times his pathway was rough and uninviting. But like a trained man he conquered adversity, rose above it, and came out from each trial feeling the better for having fought and won. Mr. Gamble, while engaged in agriculture proper, gives some attention to the growing of Poland- China hogs, tine sheep and other stock. He votes with the Democratic party, but is not an active partisan or politician, his policy being to attend closely to his own business, pay his taxes and let others look after the affairs of State.

frEOKGE LINDER was born February 25, 1822, in Bavaria, Germany, where his father, John Law- £1 rence Linder, was a vine grower and wine producer. George Linder's youth was passed in the manner common to boys of the Bavarian agricultural class. He received a practical education in the schools of his birthplace, and also attended Sunday-school four years. When his boyhood days were over, he began work on the farm and vineyard, and so continued until the emigration of the family to America. In 1845 the parents, with George and his sister, Catherine, set out from their native land for Havre, France, en route to the United States. At Havre they embarked on the " Argo," one of the giant ships of that period, and after a tempestuous voyage of thirty-five days and a half, landed at New York. At one time during this dreary journey, when the great ship was caught> in an ice-floe, grave years were entertained for her safety; but Providence was with the emigrants, and the good ship " Argo " came safely into port. The travelers proceeded to Philadelphia, thence across the Alleghany mountains to Pittsburgh, and through mistake were sent to Portsmouth, Ohio, thence to Cleveland. It was certainly a circuitous, expensive and troublesome journey; but the brave Bavarians endured it with but little complaint. From Cleveland the party pushed into the wilds of Huron county, and there the father purchased land in Peru township, where the mother died in 1869, ao-ed seventy-three years, the father at the age of eighty-seven years. The fire of 1846 destroyed the little home they had *built and the property they had accumulated; but like a majority f his countrymen Mr. Linder rose above this misfortune, and looked upon it as a lesson. He was a hard worker, industrious and frugal, and succeeded in accumulating a good property. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and he and his wife are buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Pontiac. Catherine, their daughter, who married William Brinker, of Cleveland, is also numbered with the dead.

George Linder was married January 6, 1849, to Elizabeth Schwan, who was born February 6, 1831, in Germany, and was brought to the United States by her parents in 1834; she grew to womanhood in Peru township, where the family settled that year. George Schwan, her father, moved to Seneca county, Ohio, in 1848. To George and Elizabeth Linder were born children as follows: George, a farmer of Peru township; Lena, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Lawrence J., a farmer in Peru township; and Minnie, Mrs. Henry Linder, of Weaver's Corners. After marriage Mr. Linder established his home in Peru township, where he resided until April 1, 1870, when he moved to his present farm. The family is an industrial one in every particular; father, mother and each of the children work on the farm, in the vineyard and in the home, with a single eye to the advancement of all. Each one has his or her place to fill, and does the work of that place cheerfully. Mr. Linder is a Democrat, and a man of influence in local politics. In religious connection M r. and Mrs. Linder are leading members of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held various positions. As a farmer, grape-grower and stock-raiser he has won his title to success, and is to-day one of the most highly-respected old settlers of Huron county.

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Huron and Lorain, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.