OLIVER P. GAMBLE GRAVESTONE PHOTO
Independence Daily Reporter, Monday, May 15, 1916:
O. P. Gamble Passed Away Saturday Night
Funeral Took Place from the Residence at 4 O’clock This Afternoon
O. P. Gamble, a highly respected citizen and one of the oldest settlers of the county, passed away Saturday night at about 9 o’clock at his home in this city, 401 North Eleventh street, after an illness of several weeks.
With the possible exception of Henry Conrad, Mr. Gamble has been a resident of this county for more years than any other man now living in the city, having located in Independence township Aug. 1, 1869. After partially improving the farm he first located on he disposed of it and located on another farm near Table Mound where he lived for four years, when he removed to Sycamore township in 1870 settling near the Ball school house, where he accumulated tract after tract of fertile land until he possess in that locality 740 acres of productive soil. In 1880 he removed to this city where he has since resided. He first engaged in contract teaming but after about ten years he took charge of the loan and rental business of the Citizens National Bank and was a large stockholder in that institution.
Born In Pennsylvania.
Oliver P. Gamble was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Aug. 14, 1840, and lacked one day of being 75 years and nine months old. He passed his youth and early manhood in various employments, principally with coal hauling and work on Lock No. 3 on the Monongahela river. At the age of 22 he enlisted in Company 3, 155th Pennsylvania Infantry. His first engagement in the Civil war was at the Battle of Second Bull Run, then followed Antietam and Fredericksburg, where Dec. 13 he was wounded in the elbow and put out of action. In April 1863, he left the service and as soon as he had recovered sufficiently he came out to Miami county, Kansas, where he secured employment with Wilson & Irwin driving a team for them on the construction work of the Fort Scott & Gulf railroad. He remained in that vicinity until 1869 when he came to this county and invested his small earnings.
In February 1874 he was united in marriage in this city with Harriet Helfy, daughter of Levi Helfy one of the early settlers on this city. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gamble. He is survived by his wife.
Able
Business Man.
Mr. Gamble was a successful and honorable business man. He was a man of good judgment, conservative and prudent in his investments and from his small beginnings accumulated considerable wealth.
The funeral took place from the family residence this afternoon at 4 o’clock, the services being conducted by Rev. Mr. Day of the Grace M. E. church.
South Kansas Tribune, May 17, 1916:
O. P. GAMBLE
The illness of Oliver Perry Gamble, frequently noted in the past weeks terminated in death Saturday night and was not unexpected, as he has been having bad spells for a year and for two months had been confined to his home. His wife being his constant attendant.
Comrade Gamble was born in Allegheney county, Pa., Aug. 4, 1840 and at the age of 22 enlisted ot help preserve the Union and was mustered in Company E, 155th Pennsylvania volunteers, and while at the front before Fredericksburg, was shot in the elbow so that when he recovered his arm was so stiff that he was discharged. After the war he located near Paola in Miami county, Kansas, and soon had a job on the construction of the Fort Scott and Gulf railroad. When the white man began to elbow the Osage red men out of their Diminished Reserve in Kansas, he was among the early birds to locate in this vicinity, on the now Barr-Lord place, northwest of town. Later he bought a place in Elk valley in what is now Sycamore township and became part of Montgomery county the following year. He took a 160 acre claim and divided his time for years between that and working in Independence to get ready money, and was at his decease the oldest settler on the township, permanently locating here thirty-six years ago. In 1874 he was married to Miss Harriet H. Heffley, who survives him. For many years he assisted the Citizens National Bank in looking after its rentals, insurance, and outside interests, and was one of its stockholders. He was a quiet, honest citizen, took little part in public affairs and as the years passed kept adding to his original farm until he had 700 acres in Elk valley.
The funeral was held at the home Monday afternoon, at which Rev. C. L. Day officiated and interment was in Mount Hope cemetery. Mrs. J. A. Chapman and son of Winfield came over to comfort her sister, Mrs. Gamble.
Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a
Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence
Public Library, Independence, Kansas