My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN LEMMON GAMBEE, a resident of the town of Varick, Seneca County, is a representative of one of the pioneer families in this county, and also one of Revolutionary fame. His grandfather, John Gambee, who was a soldier during that war, by trade was a black-smith, and had the honor of shoeing General Washington’s horses. In 1806 he came to this county from Bucks County, Pa., and purchased a large tract of land, where his death occurred, and though our subject was but six years of age at the time, he vividly remembers the event. The tract on which the grandfather settled adjoins that now owned by our subject. He became the father of twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to be past middle life. The sons were: Jacob, John, William, Solomon, David, Gideon, Benjamin, Samuel and Joseph. The daughters were Elizabeth, who remained single and lived on a part of her father’s place until her death, at the age of seventy; Catharine, who married Jesse Abbott, of Varick; and Molly, who married Jacob Seybolt, of Varick. Each of the married daughters had families.

Gideon Gambee, the father of our subject, was born March 16, 1796, in Bucks County, Pa., and came with his parents to Seneca County when about ten years of age. On the 4th of May, 1820, he married Sarah Lemmon, born January 4, 1802, and a daughter of Judge Benjamin Lemmon, one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Varick. Her father was a remarkable man in many respects. For some years he was Judge of the County Court in Seneca County, and was a man of excellent judgment. He was married five times, and reared a large family, his last marriage occurring when he was quite advanced in years. None of the name now remain in this county. After some years’ residence here, her father moved to Ohio, where he died at an advanced age.

After his marriage, Gideon Gambee located on a farm of seventy-five acres, which was a part of Judge Lemmon’s tract, and which was partly paid for by his father, who assisted his sons. He paid close attention to his business, and added to his possessions until he had a farm of two hundred and fifty acres. To his friends he was very liberal, helping them in many ways, and also assisted his family in securing homes. Politically he was a Whig. His death occurred August 20, 1857, and his wife died October 28, 1858. They were the parents of the following children: Mary Elizabeth, the widow of Royal Sutton, of Kansas City, Mo.; Catharine Rebecca, widow of Robert Rutherford, of Rochester, N. Y.; Clarissa Ann, widow of Daniel Sebring, of Varick; Benjamin L., our subject; Hannah Maria, widow of Barney Tyler, of Toledo, Ohio; Harriet E., who died at Cresco, Iowa; Lovina, who married Frank Kyte, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Sarah Louisa, Mrs. Kunes, who died at Cresco, Iowa.

Benjamin L. Gambee, the subject of this sketch, was born on the farm where he now lives, October 8, 1825. He grew to manhood in this town, receiving his education in the common schools, and remained at home with his father until the death of the latter. On the 21st of March, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Catharine Carr, widow of John S. Carr, of Varick, and a daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Bevier) Goodman, of Fayette, Seneca County, where she was born November 28, 1842. By her first husband she had one daughter, Martha A., who died March 9, 1884, in her twenty-first year. To Mr. and Mrs. Gambee two children have been born: Mabel, who is a teacher of shorthand in the business college at Appleton, Wis.; and Edward B., who is on the home farm. In politics our subject is a Republican, and has held several minor town offices, but has refused to serve in others. Mrs. Gambee is a member of the Presbyterian Church at West Fayette.