My Genealogy Hound

O. J. GAMEL was born in Ohio in 1846, and is a son of Henry and Susanna (Davis) Gamel. Henry Gamel, also a native of Ohio, was born in 1819, and served under Gen. Fremont from 1861 to 1864, his death occurring in the year last named. Mrs. Susanna (Davis) Gamel was born in Ohio in 1823, was married in 1843, and died in 1863, the mother of seven children, namely — Orin (deceased), Malinda (deceased), O. J., Henry H., Amanda (deceased), Melvina, Thomas Jefferson and Cyrus P.

O. J. Gamel remained in his native state of Ohio until 1861, when he drove a flock of sheep through to Illinois, occupying fifty-two days on the way. In the latter state he lived with his maternal grandfather, Henry Davis, from 1861 until 1863, at which time his mother died and he returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained until 1867, when he again went to Illinois, where for eleven years he engaged in farming, and for six years in the mercantile business at Mahomet. In 1885 he came to Nebraska and for two years he lived on a rented farm in Fillmore county, from there he came to his present home in Phelps county, on section 33, township 5, range 17. Mr. Gamel began life with a horse, saddle and bridle, and came to Nebraska with a capital of $10,000; he now has four hundred and eighty acres of land, well stocked and unincumbered.

In February, 1868, Mr. Gamel married Miss Sarah A. Ehrlich, a native of Ohio, born in 1848. Three children now brighten his hearthstone and are named — William E., Cora Anna and Clarence Carl. In politics Mr. Gamel is a republican.