Frederick Gamer
Montana Archives 
History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 
  
Frederick Gamer, a prominent Helena businessman since 
1868, is a native of Germany, born December 20, 1844. 
His father, Charles Gamer, emigrated with his wife and 
nine children to the United States in 1861 bringing 
with him $3000 in cash and purchasing a farm in the 
state of Illinois where he resided up to the time of 
his death, which occurred in 1872 in the sixty-third 
year of his age. He was a man of high integrity and in 
religion was a 
Lutheran. Possessing a fine physique and great energy, 
his life was one of useful activity. He died suddenly 
of heart failure. His wife survived him three years. 
All of their children are still living.
 
Frederick was the fourth born in his father's family. 
He was educated and learned the shoemaker's trade in 
Germany and was seventeen years of age when they came 
to the United States. His first work here was in Chicago 
where he remained from 1861 to 1866. Then he went to 
Denver, Colorado where he worked for a year, clerking 
in a shoe store owned by J.P. Fink and Company. They sent 
him to Georgetown Colorado where he had charge of a store 
for them for a year. They then started the business in 
Helena, Montana and Mr. Gamer came and took charge of it 
for them. Later he acquired an interest in the firm and 
in 1872 his partners sold out to him. The brick block Mr. 
Gamer built in 1882 and in which he now manages his large 
business, No. 17 South Main Street, stands on the site 
where they first began operations in 1867, it having 
proved one of the best locations in Helena. In 1869 he 
established a branch store at Deer Lodge. He has also 
one at Anaconda and he now has a large store and business 
in Butte. In 1872 he built a residence in Helena, where 
he still resides. Eight miles from Helena he owns a 
section ofland which he has developed into one of the 
best farms in Montana, and where he is devoting some 
attention to the raising of fine Norman-Percheron horses. 

Mr. Gamer in 1862 united with the Methodist Church and 
became a charter member of the church in Helena of which 
he has ever since been a most devoted member and pillar. 

Mr. Gamer's married life has been a most happy one. 
April 9, 1872 he married Emma M. Fink, a native of 
St. Joseph Missouri. Their family consists of four 
sons and two daughters, all born in Helena and named: 
Milton A, Charles W.John F, Walter, Ada M. and Emma.
 Mrs. Gamer is also a most efficient member of the 
Methodist Church. 

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