BIO:  GEORGE A. GAMBER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 570-571
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    GEORGE A. GAMBER, proprietor of the Green Spring Mill, Newville, Cumberland
  county, once known as the Snyder Mills, was born in this county, in April,
  1836, son of William and Agnes (Sites) Gamber.

    William Gamber was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in 1800, son of George
  Gamber, a native of Germany. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, and in the
  earlier days, would go from family to family making shoes, and he worked at
  his bench for fifty years. His wife

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  571

  Agnes Sites, daughter of George Sites, was born in Cumberland county, near
  Newville, about 1806, and she died in 1863. The children born to William
  Gamber and wife were as follows: Catherine, Eliza, Sarah, Joseph, John,
  George A., Mary, Matilda, Margaret, William and Emanuel (a widower now
  residing in Ohio).

    George A. Gamber received the greater portion of his education at what was
  called the Bridgewater schoolhouse. When he was only seventeen, he began
  teaching in the country, but not liking this calling, he learned the trade of
  milling, and completed it with Calvin McLeaf, proprietor of the Conedoguinet
  Mills in Hopewell township, and remained with him for two years. From the
  latter place he went to the Pifer Mills in Newton township, thence to the
  Allen Mills, and finally to the Maclay Mills, Lurgan township, Franklin
  county, Pa. In 1862 he entered the service of his country, enlisting in
  Company B, 158th P. V. I., Col. McKibben commanding the division, and was
  soon thereafter mustered in, and ordered to Newbern, N. C., but was taken
  sick, and discharged on a surgeon's certificate, after an honorable service
  of fifty-seven days.

    Returning to his home in Franklin county Mr. Gamber engaged in farming and
  stock raising, and so continued until 1880, when he went to Kansas. In that
  State he spent a year, and then returned to Pennsylvania, locating in
  Cumberland county, where he once more engaged in milling, operating what was
  known as the Maclay Mills for some years, and later the Newville Mills, which
  were situated on the waters of the Big Spring. In 1890 Mr. Gamber took charge
  of the Green Spring Roller Mills, which were originally burr mills. Since
  taking charge of them, he has introduced new machinery and processes, and
  manufactures a very good product, while his business is a large one,
  extending over a wide territory.

    In 1857, Mr. Gamber married Levina McLaughlin, of Newburg, Pa.,, a daughter
  of Robert McLaughlin, who was born in Newton township, this county. She died
  in 1896, leaving one daughter, Agnes S., who married Martin Walters, of Green
  Spring, Pa. In politics, Mr. Gamber is a Republican, but he has never aspired
  to public honors. Fraternally, he is a member of the Path Valley Lodge, No.
  419, I. O. O. F., and he is also a member of Newburg Post, No. 292, G. A. R.