Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 377-378 & 383; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Milo T. Gamble, M. D., of Farmington, is one of the most
successful physicians and business men of Fulton County. He conducts an
exceedingly large practice that extends into Peoria and Knox Counties,
and he is considered one of the most eminent medical men in this
section of the State. Aside from his professional duties the Doctor
manages a drug business and has a book-store, and his financial ability
has brought him wealth.
Our subject is a native of Beaver County, Pa., his birthplace
being near Rochester. He is a son of Andrew and Mary (Thompson) Gamble,
natives, respectively, of Hancock County, Va., and Beaver County, Pa.
His mother departed this life in 1888, at the age of sixty-nine years.
The father of our subject is still living, and carries his
seventy-seven years with the vigor of a much younger man. He is derived
from one of the early Virginia families, and is a cousin of ex-Governor
Gamble, of Missouri. When he was young his parents removed to Beaver
County, Pa., and there he was reared and married. During his residence
in that county he was prominent in its public life, and served as
County Commissioner. The maternal grandmother of our subject was one of
the famous family of Connor, from whom sprang the great Irish orator of
that name. She was born in Ireland, and though uneducated was a
remarkably intelligent lady, and lived to be nearly one hundred years
old. Eight children were born to the parents of our subject, of whom
four died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity are as follows: Milo
T.; William E., who died in Chicago in 1885, at the age of twenty-four
years; Ruth and Dallas C., who are living in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Gamble was reared on a farm. His early education was
obtained in the common schools, and he subsequently entered the
Hookstown Academy, in Pennsylvania, at the age of seventeen, where he
was prepared for college. He pursued a two years' course there, and
then taught school and furthered his education the ensuing three years
by miscellaneous reading. So well did he apply himself to his books,
when he entered Westminister College, at Wilmington, he was graded as a
junior. In his senior year his unremitting attention to his studies
caused his health to break down and he was obliged to leave college
before the commencement exercises of his class. His physician advised
him to travel and in compliance with that counsel he came westward as
far as Illinois in 1871. Here he engaged to act as commercial traveler
for a Bloomington business house, and was thus employed until he
regained his health. He then returned to his native State to complete
his college course.
The Doctor had been so favorably impressed with Illinois that he
decided to locate here, and in the fall of 1871, he returned to this
State and for a while was engaged in teaching near Elmwood. In the
spring of 1872, in company with his friend Harry Gamble, now a renowned
physician of Monongahela City, Pa., he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and
was employed as a teacher in that city. In the summer of 1872 he
crossed the plains, a party of eight starting from Lawrence. They
followed the old Smoky Hill route and saw what was once known as the
Great American Desert in its original wildness as there were not many
settlements on the road. Deer, elk, and buffaloes still roamed by the
hundreds over the plains, and the little party saw a herd of three
thousand of the latter animals at one time. Our subject and his friends
spent the summer in the Rockies, in Utah, Colorado and Montana, and in
the fall retraced their steps to Lawrence, Kan. The Doctor then
accepted the principalship of the High School at Tonganoxie, that
State. About that time he began reading medicine under the direction of
Dr. J. H. Van Emen, now a distinguished physician of Kansas City, Mo.
As soon as his school was out in the spring of 1873, he began to study
with Dr. J. W. Brock, one of the most eminent surgeons of Kansas. He
continued his studies under his direction and was greatly interested in
them. In the meantime he attended the winter lectures at the Missouri
Medical College at St. Louis, from which he was graduated in 1875.
It was the intention of our subject to enter into partnership
with his old preceptor, upon completing his medical course. But after
leaving college he came to Farmington on a visit, and was influenced by
his friends to begin the practice of his profession in this town.
Perhaps he was brought to this decision by his meeting with Miss Alice
McCoy, a most amiable and lovable young lady, at a party given by Mrs.
Ralston just before he left for Leavenworth. At any rate the
acquaintance thus begun ripened into a warm friendship, which
terminated in a happy marriage that was solemnized New Year's Eve,
1879. Mrs. Gamble was a native of Wooster, Ohio. Her parents are still
living in Farmington. For their history see sketch of William McCoy
[This sketch is not listed in the index]. The Doctor has a beautiful
home on the north side of Fort Street, this village, comprising a
handsome two-story frame house, and here he and his wife dwelt in
happiness until her untimely death November 14, 1889. She was of a
sweet and gracious nature, was faithful to all that belonged to true
Christian womanhood, and left behind her the memory of all that is pure
and good. Three children were born of that marriage: Harry Stuart; May,
who died at the age of eighteen months; and Luella Frances.
After settling in Farmington, the Doctor applied himself very
closely to his professional duties and in time has become widely known
for his success and skill, and the people place great reliance upon
him. In 1881 he embarked in the drug business and has here a fine and
well-arranged store and commands a large trade. In 1889 he became the
owner and proprietor of the book-store here which is a neat and
well-appointed establishment, is well stocked with the best literature,
all the leading magazines and periodicals of the day, besides school
books, etc., and it adds greatly to the educational facilities of the
village. In 1887 the disastrous fire which destroyed about half of
Farmington, burned the Doctor's drug store and an elaborate medical
library which was valued at $1,100 and all his instruments. The
destruction of his beloved books was more to our subject than the value
of all that was destroyed, as his financial condition was such that he
could sustain the pecuniary loss without being crippled. He is one of
the wealthy men of the village, and can afford to indulge in all the
luxuries that he may wish for. One of his fancies is for good horses,
of which he is a connoisseur, and the horse men in this county like to
have his favorable judgment on their animals.
Our subject has a strong hold on the affections of his
fellow-townsmen and of the many to whose ailments he has administered,
and he has formed many true and lasting friendships. It is seldom that
any man is held in such universal esteem as this good physician, wise
counselor, beloved mentor and steadfast friend. The Doctor is a man of
deep culture and sound learning, and always manages to keep abreast of
the times, notwithstanding the many demands made on him in his
profession and business. His progressive public spirit has placed him
among the foremost who have sought to promote the growth and enhance
the general welfare of this town, and his name is inseparably connected
with the advancement of various enterprises calculated to improve
Farmington in particular and the county in general. He is naturally
inclined to politics, but out of force of will and for the honor and
dignity of his profession restrains himself from entering into the
political arena. He has, however, represented his party, (the
Democratic) at several conventions, but has never allowed his name to
go before any convention or caucus as a candidate for any office. He
took an active part in the incorporation of the village in 1885, and,
as we have seen, has contributed liberally to its rise and progress.
The Doctor was reared in the Presbyterian Church, and retains the
stanch decisive principles of that faith.
