This 1 1/2 story home was built for John H. and Mary Alice Gamble circa 1874.
John H. Gamble was born June of 1842 to John and Sarah Heck Gamble. November 8, 1866 John married Mary Alice Long in Adams county, Illinois. She is the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth M. Irwin Long of Richfield, Adams county, Illinois. John and Mary’s children were Thomas (1868-?), John Mercer (1872-?), Robert Long (1877-?) and Vista Bartlett (1883 – 1906) the wife of J. Richard Haas.
John was reported as a farmer in Richfield, Adams county, Illinois on the 1860 and 1870 censuses. The 1875 Louisiana city directory has him partnered with Joseph S. Irwin in a business of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats, caps and notions located at the north side of Georgia street west of Main street that began in 1872. Their partnership has dissolved by 1892 when he has his own shoe and boot business at 313 Georgia street. John continues in this line of work up until he sells 315 North Main to August Gansz September 6, 1904. He moves to Pasadena, California and forms Gamble & Company a grocery business. The Gambles live the remainder of their lives in California. Mary passes away August 2, 1918 and John May 14, 1935.
” AUGUST C. GANSZ, one of the able and successful young journalists in this portion of Missouri, is editor and proprietor of the “Pike County News,” published in Louisiana, Mo. The paper was started in 1890 by the Pike County Publishing Company, with Col. W. H. Edgar as editor, but since July, 1892, our subject has been the manager of the plant, and to him is due the credit of its increasing popularity and growing circulation. The paper, a bright, newsy sheet, is issued every Thursday, and is conducted in the interests of Pike County, and more particularly of Louisiana. It is a good exponent of Republican principles, and gives in a condensed and clear style the current events of the outside world, as well as local news. The father of A. C. Gansz, who bore the Christian name of Carl, was a native of Germany. He emigrated to the United States in 1853 and settled at Palmyra, Mo., where lie worked at his trade as a contracting stone-mason, and also managed a farm. He was a supporter of the Republican Party and religiously was identified with the Lutheran Church. He was called to his final rest September 7, 1882, and left to his children the priceless heritage of an unblemished name. His wife, who was Miss Mary Keohler, was also of German birth and crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1854 with an uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Gansz were the parents of eight children: Philip C., editor of the Macon “Republican,” Ma- son, Mo.; August C., whose name heads this biography; George, accidentally killed by a gun- shot in 1862; Anna C., living at Macon, Mo.; Charles F., a resident of Palmyra; Elizabeth, wife of A. H. Hollyman, Palmyra; Maggie (Mrs. George W. Collet), living near Britton, O. T.; Susan, at home. The mother is yet alive and is passing her declining days in Palmyra. A. C. Gansz was born February 15, 1860, in Palmyra and lived under the parental roof until attaining his majority. He obtained a practical knowledge of farming under his father’s instruction, and managed to acquire a general education in the district schools; he also worked with his father at his trade, and in 1881 went to Quincy, Ill., where he remained about a year. Returning home he took up the business of his father after the latter’s death, and for about five years engaged in contracting and building. Desiring to see something of the West he went to Wichita, Kan., and opened a coal and feed store, which he conducted with fair success for about three years. In 1890 he went into the newspaper business in company with his brother in Macon, Mo., and during his two years’ stay there became master of the various departments of work. In July, 1892, he leased the “Pike County News” plant in company with the brother just mentioned and has since given his entire attention to the improvement of the paper and to increasing the subscription list; in connection therewith he has a good trade in job printing. He is a member of the Evening Star Lodge No. 28, I. O. O. F., Louisiana, and belongs to the S. of T. and B. of St. A. March 31, 1887, Mr. Gansz was married in St. Louis to Alice, daughter of John N. and Julia Ann (Masterson) Foster. The latter was from one of the oldest families of Marion County, her grandfather having been the first white settler there, it is believed. Mr. and Mrs. Gansz have one child Julia Eleanora-who was born in Macon September 3, 1890. The parents are members of the Episcopal Church and are counted among the most active and influential workers in its congregation.” 1
Advertisements placed by Gansz in the 1903 Louisiana City Directory 2
1. Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Missouri Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States. 1895. Chicago: C.O. Owen & Co. pgs 160-161
2. Prather, Charles E. n.d. “Louisiana City Directory (1903-1904).” Louisiana, Missouri.