James Gamble (1759–1841): Revolutionary War Veteran and Founder of Gamble’s Mill
James Gamble, born in 1759 in Poughkeepsie, New York, stands as a foundational figure in the early development of what would become Shelby, Ohio. A veteran of the American Revolutionary War, Gamble served with honor as a corporal, contributing to the cause that birthed a new nation.
After the war, like many veterans of his generation, Gamble looked westward for opportunity and renewal. While it was his sons, John and Hugh Gamble, who first made their way to the area that would become Shelby, James soon followed, bringing with him the industrious spirit that had defined both his military and civilian life.
In the early 19th century, the region was sparsely populated and known as Gamble’s Mill, a name that reflects the central role James Gamble played in its establishment. Recognizing the area’s potential, he laid out the first plats, helping transform a remote frontier into an organized and inhabitable settlement.
Gamble’s most enduring contribution was the construction of a grist mill, strategically located near Eli Wilson’s sawmill. In a time when survival was tied closely to local infrastructure, this mill became a vital service for area settlers. Farmers traveled from miles around, often by horse or ox team, to grind their grain into flour—a process essential for daily life. The mill helped establish Gamble’s Mill as a hub of early community activity and economic exchange.
James Gamble died in 1841, having witnessed the evolution of a nation and the beginnings of a new town that owed much to his leadership. He was originally buried in Wilson Cemetery, but his remains were later reinterred after the land was acquired by the Salesbook company, which prompted the relocation of the cemetery.
Gamble’s legacy lives on not only in the name that early settlers gave to their village, but in the spirit of enterprise and community-building that defined his life. His role as a Revolutionary War soldier and pioneer settler places him among the key figures in both American and Ohio history—bridging the founding of the nation and the founding of a town.