MOGMHGamble
HAMILTON ROWAN GAMBLE 1798-1864
Grand Master, 1832-1833
BIOGRAPHY
From Biographies of Past Grand Masters, 1821-1901, by the Grand Lodge of Missouri:
Most Worshipful Brother Hamilton Rowan Gamble, it seems, first appeared in the Grand Lodge in 1823, representing Franklin Union Lodge No. 7. At the Annual Communication in October 1827, he was elected Junior Grand Warden. One year later, in 1828, he was advanced to the office of Senior Grand Warden, and in 1829 re-elected, serving two terms. At the Annual Session in October, 1832, he was called to preside as Most Worshipful Grand Master. His term did not expire until December, 1833, when he was succeeded by Brother Sinclair Kirtley.
Brother Gamble was born in Winchester, Virginia, November 29, 1798. His education was obtained at Hampden, Sidney College. He was admitted to the bar when but eighteen years of age. Before he was twenty-one years old he was licensed. to practice in three States — Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri. He removed to the latter in 1818, and became Deputy Circuit Clerk under his brother Archibald. At that time there were but two counties in Missouri north of the Missouri river. He soon moved to Old Franklin, then in Howard County, and became Circuit Prosecuting Attorney. In 1824 Governor Frederick Bates appointed him Secretary of State; the seat of State Government was then at St. Charles. Later he became noted as a land lawyer. In 1846 he went to the Legislature, and in 1851 was elected Supreme Judge. Although a Whig, and in a hopeless minority, his popularity was so great that he drew forty thousand Democratic votes. He was by his associates made presiding judge. He resigned in 1855. In 1858 he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he resided until 1861, when he returned to St. Louis. War clouds were gathering, anarchy impending, and dissension everywhere. He declared his unswerving loyalty to the Union, which he strengthened immeasurably. The State Convention which soon met unanimously chose him for Provisional Governor, after the flight of Governor Claiborne F. Jackson. This was in July, 1861.
In 1827 he married Miss Coalter, of Columbia, Mo., a sister of Mrs. Edward Bates. Brother Gamble died January 31, 1864, worn out by arduous duties and anxiety. The funeral was a most imposing one, the cortege being over a mile in length.
Excepting the Masonic record of our distinguished brother at the head of this writing, little or nothing could be obtained save that he affiliated November 2, 1824, with Missouri Lodge No. 1, and was Worshipful Master in 1826 and 1827.
