My Genealogy Hound

William A. Gamel was born in St. Francois County, in 1846, and is a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Plattin Township, Mo. He is the eighth of eleven children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Richardson) Gamel. Robert Gamel was born in Pennsylvania, in 1803, and when quite young removed with his father to Ohio. After attaining his majority he went to Kentucky, and from there to Jefferson County, in 1828, where he was married one year later. He then lived in St. Charles, Jefferson and St. Francois Counties until 1848, when he settled near Festus, and here died in 1875. The maternal grandmother of the subject of this sketch came, when a child, with her father, Booker Richardson, to St. Louis County, afterwards to Jefferson County, where he was one of the influential and respected citizens. His wife was born in Virginia in 1807, and died in 1873. The father was a farmer, a blacksmith and a miller by trade. William received a fair education in the common schools, and in October, 1879, was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kenner, daughter of William B. and Mary Kenner, formerly of Ste. Genevieve County, where Mrs. Gamel was born. Her father was also a native of Ste. Genevieve County, born 1831. He received a fair education, and in 1852 went to California, where he spent three years. He married, in 1857, a daughter of William and Eliza Sevink, formerly of Tenn. Mr. Kenner lived in Ste. Genevieve, where he has a large tract of land, until 1877, at which date he came to Jefferson County, and settled near Festus. His parents, Francis and Elizabeth (Pillars) Kenner, were natives of Hawkins County, Tenn., and Kaskaskia, Ill., respectively. The father was a wealthy citizen and a great sportsman. He came to Missouri when it was Louisiana Territory. To Mr. Gamel and wife were born two children: Lee Booker and William Bertram. Mr. Gamel lived near Festus until 1887, when he settled two miles west of Rush Tower, and here he has over 300 acres, mostly the result of his own efforts. He is a farmer, and in early life taught school several years, but was not satisfied with that profession. Politically a Democrat, his first vote was for H. Seymour, in 1866. He and wife are members of Christ Church. Mr. Gamel has a fine farm of 120 acres, all well cultivated, and also has eighty acres in Joachim Township.