Robert J. Gamble
Encyclopedia
Robert Jackson Gamble was a U.S. Representative and Senator from South Dakota
. He was the father of Ralph Abernethy Gamble and brother of John Rankin Gamble
.
He was born in Genesee County
, near Akron, New York
. In 1862, he moved with his parents to Fox Lake, Wisconsin
. In 1874, he graduated from Lawrence University
in Appleton, Wisconsin
, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar
in 1875 and began practice in Yankton, Territory of Dakota
, later South Dakota.
He became a district attorney for the second judicial district of the Territory of Dakota in 1880, and was a city attorney for Yankton in 1881 and 1882. Afterward, he went on to become a member of the Territorial council in 1885. Several years after South Dakota became a state, he was elected a representative to the Fifty-fourth Congress in 1895 as a Republican
. Although an unsuccessful candidate in the 1896 election, he was re-elected to the Fifty-sixth Congress. During the Fifty-sixth Congress, he became the chairman of the now-defunct U.S. House Committee on Expenditures on the Public Buildings.
In 1901, Robert J. Gamble was elected as a Republican
to the United States Senate
. Re-elected in 1906, he served until March 1913, after being an unsuccessful candidate for renomination. He was chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Depredations
during the Fifty-seventh Congress, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard from the Fifty-eighth to the Sixtieth Congress, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills during the Sixty-first Congress, and chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during the Sixty-Second Congress.
In 1915, Gamble moved to Sioux Falls
and resumed the practice of law. From 1916 to 1924 he served as a referee in bankruptcy
for the southern district of South Dakota. He was a member of the National Executive Committee of the League to Enforce Peace
. He died in Sioux Falls, and was buried in Yankton Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. He was the father of Ralph Abernethy Gamble and brother of John Rankin Gamble
John Rankin Gamble
John Rankin Gamble was a lawyer and politician from South Dakota. He was born in Alabama, New York in 1848, and was the brother of Robert J. Gamble and uncle of Ralph Abernethy Gamble....
.
He was born in Genesee County
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, near Akron, New York
Akron, New York
Akron, New York is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was listed as 3,085 in the 2000 census. The name means a high place. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. In 1862, he moved with his parents to Fox Lake, Wisconsin
Fox Lake, Wisconsin
Fox Lake is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,454. The city is located within the Town of Fox Lake.-Geography:...
. In 1874, he graduated from Lawrence University
Lawrence University
Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...
in Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton, Wisconsin
Appleton is a city in Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is situated on the Fox River, 30 miles southwest of Green Bay and 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Appleton is the county seat of Outagamie County. The population was 78,086 at the 2010 census...
, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1875 and began practice in Yankton, Territory of Dakota
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
, later South Dakota.
He became a district attorney for the second judicial district of the Territory of Dakota in 1880, and was a city attorney for Yankton in 1881 and 1882. Afterward, he went on to become a member of the Territorial council in 1885. Several years after South Dakota became a state, he was elected a representative to the Fifty-fourth Congress in 1895 as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Although an unsuccessful candidate in the 1896 election, he was re-elected to the Fifty-sixth Congress. During the Fifty-sixth Congress, he became the chairman of the now-defunct U.S. House Committee on Expenditures on the Public Buildings.
In 1901, Robert J. Gamble was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Re-elected in 1906, he served until March 1913, after being an unsuccessful candidate for renomination. He was chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Depredations
United States Senate Committee on Indian Depredations
The Committee on Indian Depredations was a standing committee of the United States Senate from 1893 to 1921. It was superseded by a select committee which operated from 1889 to 1895.- History :...
during the Fifty-seventh Congress, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard from the Fifty-eighth to the Sixtieth Congress, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills during the Sixty-first Congress, and chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs during the Sixty-Second Congress.
In 1915, Gamble moved to Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
and resumed the practice of law. From 1916 to 1924 he served as a referee in bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
for the southern district of South Dakota. He was a member of the National Executive Committee of the League to Enforce Peace
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
. He died in Sioux Falls, and was buried in Yankton Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota.