Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S.  "An Illustrated History of Umatilla
County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 436.
 
HON. EBER B. GAMBEE

     The representative citizen, renowned educator and legislator whose name is
at the head of this article, has not only been a potent factor in the formation
and development of Umatilla county, but is of note throughout the state and the
entire Pacific coast, having also an enviable reputation as a writer for the
Toledo Review and other leading papers of the day. Being a close and ardent
student, especially of "Political Economy," he has ever been a leader in every
walk of life where his lot has been cast.
     He was born to Gideon and Arminda Gambee, at Adrian, Michigan, on September
24, 1852, and was placed at an early date in the Quaker Academy, at Union
Springs, New York, remaining there until he was seventeen years of age, and then
entered the famous Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana, taking here the
degree of Bachelor of Arts at the age of twenty-one, and that of Master of Arts
two years later. He immediately took up a post-graduate course in political
economy, in which important science he has gained a prominence unsurpassed by
few, investigating it from the foundation principles to their practical
exemplification by himself, both in private affairs of business, as well as in
the public halls of legislation for a great commonwealth. In 1874 he came to
California and engaged as a public educator, taking high rank at once even in
that advanced state.  For two years he was the editor of the Dispatch, published
in Ukiah, Mendocino county, California. In 1881 he came to Umatilla county,
settling on Camas prairie. Financial reverses had overtaken him, as they will
all men, and he was forced to engage for wages in herding sheep, while his wife
taught school. They took up the burdens without a murmur and demonstrated what
can be done by ability and courage operating on the right principles, for to-day
they own eighteen hundred acres of fine land, well improved and supplied with
all utensils and buildings to make it a model ranch, while they have a good
holding of stock. While continuing in this quiet, industrious life of
unostentatious enterprise and individual demonstration of the foundation
principles of political economy, his ability became evident to all and he was
called, like the noble Roman of old, from the plow to the halls of legislation.
The same principles of wisdom and operation that brought him such a brilliant
success in his private life, now put into practice by their gifted expounder in
this public capacity, gave him a marked distinction among his confreres,
commendation throughout the state and the approval of his constituency, who
manifested it in giving him a second term by a larger majority. During the first
term, in 1888, he was a strong opposer to that celebrated, yet outrageous, bull
run water bill, and it was he that defeated it finally from passing over the
governor's veto. He served on the important committee on assessment and
taxation, introducing an excellent measure of great advantage to the state,
which was killed by wire pulling in the senate.
     He was married in Portland, on August 8, 1882, to Miss Mary L. Mossie, a
native of Monroe, Michigan. They have the following children: Edwin E., Eric J.,
Louis P., Hosmer C.  All are receiving their preparation for college from home
training by their parents and later will graduate from some of the higher
institutions of learning. Mr. Gambee and family are all members of the Catholic
church, where he is held in great esteem. Mrs. Gambee was educated in Adrian,
Michigan, and followed teaching from 1876, the date of her graduation, until she
was married. Mr. Gambee was instrumental in organizing the town of Ukiah, giving
the name. It is of note that the parents of our subject were natives of New
York, but early pioneers to Michigan, eating their first meal after marriage on
a stump, the first day of their journey to their western home. Mr. Gamine has
worked his own way to his present place of distinction in the political, social,
and financial world, and is equally at home following the plow or in the
legislative halls dealing death blows in forensic eloquence to the opposers of
upright laws and just principles.


Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Funeral Notices
 
Oct. 12, 1939; Oregonian, p 12
Gambee---Late of 1811 N.W. Couch st., Oct. 8, Eber B., aged 87 years,
beloved father of Dr. Louis P. and Dr. Edwin E. Gambee, both of Portland;
Dr. Eric J. Gambee of Phoenix, Ariz.  Funeral cortege will leave the Chapel
of Miller & Tracey Thursday, Oct. 12, at 8:45 a.m., thence to the cathedral,
N.W. 18th and Couch, where mass will be offered at 9 a.m.  Interment Mt.
Calvary cemetery.

June 9, 1939; Oregonian, p 16
Gambee---Late of 1811 N.W. Couch st., June 6, Mary Louise, aged 84 years,
beloved wife of Eber B., mother of Dr. Louis P. and Dr. Edwin E. Gambee, all
of Portland; Dr. Eric J. Gambee of Earling, Ia., and Hosmer C. Gambee of
Phoenix, Ariz.; sister of Mrs. J. H. Mettie of Pendleton, Or.  Funeral
cortege will leave the Chapel of Miller & Tracey Friday, June 9, at 8:45
a.m., thence to the cathedral, N.W. 18th and Couch, where mass will be
offered at 9 a.m.  Interment Mount Calvary cemetery.

*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.