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J. E. Gable
Born October 6, 1852


While J. E. Gable maintains his residence at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he is well known at Oxford Junction and in other parts of the county as an enterprising and progressive business man, who is the senior partner of the firm of John E. Gable & Company, dealers in lumber, coal and building materials at Oxford Junction. He is the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Eby) Gable and was born October 6, 1852, near Germantown, Pennsylvania. He was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Mount Carroll, Carroll county, Illinois, and at the age of fourteen years he became a resident of Lost Nation, Clinton county, Iowa, living on a farm in the vicinity of the town to the age of nineteen years when he put aside the duties and labors of the fields and left the farm to learn the carpenter's trade, believing that he would find industrial or commercial pursuits more congenial and profitable than agricultural life.
Mr. Gable worked at the carpenter's trade for a number of years and in 1879 in company with J. C. Fay purchased the lumberyard in Lost Nation of F. E. Moses. This was conducted under partnership arrangements for two years, and eight months, after which Mr. Gable purchased Mr. Fay's interest and in the fall of 1883 sold out to the firm of Louisfield & Cressey. At that time he purchased a fourth interest in two lumberyards at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in company with J. C. Fay, William Fay and F. M. Thompson, the new firm being organized tinder the firm style of Fay Brothers & Company, with yards at No. 400 South First Street. In 1906 Mr. Gable also purchased the present business at Oxford Junction where, in connection with his son 0. A. Gable, he is owner of a lumber and coal yard, also dealing in all kinds of building materials. This business is now managed by the son and is conducted under the firm name of John E. Gable & Company.
In 1875 when twenty-two years of age John E. Gable was married to Miss Heala E. Leinbaugh, of Elwood, Iowa, and they had four children: Frank R., of Jerome, Iowa, who is engaged in the wholesale coal trade; Ed B., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is head salesman for Fay Brothers & Company; Otis A., of Oxford Junction, and Onalee E., who was born August 24, 1885, and was married June 10, 1908, to L. A. Fuhrmister, while her death occurred May 14, 1909. The parents reside at No. 317 South Eighth street in Cedar Rapids, the father devoting his time and energies to the conduct of his lumber and other interests in that city. He is a man of unfaltering enterprise, managing his interests with ability, his labors being of a character that contribute to general progress and prosperity as well as to individual success.
Otis N. Gable, managing the interests of the firm at Oxford Junction, was born at Lost Nation. Clinton county, Iowa, June 16, 1879, and was a little lad of four, summers when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Cedar Rapids. There he resided until he came to Oxford Junction to take charge of the business and his education was acquired in the public schools of the former city and in the Cedar Rapids business College. His practical business training was received under the direction of his father in connection with the lumber trade so that broad and thorough experience qualified him for active management when he came to Oxford Junction to assume control of the business here, when he and his father became factors in the commercial circles of the town for the sale of lumber, coal and building materials. As manager, the son has built up a good trade and the patronage is steadily increasing.
On the 16th of June, 1904, Mr. Gable was married to Miss Sadie Hammill, of Cedar Rapids, a daughter of J. H. Hammill, of that place. They have two children, Pauline E. and Ruth 0. Their home is a hospitable one, ever open for the reception of their many friends. Mr. Gable takes active part in the affairs of the community, especially in the promotion of interests for the betterment of the town and is a member of the board of education. He also belongs to the Commercial Club; to Zealous Lodge, NO. 435, A.F.&A.M., of Oxford Junction; and to Cedar Rapids Lodge, No. 141, I. 0. 0. F. He is a young man of enterprising spirit to whom opportunity is a stimulus for renewed and active effort, and in the legitimate lines of trade he is meeting with gratifying success.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 115.

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