San
Joaquin County
Biographies
EDWARD L. GAMBLE
A man of strong purpose and laudable
ambition, Edward L. Gamble is the capable general manager of the
Tidewater-Southern Railway Company. His
efforts, guided by sound judgment and keen discrimination, have been deciding
factors in his success. He has steadily
progressed, finding in each transition stage of his business career opportunity
for a further step in advance. He was
born in Lincoln, Illinois, December 18, 1870, and when only three years of age
was taken by his parents to the farming district of Republic County,
Kansas. His education was obtained in
the public schools and supplemented by a course in the State University at
Manhattan, from which he was graduated.
In 1888 he entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad as local agent for
the road at points in Illinois and Missouri and seven years was thus
occupied. In the spring of 1895 he
removed to Colorado, where he was employed by the Denver & Rio Grande
Railroad as general agent at Glenwood Springs, later in the same capacity at Creede, and then at Telluride, in the same state. Then he was transferred to special work for
the same company throughout Colorado and Utah until 1912, when he removed to
Stockton, California, and became the agent for the Western Pacific Railroad,
and later was made general agent.
On March 12, 1917, when the Western
Pacific Railroad purchased the Tidewater-Southern Railroad, Mr. Gamble was made
general manager of the latter in both the executive and traffic
departments. The Tidewater-Southern
Railroad began operations out of Stockton in 1912 and runs to Manteca, Escalon,
Modesto, Turlock and Hilmar. The company
operates electric cars for passenger service between Stockton and Modesto and
the freight service is by steam power.
In 1918 estimates were prepared to operate cars over the entire line by
electricity and the estimates had been approved when the Government took over
the line on account of the War and all plans had to be deferred. In 1920 new estimates were made for
electrifying the entire line, electric freight locomotives were ordered and
early in 1923 a start will be made to electrify the entire system, which will
be completed as soon as practicable.
Already plans and specifications have been drawn to extend the line to
Fresno. With this extension the railroad
will pass through the rich and productive valley of the San Joaquin and through
the extensive Chowchilla ranch, thus aiding in the development and prosperity
of the entire valley.
Mr. Gamble has one daughter, Helena,
born in Colorado. Since 1899 Mr. Gamble
has been a member of the B. P. O. Elks No. 224 of Aspen, Colorado; he belongs
to Glenwood Lodge No. 65, F. & A. M., at Glenwood Springs, Colorado; the
Scottish Rite bodies in Stockton, San Francisco
Consistory No. 1; and in Stockton is a member of the Rotary Club.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1597. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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