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1. SUBJECT:

Littleton W. Gambill Home.

2. LOCATION:

North side of East Market Street where Federal Street intersects Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

In 1790.

4. OWNERS:

Thomas Harrison, part of inclusive patent, March 1773 (1290 acres).

Reuben and Robert Harrison from father, Thomas Harrison, inheritance.

Jacob Wyant from Reuben Harrison, record burnt, B.R. Deed Book #000, page 241.

William Brisbon from Jacob Wyant, March 1805, $1,000. B.R. Deed Book #000, page 241.

Robert Gray from William Bribon, December 24, 1808, $300.00 B.R. Deed Book #000, page 547.

Joseph Thornton from Robert Gray, March 16, 1814, $1,000. Deed Book #2, page 223.

Peter Harry from Jos. Thornton, January 25, 1817, $1,500.00 B.R. Deed Book #3, page 408.

Littleton W. Gambill from Jos. Brathwaite, Commissioner, December 28, 1848, B.R. Deed Book #21, page

158.

Cathern R. Gambill from J.S. Harnsberger, Commissioner, June 22, 1878, Deed Book #20, page 196.

R. Holmes Gambill by will from Cathern R. Gambill, mother, January 31, 1901.

William M. Billhimer from H.W. Bertram, Commissioner, June 2, 1904, $2,550, Deed Book #81, page 209.

Able Miller, present owner, from William Billheimer and H.W. Bertram, Special Commissioner, $2,500,

June 10, 1907, Deed Book #81, page 209.

5. DESCRIPTION:

This is a log house, with a gable roof, still standing, but moved back of its original location. It has two lower and two upper rooms and a front porch.

6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Littleton W. Gambill was born September 16, 1802, the son of Henry J. and Margaret Burns Gambill, and died in Harrisonburg, Virginia, April 22, 1876.

His life of seventy-four years was spent in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, in the affairs of which he took an active part, always interested in whatever seemed to be instrumental in the advancement and well being of the town and the county.

For a number of years he was Clerk of the County and the Circuit Courts, beginning his service as such in 1847 and 1848 following in the footsteps of his father, Henry J. Gambill, who had held the office from 1809 to 1847, a period of thirty-seven years.

That Littleton Gambill conducted the work and performed the duties of the office in a satisfactory way was attested by the frequency of his re-election to that office.

He was popular in town and county, which may be accounted for by his kindly mature and genial disposition. He was know for years as Major Gambill, possibly because he was Clerk of the Courts, Marshall for a number of years and attended all of its of its sittings. He was past the age limit for service in the War Between the States and greatly regretted its occurrence.

Major Gambill like most men had a specialty or hobby, and his seems to have been masonry. He used to say, "There would have been no War Between the States, no sectional difficulty, if there had been more Masons". He might be called one of the fathers of that time-honored institution. He had been a faithful and

Littleton W. Gambill Home

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zealous member of the Harrisonburg Lodge for many years, and its work and objects held a place in his heart second only to the Christian Church of which he was a prayerful and devoted member. He believed in the cause of temperance and took an active part with William G. Stevens, Charles D. Gray and others in the organization of the Sons of Temperance in 1844.

"It cannot be said that Major Gambill was a great man, but what is far better, it may be said that he was a good man, possessing those traits of character to a degree so essential to the making of such a man, well meaning, kind hearted, a friend who acted quickly from a generous impulse not always best for himself, and a faithful public servant. Such was Littleton W. Gambill. (In part from Obituary in the Rockingham Register, April 26, 1876.) He died at his residence in Harrisonburg, April 22, 1876, in his seventy-fourth year, closing a life of useful service.

7. ART:

Photograph.

8. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: