HOWARD GAMBLE

Howard Gamble, the energetic and popular Chevrolet agent of Eustis, is a native son of Florida, having been born at Tallahassee on August 12th, 1894.
He attended school in Tallahassee and studied at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for two years and also at the United States Naval Academy at Anapolis for two years.
He followed various occupations until the outbreak of the World War when he immediately enlisted and ultimately became First Lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery of the 4th Division and took part in three major offensives in France: Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne. Mr. Gamble has taken a very prominent part in the American Legion. He is Commander of the Eustis Post and this Post has been extremely active in many directions. It has succeeded in obtaining compensation for a number of ex-soldiers, and assisted a large number of civic enterprises, including the organization of a Boy Scout Troop at Eustis, and in the compiling of a survey of crippled children in the Eustis section. The membership of the Eustis Post showed an amazing increase of one hundred and fifty per cent for 1928 over 1927, and this Post has won all the membership cups which have been awarded in the State of Florida.
After the World War, Mr. Gamble was Southern Representative for a New York Fur House, acting in this capacity until 1927 when he settled permanently at Eustis, which he had visited and become favorably impressed with on his travels of the Southern States. Soon after making his home in Eustis he purchased the Howard Chevrolet Agency, the name of which he changed to Lake Motors, Inc. Under Mr. Gamble’s able management this business has been conducted with marked success.
He is a member of the Masons and was married at Eustis to Willie M. Igou, daughter of W. M. Igou, and account of whose life will be found elsewhere in this volume. One child has been born to this union: Ann M. Gamble.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p214.

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DR. W. A. GETCH

Dr. W. A. Getch is another man with the proud distinction of being born in Florida, and Lake County, having been born in Altoona on May 6, 1885, son of E. C. Getch.
He attended school at Altoona and at Umatilla, and took the normal course at Stetson University. He taught school from 1903 to 1908. He attended Southern Dental College and received his degree in May, 1912. He started the practice of dentistry at Eustis in 1912, where he has been continuously since then. Dr. Getch has always closely followed the advances in dentistry, and is the first dentist in Eustis to install electrical equipment in his office, and also the first man to put in an X-ray equipment.
In addition to his professional work, Dr. Getch is interested in the citrus industry and has bout 40 to 50 acres in grove.
He is a member of the State, National, and District Dental Associations, a charter member of the Kiwanis Club, Past Master of the local lodge of Masons, and has held the chair of Worthy Patron in the Easter Star for nine years, which is longer than it has ever been held by any one else.
He was married at Tavares to Alice Alberta Bell, daughter of Mrs. J. W. Bell, formerly of Tavares, and they have one daughter: Alice Virginia.

from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p217

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GEORGE A. GIBBONS

George A. Gibbons was born at Lee-Summit, Missouri, July 8, 1859, son of W. H. and Roann Daniells Gibbons. He attended school in Missouri, and for a time was a farmer in his native State, later becoming a cashier in a bank.

He came to Umatilla in 1910 and although more or less retired when he came to Florida, he took an active interest in the city and was a well-known man. He took an interest in orange growing, and owned several groves during his life, but had sold them all but his home place at the time of his death. He took an active part in the building up of Umatilla, and was instrumental in getting street paving and sidewalks laid, and in seeing that the city park was well taken care of and a credit to the city.

Mr. Gibbons kept up his interest in banking affairs, and was the largest stockholder of the Bank of Umatilla. He was a member of the Masons, and was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School for a number of years.

He was married in Missouri to Anne George from Versailles, Ky., and they have one son: R. C. Gibbons, of Tampa, Florida.
Mr. Gibbons died December 21, 1927. His widow still owns the home farm at Le-Summit, near Kansas City, Missouri.

from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p217.

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CHARLES C. GILES


Charles C. Giles was born in Giles County, Virginia, June 16, 1912, son of William Harrison and Margaret Ellen Giles.
Mr. Giles comes from a family of soldiers, his paternal grandfather having served in the Mexican War, his father in the Civil War, and his maternal grandfather in the Revolutionary War.
He received his education in the schools of Virginia, and at Milligan College in East Tennessee.
He came to Umatilla, Lake County, Florida, in 1891, for the purpose of growing oranges, which he did until the freeze of 1895.
He served in the Spanish-American War, Third Regiment Band, Tennessee Volunteers.
Soon after the war, he returned to Umatilla and engaged again in citrus culture. In the past few years he has also engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
He has always taken an active interest in civic affairs, and was the first Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of Umatilla and for the past 14 years he has served Umatilla as Magistrate. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Giles was married on May 31, 1893, to Edna R. Harp, daughter of A. J. Harp, who was a pioneer citizen of Lake County, having come here in 1881. He also engaged in citrus-growing and was a well-known citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Giles have had five children: Robert L. (deceased), Margaret E. (Mrs. R. E. Maxwell), Charles A. (deceased), Roger G., and Zera D.

from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p217-218

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ROBERT LEE GILES


No young man in Lake County made a more enviable record in the World War than did Robert Lee Giles, who was the only soldier from Umatilla to be killed in the War. He was born in Umatilla on the 10th day of March, 1894, son of Charles C. and Edna R. Giles. He attended school in his home town, graduating with honors from the local high school; subsequently he took a normal course at the University of Florida, and upon completing this he taught school for two years in Lake County, and then went to Windsor, Canada, on a visit, and while there he enlisted in the Canadian Army some time before the United States entered the war.
 
At first he served as a member of the 241st Canadian Scottish Borderers, and was later transferred to the 48th Highlanders. He took part in six major engagements of the British forces, including Vimy, Paschendalle, and Lens. After serving with great distinction for nearly four years he was killed in the second battle of Amiens on the 8th day of August, 1918.

His superior officers were high in praise of his bravery and fine soldierly qualities, and his father has received many fine letters from them testifying to his splendid military record.

Mr. Giles’ memory is greatly revered in Umatilla, and upon the establishment of the American Legion Post there it was named in his honor. He was a member of the Methodist Church at his home town, Umatilla.
He was never married, but was engaged to a lady in Windsor, Canada, when he enlisted in the Canadian forces.