Born in Scotland, Gemmell traveled to America when he was six years old with his parents. He lived in New York City until he was 19 whereupon he traveled with his uncle to settle on some land near Toronto, Canada. He participated in the Canadian Rebellion, he was captured as a prisoner of war in 1837 and tried for treason. He was condemned to death in 40 days, sent to England where Daniel Webster in behalf of the U.S. government had his sentence commuted to life imprisonment. He was sent to Australia and escaped after two years. He became a mountain man with Jim Bridger. He joined the Mormon church.
He went into business in Michigan and married. Grief-stricken at the death of his wife, he left his son with his mother and started west, heading for Oregon in about 1847. Reaching Salt Lake City, he halted and found work in the new Mormon settlement. Sometime before marrying Elizabeth Mahala Hendricks, in 1850, he joined the Mormon Church. Later in 1850, he married Sarah Mariah Brown in polygamy. A year after Elizabeth died, he married another plural wife, Hannah Jane Davis, in October 1852. Learning that his mother had died and his son was without a stable home, he returned to Michigan in 1856. He then went to Texas to visit relatives. In 1857 he organized a company of Texas Mormons, accompanying them to Florence, Nebraska, from which place they set out for Salt Lake City.
In November 1858 he was excommunicated from the Mormon Church by Brigham Young because of what he found out about Mountain Meadow massacre. He fled for his life with one wife and their family to Sheridan, Montana in 1859. He spent the rest of his life in Montana, trading with Indians and engaging in business. He owned and operated a successful saw mill. His obituary stated that he was the father of 22 children and alcoholism may have led to his shortened life.
Maria Gammel Wife Female 50 Pennsylvania, United States
Charles Gammel Son Male 21 Utah, United States
Andrew Gammel Son Male 18 Utah, United States
Jennie Gammel Daughter Female 15 Montana, United States
Alice Gammel Daughter Female 13 Montana, United States
John Gammel Son Male 10 Montana, United States
George Gammel Son Male 5 Montana, United States
Scott Gray Other Male 27 Maine, United States
Sources
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 04 July 2020), memorial page for James Gemmell (4 Feb 1814–6 Apr 1881), Find A Grave: Memorial #19116513, citing Sheridan Cemetery, Sheridan, Madison County, Montana, USA ; Maintained by Mel Bashore (contributor 46894669) .
↑ "Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN2L-LH1 : 2 March 2021), James Gemmel and Harriet Fitsgerrald, 29 Sep 1843; citing reference ID , various county clerks and libraries, Michigan; FHL microfilm 941,632.
↑ "Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN2L-2GL : 2 March 2021), James Gemmell and Editha A Clark, 15 Nov 1849; citing reference ID , various county clerks and libraries, Michigan; FHL microfilm 941,632.
↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCSX-473 : 23 December 2020), James Gammell, Utah, Utah Territory, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCS6-RC4 : 23 December 2020), James Gammell, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH8H-Z9W : 19 February 2021), James Gammel, Ruby Valley, Madison, Montana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 28, sheet 373D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,742.
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