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         Reuben Henry Gale was born, about 1827, in New York state. (A census record states that Gale was from Virginia, however, family tradition says that he was a born in New York state.) He drove a one-horse spring wagon from New York state to Kentucky and sold sundry items along the way to pay his expenses. He was well educated and taught school in various communities in the northeastern section of Kentucky.

          As previously stated, Gale was suspected of poisoning, Job, his father-in-law but was not charged due to lack of evidence.

          During the War Between the States, Reuben Henry Gale enlisted in the Federal Army at Camp Kenton, near Maysville.

          In 1876 Reuben Henry Gale and Melissa were living near Piqua, Kentucky, at the head of a gorge named for Gale and so called to this day. A young woman, Nan Harger, was living with them and was being courted by James Overbey, an ex-Confederate soldier. James was the son of Richard and Jane (Mullikin) Overbey. A conflict soon developed between the two men. One day Gale was returning from Mt. Olivet and as he reached the Harve Overbey home, on the west side of Johnson Creek, he encountered James Overbey. They had a fight and Overbey got the best of Gale. A few days after the fight, Gale discovered Overbey hunting within a half mile of Gale's house. He hid behind a tree and shot Overbey with a musket. James Overbey fell to the ground badly wounded. Gale came near him and held a horse pistol to his head and fired, killing him instantly. Gale surrendered himself to Sheriff William Wells and was lodged in the jail at Mt. Olivet. He was tried and sentenced to life in prison. While awaiting appeal he attempted to escape and was taken to the jail in Maysville. He later escaped from the Maysville jail and fled to Ohio. The governor of Ohio refused extradition and Gale lived at Johnsville, Ohio until his death about 1907 or 1908.

     The following is a letter written by Reuben Henry Gale to his wife Melissa.

                   Feb 2d 1888

Dearest:

I received a letter from Henry this morning; which I send you. Read it carefully: Then see your friends and tell me what to do. As long as there is no reward there is no danger. It takes money to make the mar go. There is enemies in every camp and snakes in the grass that we cannot always see. If John Leach made that statement then he knew that he lied. It is true that I had sore eyes in Jackson, Mich. in 1853. And my eyes were weak when I came to Sardis Aug. 1853, but not sore; and were never sore from that time until after the war that I remember of. And then I made my own eye medicine. Now when you have fully made up your mind whether I shall stay and run the risk of a pardon write me and I will do as you say. You can see that I am learning to take things calmly. Do you think my hand trembles much?

My hearing was perfect and as good as any ones until I went into the war.

Write soon.
              Yours ever.

P.O. I have taken my fifty Dollars ($50) out of the bank and have eighty-six dollars and eighty-eight cents ($86.88) in my pocket.

Hope on; God will direct us.

P.B. I have not heard anything since I wrote you as to my pension. I shall write to Washington today.

Enclosed find 3 P.O.S.

(written in pencil)

The soul is not where it lives, but where it loves. Who was that person that wrote a part of your last letter and signed his name T?