Joseph Gamble was born in 1824 in the Arundel St area of Sheffield, the son of Joseph, working as a Carrier and Mary, his wife. Over the next eighty years he was to become part of the industrial and social fabric of Sheffield prior to his death.  By the 1851 census both parents had died, his brother Thomas was head of a family of 8 siblings living in Westfield Terrace, Joseph and Thomas were both employed as Merchant's Clerks.  Ten years later the brothers had established their own business and were now Steel File Manufacturers, employing their younger brothers Michael as a Traveller and Samuel and Arthur as Clerks. 

In 1865 Joseph married Mary Emma Haworth the daughter of James Haworth a manufacturer of Edge and Joinery tools, employing 33 people. Mary was also from a large family having 9 siblings. The company continued to grow and by 1871 employed 260 men, 22 women and 40 boys. The family moved to 'South Down' on Clarkehouse Road, Joseph died in 1905 aged 81 leaving £89,573 18s 2d; his wife Mary Emma died four years later leaving £6,649 15s 5d.

During his life time Joseph had various roles in a number of prominent Sheffield businesses e.g. a Partner in Moss & Gamble Bros, Director of John Round, Davey Bros, Ibbotson Co Ltd, Kelham Rolling Mills and Sheffield Electric Light & Power Ltd to name a few.  He was also on the Sheffield Council, an Alderman and involved with the Sheffield Cherry Tree Orphanage.