Charles H. Gabriel

[2] Charles Hutchinson Gabriel was born in Wilton, Muscatine County, Iowa on August 18, 1856 and raised on a farm.

His father led singing schools in their home, and young Charles developed an interest in music.

[2] Even though he never had any formal training in music, he began to travel and lead his own shape note singing schools in various locations around the age of 17.

The pastor shared the sermon topic and by the end of the week the boy had written a song for that Sunday, words and music.

[4] Eventually he served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, California (1890-2).

Gabriel wrote an autobiography titled Sixty Years of Gospel Song (Chicago, Illinois: Hope Publishing Company, undated).