Eliza Chamberlain was born on April 28, 1830, at Brazier Falls, New York into a Quaker family.

In her early years Eliza attended a female seminary and had a certificate to teach in schools.

[1] A few months after their marriage, Eliza and Otis were called to New York City to board a clipper ship about to sail to China.

[1] Due to Eliza's declining health, the Gibsons returned to the Moira, United States in 1865.

[3] In 1868 the couple were appointed to nurture the new Methodist church set up in San Francisco for the large Chinese immigrants (mostly Cantonese) in California, where they remained in the field for the rest of their lives.