Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 385 - 386 

LORENZO D. GOSSLER, who is occupying the southwest quarter of section 27, in Park Township, pre-empted this land in June, 1871, and has since given to it his undivided care and attention. A native of Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa., he was born Aug. 25, 1841, and is the son of Charles and Margaret (Becker) Gossler, also natives of the Keystone State.           

            The father of our subject was a natural mechanic, of great ingenuity and skill, a cabinet-maker by trade, and also employed himself largely in the construction of canal boats, besides operating these between Philadelphia and Baltimore. It is estimated that he at least finished off 100 structures of this kind, besides skiffs, flatboats, etc., as he carried on an extensive business of this description for several years. Later in life he took up agricultural pursuits, and spent his declining years amid the rural scenes of Iowa, Missouri and other States. He, however, eventually returned to his native county, where he died in 1872, at the age of sixty-seven years, having been born on the 5th of January, 1805. The mother survived her husband a period of twelve years, her death taking place in May, 1884. 

            The parental family of our subject included eight children, five of whom grew to mature years. The eldest living is Isaiah, a resident of Sunbury, Pa.; Louisa became the wife of Jacob Martz, a well-to-do farmer of Macon County, Mo.; William H. is a resident of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Adelia continues in her native town of Sunbury, Pa.; Lorenzo D., of our sketch, is the youngest of the family living. He was reared to farming pursuits, and educated in the common schools. He continued in his native State until reaching his majority, and then started by himself for the West. Upon reaching Peoria County, Ill., where his brother-in-law, Mr. Martz, was engaged in farming, he assisted him for about a year, and at the expiration of this time went into Van Buren County, Iowa, where he commenced operating on rented land, and raised the crops of one season. 

            Young Gossler then crossed the Mississippi into Ottumwa, Iowa, near which city he followed farming until 1871, and from there came to this county. He was married in Van Buren County, Iowa, on the 24th of December, 1868, to Miss Anna M., daughter of Robert and Rosanna (Morrison) Cresswell, who was born March 14, 1839, and came with her parents, two years later, to Van Buren County, Iowa, where the mother died in 1843, when her daughter Anna was a little child four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell were natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. G. was the youngest, and eight were living at the time of the mother's death. Mr. Cresswell subsequently married Miss Mary A. Lippincott, a native of New Jersey, and died at his home in Van Buren County, Iowa, in December, 1876. 

            To our subject and his wife there have been born five children, but three of whom are living, namely: Robert C., Lambert and Delbert D. Mr. Gossler carries on stock-raising to a considerable extent, and although not particularly interested in politics, gives his cordial support to the Republican party. He has served as Clerk on the School Board in his district, and is a man in whom his neighbors have entire confidence.

[ Home ]