Charles P. Gossett

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Lottie and Charles Gossett. 1915.

Born: February 28, 1876 in Indiana.
Died: October 29, 1930 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio

PARENTS
Father: John L. Gossett
Mother: Mary Margaret Carle

Charles Gossett was born the oldest son to John L and Mary Margaret Gossett. He was born February 28, 1876 in Indiana. A civil record has not been found for his birth. His death certificate lists Indiana as his place of birth and that coincides with where John L and Mary Margaret were living at the time. Most likely he was born in or near to Whitley County, Indiana.

Very little is known about Charles. He spent most of his life in the Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio area. He worked as the sexton for Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Leesburg and did hauling for hire -- back when hauling meant by horse and wagon. His daughter Juanita shared that his team of two big black horses were named Prince and Tony.

Juanita described her father as a hard worker and always serious. He didn't allow the children to talk at the dinner table. He also did not like to have his picture taken. That is why there are so few photos available of him and why he seems to have a sour look on his face in the ones that do exist.

Charles married Lottie Arrenie Smack Logan on December 30, 1897. The location is unknown but most likely was near Highland County, Ohio. She was born August 15, 1875 in Twin Township, Ross County, Ohio, the daughter of Henrietta Smack and an unknown father. Her mother, Rettie, as she was known, married Dan Logan who then raised Lottie as his own daughter. She is frequently referred to as Lottie Logan.

Charles became ill during the flu epidemic of 1918 and never fully recovered. Lottie cared for him lovingly until his death in 1930.

Tragedy struck the family in 1929 and 1930 when death touched four generations of the immediate family of Charles and Lottie. The worst would come in late January 1930.

• February 12, 1929: Jack Allen Gossett, the son of Roy and grandchild of Charles and Lottie died at the age of 4 months from pneumonia.
• January 25, 1930: Charles' father, John L, died from the infirmities of old age.
• January 26, 1930: The next day, Charles' two sons, James and Earl, were killed at the railroad crossing at Reesville in Clinton County. They had just left their father at home after John L's funeral and were returning to their home in Springfield when the accident happened. Newspaper reports of the accident stated "they think the driver saw the approaching train and attempted to stop but the ice covered road prevented the wheels from holding and the automobile slid on the tracks in front of the fast moving train."
• October 29, 1930: Nine months later, Charles died at the age of 54 years, 8 months and one day. His death certificate states the cause as multiple neuritis.
• December 21, 1930: Then, just two months later, Lottie died, bringing what had become a terrible year to an end.

My grandmother, Juanita, described her mother's death as "murder". She explained that Lottie had been complaining of a stomach ache when the doctor was called. The regular doctor was out of town so another doctor was seeing his patients. He gave Lottie an injection of medication and she died shortly thereafter and in front of her children. Lottie was the third person to die that weekend while under the care of this doctor. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as "acute dilatation of stomach". While malpractice was believed to be involved no criminal charges were file against the doctor. He committed suicide a short time later. Juanita remained bitter about her mother's death for the remainder of her life.

Charles and Lottie are buried side by side in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Leesburg, Ohio.

The children of Charles and Lottie Gossett are:

1.	William Gossett, born: November 01, 1899 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: June 28, 1902 in Leesburg, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio.
2.	Roy Gossett, born: June 28, 1903 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio. He married Martha Ann Campbell. They had five daughters and three sons.
3.	James B. Gossett, born: November 12, 1905 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: January 26, 1930 in Reesville, Clinton County, Ohio the result of a car/train accident. Buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio. Married Francis (last name unknown). They had three daughters.
4.	Earl Gossett, born: December 17, 1907 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: January 26, 1930 in Reesville, Clinton County, Ohio the result of a car/train accident. Buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio. He was married to Edith but had divorced just prior to his death. They had one son.
5.	Juanita Mae Gossett, born: April 27, 1910 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: June 10, 1994 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio. She married Albert Marion Jones on February 14, 1930 in New Vienna, Clinton County, Ohio. They had two children, a daughter and a son.
6.	Mary Margaret Gossett, born: December 11, 1914 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: April 2, 2008 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. She married Robert Jesse Morrow on February 22, 1936 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Mary did not have any children with Bob. He, however, had two sons by his first wife Bernice.
7.	Arthur Eugene Gossett, born: February 25, 1920 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, died: September 26, 1995 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio. He married Catherine Elsie Fryant. They had two sons.

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Charles P. Gossett is seen in this undated photo. It is a close-up of Charles with several other men in what seems to be a work photo.	Standing in back L to R: Eva Campbell Logan, Roy Gossett, and his mother Lottie Gossett. Seated at left is Charles Gossett with his son Arthur (sitting on his lap) and Charlie Logan (with an unidentified child on his lap). 1921.
Lottie Arrenie Smack Logan (Gossett). The date of this photo is not known but is believed to be about 1892 when Lottie was 17 years old.	Lottie Gossett was 50 years old when this photo was taken in 1925.
The children of Charles and Lottie Gossett. Clockwise from top: Roy, Juanita, Mary and James Gossett. Earl is missing from this photo. 1917.	Arthur Gossett at about 6 months old. 1921.
This photo was taken during a family picnic at Devil’s Den near Leesburg, Ohio, in August 1914, as identified on the back of the original photo. It is enlarged from a much smaller photo. The people are identified as standing in the back row, left to right: 1. unknown; 2. Lottie Gossett; 3. Dan Logan (wearing top hat); 4. Charlie Gossett (face is partially hidden); 5. Charlie Logan and 6. Eva Campbell. Second row L to R: 7. Hazel; 8. Roy Gossett; 9. unknown; 10. unknown; 11. unknown. Front row L to R: 12. Earl Gossett; 13. Grace; 14. Treny; 15. Juanita Gossett; 16. unknown; 17. Jim Gossett; and 18. Clarence.

Charles P. Gossett
1930 Ohio Death Certificate

Date: October 29, 1930
Place: Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio
Burial: Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio

The mother's name is mistakenly reported as Lotta Logan. This is the maiden name of his wife. Charles' mother was Mary Margaret Carle.

Lottie's birth record can be found at the Ross County Courthouse in Births Volume 1, page 150.

Lottie has two death certificates, both with the heading "State of Ohio Department of Health". The information on both certificates is the same with the exception that the other one has File No. 73122 filled in at the top. The copy at right is considerably more readable. Lottie's father is listed as Daniel Logan. Her birth record shows that she was "illegitimate". Her mother married Dan Logan and Dan raised her as one of his children.

The Gossett family plot is located at the back of the cemetery. The large stone in the center of this photo (at right) is the main marker for the Gossetts. Charles, Lottie, James and Earl have foot stones, pictured in the foreground, to mark their graves. William, Charles and Lottie's first son, has an inscription on the back of the main marker. Arthur Gossett is kneeling down and placing flowers on the grave of Albert Marion "Pat" Jones, Juanita's first husband. Juanita (Gossett) (Jones) Stephenson is the woman dressed in white. Her grave is now located where she is standing. The woman next to her and dressed in blue, is Catherine "Kitty" Gossett, Art's wife. It had been tradition for many, many years to travel to Leesburg on the Sunday before Memorial Day to decorate the graves of family members. The family would then have a picnic at a park nearby. Memorial Day Weekend, 1982.

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