John L Gossett

Born: February 11, 1943 in Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio
Died: January 25, 1930 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio

John L Gossett His Army disability discharge paper describes the 22-year-old John L as five feet-seven inches tall with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. A later pension paper records his eye color as grey and his hair as black. He was 40 years of age at the time of that description.

PARENTS
Father: Milton Gossett
Mother: Ruth Killen

John L Gossett was born on February 11, 1843, in the village of Sardinia in Brown County, Ohio. The month and date of his birth is found recorded on both his death certificate and in his obituary, but the year was determined by the 1850 federal census for Highland County, Ohio. John L's death certificate lists his year of birth as 1839, while his discharge papers from the 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment list his age as 19 in 1865—indicating a birth year of 1846. Other documents give birth years as 1840 and 1841. The 1843 date was determined as the most likely because it is the first "official" record after his birth, a census report, and the information was provided by one of his parents to the census taker. His Army disability discharge paper describes the 22-year-old John L as five feet-seven inches tall with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. A later pension paper records his eye color as grey and his hair as black. He was 40 years of age the time of that description.

John L’s Early Life
John L grew up in villages, unike most of his relatives. It would have given him a very different childhood than that of his cousins who’d grown up on farms. This was due to his father being a craftsman instead of a farmer. John L was born in Brown County’s village of Sardinia but by 1850 had moved closer to other Gossett relatives living in Fairfield Township in Highland County. Two boyhood friends can be identified: David Kinzer and Henry Keen. These two boys would later offer an affidavit attesting to John L’s health before and after the Civil War. They both testified that they’d known John L for 50 years so their testimony puts the Gossetts move to Highland County by 1847 when John L was five-years-old. Thirteen years later, the 1860 census reveals John L working as an apprentice plasterer under the guidance of his father, who was also a plasterer. John L never entered the profession full time but several of his brothers followed in their father’s footsteps.

The 8 Gossett Boys. Standing, left to right: Zephaniah, Orlando, John, William and Isaac. Seated, left to right: Elmer, Addison and Henry.

Ruth and Naomi
Determining John L’s mother proved a little controversial. I assumed, along with another cousin, that his mother was Naomi Pettyjohn, as was listed in The Chronicles of the Gossett Family. But further research revealed another wife of his father's: Ruth Killen whom Milton married on June 4, 1830. By 1840 they had at least two children, a son and a daughter. Civil records date Milton and Naomi's marriage as July 10, 1843, six months after John L's birth. I believe John L's mother is Ruth Killen and that she died during his birth or shortly thereafter. Then, overwhelmed with children and a newborn, Milton quickly remarried. My cousin disagrees. He believes Naomi was possibly pregnant at the time of her marriage to Milton or that dates are somehow recorded incorrectly. While a civil record for the marriage of Milton and Naomi does exist, a civil record for John L's birth does not, which lends some credibility to the possibility of incorrect dates. The lack of a death date for Ruth is why this question cannot be solved with any certainty. Regardless of which woman proves to be his genetic mother, it is Naomi Pettyjohn that John L grew up with and knew as his mother.

The Civil War
John L enlisted in the 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 14, 1861, at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. He was assigned to Company H, a company made up of men from Hillsboro and the Highland County area.

On the morning of August 20, 1861, four days after John L’s enlistment, the regiment marched out of camp, 950 strong, and took railroad cars to St. Louis, Missouri. In December, John L took part in the capture of 1,300 recruits who were training to join the Confederate army. His regiment was actively engaged during the siege of New Madrid and after the surrender of the town they remained in camp about two weeks. They were constantly engaged in drilling. During the siege of Corinth they were repeatedly under fire and while in the heat of the conflict the unit lost 60 men. When the battle was over, John L and his fellow soldiers won seven guns, 360 prisoners and 400 horses for the Union Army. John L would later write to the pension board that it was at Corinth where he first contracted "Army sore eyes".

At the close of 1863, the regimental history states that the soldiers of the 27th reenlisted as veterans and after their furlough home in May 1864, joined the main army at Chattanooga. John L’s records show that he was discharged on December 31, 1863 after serving 2 years, 4 months, 18 days. He reenlisted on Christmas Day 1863, at Prospect, Tennessee, where his unit was temporarily assigned. His enlistment papers read, "I, John L Gossett, born in Sardinia in the state of Ohio, aged 21 years, and by occupation a soldier, do hereby acknowledge to have volunteered this 25th day of December, 1863, to serve as soldier in the Army of the United States for the period of three years..." These papers, along with his discharge papers, provide a physical description of "five feet, seven inches high, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair..." His reenlistment took him to some of the largest battles during the Civil War including Sherman’s march to the sea.

The 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry also shared in the campaign of the Carolinas. At the crossing of the Salkehatchie river in South Carolina, the men marched their way through forest and swamp, with water up to their waist, for more than a mile. John L later wrote in an affidavit to the pension board, “About the middle of April 1865 while on march through South Carolina, I was taken with diarrhea which soon took a chronic form which I have never recovered.” John was sent to Grant Hospital at Willet’s Point on Long Island, New York, where he was discharged on a surgeon’s disability. His diagnosis: chronic diarrhea.

While we may snicker at the thought of being dishcarged because of chronic diarrhea, this was a serious problem for men fighting in the war. Unsafe water and unclean "facilities" contributed to dysentery. Inadequate food and shelter made recovery difficult and what we now consider to be a "nuisance" quickly became life-threatening to soldiers in the field.

In an affidavit dated December 31, 1880, John L testified that “on or about April 1865 near Goldsboro, State of North Carolina, [I] was attacked with chronic diarrhea brought on by reason of exposure... My disease has been slowly growing worse each year and I have been disabled from following my occupation about one half of the time. I was treated by the surgeon of regt. and was sent to Grant Hospital at Willet's Point, New York, where I was discharged for chronic diarrhea and which I claim a pension.” His father-in-law, George Carle, described him as "physically disabled, in feeble condition and was for a long time unable to perform any kind of labor."

Even though John L’s testimony in 1877 conflicts with his statement in 1880 as to where his disability began, it’s not likely that he intended to deceive the pension board. The Regimental History for his unit places the men marching through a swamp in South Carolina, then on through North Carolina before stopping in Virginia. All this occurred during the early spring of 1865.

After his discharge from active duty, John L supposedly went to Indiana, rather than home to Highland County, at least that is where his discharge papers said he wanted to be addressed. Both a sister and a cousin (2) were living in Boone Township in Madison County, nearby to where his parents had settled in Grant County, Indiana. His discharge papers specifically noted he wanted to be addressed at Madison County, Indiana. At first glance, with addresses in different counties, it might look like they were living some distance away when in fact they were living within a few miles of each other.

Where he wanted to be addressed is not necessarily where he went. In another statement to the pension board, John writes, "Since leaving the service, I have resided in Fayette County, Ohio, Whitley County, Indiana and my occupation is farming." He makes no mention of living in Madison or Grant Counties in Indiana.

A Veteran Disabled For Life
John L continued to suffer from physical ailments attributed to his chronic diarrhea, along with other problems including rheumatism, deafness, "diseases of lungs-kidneys" and complained of a "great deal of pain in his side." In August 1883, he attempted to gain additional disability benefits based on these complaints. He testified, “That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at Corinth, in the state of Mississippi, on or about the 4th of October-first of November 1862 he contracted opthalmia or Army sore eyes in both the right and left eyes. This was prevalent as a disease in the regiment and arose either from cold and exposure or contagious [disease]...and deafness in the left ear from supporting artillery in the battle of Resaca in the State of Georgia on or about the 14th day of May 1864.” He was denied the additional pension because "he is unable to prove that the diseases of lungs, kidneys and rheumatism made their appearance while in the said service.” Army sore eyes and deafness were also disallowed for the same reason.

As John L grew older, his physical condition worsened. His first request for a disability pension came on October 23, 1877, while he was living in Whitley County, Indiana. He was 35 years old and newly married with a one-year-old son. It isn’t known why John and Maggie chose Whitley County, Indiana, to start there lives together. There is no evidence, at this point, to show that they had family in the area and this may be why they moved back to Ohio. With John growing sicker and Maggie caring for both her husband and her son, family would have been an important source of support.

There is some confusion as to where John and Maggie Gossett were at the time enumeration of the 1880 federal census...just after their move back to Ohio. Pension records place the family in Green Township in Fayette County, Ohio, but census records place them in Greene Township in Clark County. There is nothing in any of the records to indicate that John and Maggie ever lived in Clark County, Ohio. Yet, a thorough search* of both Greene Township in Clark County and Green Township in Fayette County clearly shows that the family was living in Clark County, Ohio, on June 1, 1880. (*A line-by-line search was done of digital images of original census records at Ancestry.)

Dr. H. C. Kauffman, a “practicing physician and credible person”, wrote in 1880, “[I was] well acquainted with him soon after his discharge...personal knowledge...having treated him professionally for said disease very frequently ever since I first knew him...that he has thorough knowledge of his case during the whole time, although there has been intervals once or twice...not exceeding 6 months that he did not see the claimant.”

John L and Maggie cannot be in two places at the same time. Since it is highly unlikely that the census record is wrong, it must be that the doctor is incorrectly estimating the time he spent with John L.. Regardless of which is true, it is obvious that John L suffered some ailment and it was witnessed by many friends and acquaintances.

His pension file holds many affidavits attesting to his declining health. In August 1897, Henry C. Keen, a childhood friend of John L, wrote on his behalf, “I am well and personally acquainted with John L. Gossett for 50 years, that John L Gossett was a sound and able bodied man as far as [I] know before he enlisted in the army of Co. H 27 OVI and to this day is a physical reck [sic] I new [sic] him before he enlisted, [we were] raised [as] boys together, I saw him a short time after he got back and he was then suffering with pluracy [sic] and other ailments he is unable to perform any labor hard or light.” The 1850 federal census places Henry and his family living nearby the Gossetts. Henry’s father, John M. Keen, was a tavern keeper. The local tavern frequently served as a community gathering place. Another childhood friend, David Kinzer, wrote a similar story. Census records also place Kinzer living nearby.

John L’s pension file has an affidavit from fellow soldier William H. Pricer. John L and William were together on the march through the Carolinas. He wrote in an 1880 affidavit that he’d known the claimant for about 19 years (meeting in 1861) and that they served together during the war. He also confirmed his physical condition before and after the march that finally left him disabled.

John L was granted a pension based on his chronic diarrhea but was denied additional funds for the other ailments he claimed. He was receiving a pension of $90 per month at the time of his death.

Mary Margaret Carle

John L and Maggie
John L married Maggie Carle (a.k.a. Mary Margaret Carle) on October 9, 1876, in Whitley County, Indiana. The civil ceremony was performed by Cashes W. Lamb, Justice of the Peace. Their marriage certificate states, “This certifies that I joined in marriage as husband and wife, John Gossett and Maggie Carel (sic) on the 9th day of October, 1876. Cashes W. Lamb, J. P.” Their marriage license was dated October 7th.

Up until recently (August 2009) John and Maggie's wedding date was assumed to be September 15, 1876, as that is the date found in Maggie's obituary. John L's obituary gave the same date, but reported 1894 as the year. The 1894 date was dismissed as being an error made by the newspaper.

John's whereabouts from June 1, 1865 (his discharge from the infantry) until his marriage to Maggie in 1876 is difficult to determine. Upon discharge, John "desire[d] to be addressed at Fulton (1), Madison County, Indiana." However, in John L’s pension file there are several affidavits from men claiming to be close neighbors and friends, having associated with him since his discharge. C. P. Keen testified on November 1, 1897, “[Keen] has been intimately associated with said claimant from the date of his discharge up to date with the exception of 18 months...”

John L’s first attempt to obtain a disability pension came in 1877. He was living in Whitley County, Indiana, at the time and enlisted the help of his father-in-law George W. Carle. In a general affidavit, George testifies that, “he is well acquainted with John L Gossett ever since his discharge...that he came home physically disabled [and] in feeble condition and was for a long time unable to perform any kind of work.” He continues, “That from the time of his discharge to the present time he has resided in his neighborhood...that he is near neighbor...he further declares that he has no interest in said case.” Carle signed it with “‘X’ His Mark”. It's interesting that Carle would make outright false statements to the pension board. John L is in Indiana when he makes the request of Carle, yet Carle testifies that he is -- and has been -- living nearby to John L since the end of the war. Carle also testifies that he has no interest in the case but his daughter Maggie is married to John L.

Childhood friends Henry Keen and David Kinzer also testified that John L had moved back to Fayette County shortly after his discharge.

These two pension affidavits clearly place him back in Fayette County following the Civil War, but his discharge paper puts him in Indiana. Now the question is...did he go to Indiana or to Ohio after his discharge? I believe the evidence suggests John L went to Fayette County, Ohio, and never made it to Madison County, Indiana.

Looking closely at the available information, I believe this is the likely series of events:

John L settled in Fayette County, Ohio in 1865 following the War. Maggie married Simeon Handsen in October 1869 so it's unclear when John L began to court her.

Jumping ahead ten years...sometime during the autumn of 1875 Maggie realized she was pregnant. John L and Maggie likely moved to Indiana in order to avoid the gossip — or worse — that came when an out-of-wedlock pregnancy became evident. If John L and Maggie first moved to Grant County where the Gossetts lived, they likely encountered reprobation. Several records connect the Gossetts to the Quaker church in both Ohio and Indiana, and Milton and Naomi were members of Back Creek Society of Friends in Fairmount—a Quaker congregation. The conservative Quakers would have condemned the situation. Permanent estrangement occurred between John L and his father and Maggie’s premarital pregnancy may have been the reason. From there, they moved north to Whitley County, Indiana, where John L was able to find work. It was while living here that they married.

The family stayed in Indiana about 18 months and was in Whitley County as late as October 1877. John L and Maggie moved back to Ohio and settled in Clark County sometime before the June 1st enumeration of the 1880 census. Pension records place the family back in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, by late 1885. It would be quite easy for John and Maggie to “distort” the facts surrounding their marriage and Charles’ birth, especially with the distance between their home in Whitley County and that of her family back in Ohio. The deception would protect Maggie's reputation and Charles' from the social stigma and the civil consequences of illegitimacy (3).

John L and Mary Margaret Gossett's headstone in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. 1982.

The exact reason why John L broke off all ties with his family in Indiana is unknown and probably will remain so. His own daughter did not know who his parents were based on the fact that she gave John and V. McHenlay Gossett as his parents when filling out his death certificate. In The Chronicles of the Gossett Family, family members reporting to the author concerning the children of Milton did not know what happened to John L. While I am sure there was a family rift of some sort, speculation as to the cause can take you everywhere and no where. However, it is known for sure that the reason was severe enough to cause a permanent split.

Maggie was born Mary Margaret Carle on November 13, 1850, in Adams County, Ohio, the daughter of George Washington Carle and Sarah Street. She has been described as "a kind and loving mother and a noble wife. She was always ready to do her part and did it cheerfully. She was always singing."

John L and Maggie were permanently settled in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, by 1890 and remained there for the rest of their lives. After Maggie's death in 1916, John L moved into the home of his daughter Cora and her husband Charles Sexton. He spent some time residing in the Soldier’s & Sailor’s Home in Erie County, Ohio, having been listed among the inmates during the 1920 federal census. He died in 1930.

The children of John L and Mary Margaret Gossett are:
1.	Charles P Gossett, b. February 28, 1876 in Whitley County, Indiana, d. October 29, 1930 in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio, buried Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Ohio. He married Lottie Arenie Smack Logan on December 30, 1897.
2.	Cora G. Gossett, b. December 20, 1879, d. January 6, 1958. She married Charles Sexton on March 13, 1901.
3.	Arthur Gossett, b. August 1882, Highland County, Ohio, died before1916
4.	Walter Gossett, b. August 14, 1886, Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio
5.	Homer Gossett, b. August 29, 1888, Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio, died in 1973

JOHN L. GOSSETT
Leesburg Citizen, Leesburg, Ohio
January 1930

(There are several proven inaccuracies within this obituary. Corrections are made within brackets [ ]. )

Newspaper and date unknown, most likely Leesburg Citizen, Leesburg, Ohio, December 1916. A large portion of this obituary is not legible.

Date: January 25, 1930
Place: Highland County, Ohio
Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg

The informant on John's death certificate is his daughter Cora.

John's death certificate is full of errors which made it very difficult to connect him with other Highland County Gossetts. His birth date is February 11, 1843. The change in birth date, specifically the year, makes his age at death 86 years, 11 months and 14 days. His father is Milton Gossett. His mother is Ruth Killen. (Some researchers believe John's mother is Milton's second wife Naomi Pettyjohn. Milton and Naomi didn't marry until July 14, 1843, five months after John was born. The likely scenario is that Ruth died at John's birth, or died shortly thereafter, and Milton quickly remarried.)

Date: December 10, 1916
Place: Highland County, Ohio
Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg

The informant on Maggie's death certificate is her daughter Cora.

George W. Carle was born in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, not Virginia. Sarah Street is the maiden name of Mary's mother, not Sarah Caps. She was born in the village of Aberdeen in Brown County, Ohio.

1. Post Office Names: “Before 1891, the Post Office Department had no written policies about post office names. Post office names were derived from several sources, including names of towns, townships, neighborhoods, crossroads, or from the postmaster’s name or place of business. The post office of Chesterland in Geauga County, Ohio, was in Chester Township. A second post office in the same township was named Mulberry Corners after its location in an area where a farmer had once grown mulberry trees. Dr. Frost named his post office “Frostville” after himself; it was located in the village of Olmsted Falls. Subsequent postmasters changed its name to Norris Falls in 1843, Olmsted in 1845, and Olmsted Falls in 1889. In 1819 the post office of Carson’s Tavern, Ohio, was the location of a tavern operated by postmaster William J. Carson.” Source: http://www.archives.gov/research/post-offices/#site BACK TO TEXT.

2. A search of census records in 1870 reveals the family of (Margaret) Josephine Gossett Griffee (John L's sister) and her husband John as well as the family of William E and Hannah Gossett living next to each other in Boone Township located in northern Madison County, Indiana. Boone Township, Madison County to the south, and Fairmount Township in Grant County to the north, border one another. William E was the son of Amariah who was an older brother of Milton Gossett. This would make John L and William E first cousins. BACK TO TEXT.

3. In many societies, law has denied illegitimate persons the same rights of inheritance as legitimate persons, and in some societies, even the same civil rights. In the United Kingdom and the United States, as late as the 1960s and even up to today, illegitimacy has carried social stigma. Unwed mothers have often been encouraged—at times forced—to give their children up for adoption. Often illegitimate children have been reared by grandparents or married relatives as the "sisters," "brothers" or "cousins" of the unwed mothers. BACK TO TEXT.