Milton Gossett

Born: May 2, 1810 in Highland County, Ohio
Died: July 12, 1889 in Grant County, Indiana

Evangeline Gossett Newcomer writes in her book The Family of Gossett, "Very little information is found in the Ohio records concerning Lindsey, Presley (or Preston), Milton, and Wilson (Miles Wilson), sons of John Gossett." This is true of Milton but may be due to his removal to Grant County, Indiana, sometime in the 1860s. Milton's unique name among Ohio Gossetts makes it easier to identify him in both Ohio and Indiana records.

Milton GOSSETT, son of John GOSSETT and Honour HULL, was born on May 2, 1810 in Highland County, Ohio, died on July 12, 1889 in Grant County, Indiana at age 79, and was buried in Back Creek Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana.

Milton's birth year is difficult to determine because of the various ages given in each of the census records where he appears. In 1840 he is between 20- and 30-years-old coinciding with a birth year between 1810 and 1820. In 1850 he is 37 (b. 1813); in 1860 he is 50 (b. 1810); in 1870 he is 53 (b. 1817) and in 1880 he is 70 (b. 1810). His burial record at Back Creek Friends church reports his birth year as 1808. The year 1810 is used in this family file because it appears the most often. The 1817 date would have him 13-years-old at the time of his marriage in 1830, making it reasonable to rule out this date.

Milton and his family moved from Highland County, Ohio, to Grant County, Indiana, in the early 1860s. It's likely the reason was to escape the encrouching Civil War.

The Gossett and the Quakers
The religious faith of the Highland County Gossetts is not known but they are often found with known Quaker families. Milton's brother Amariah married Lydia Evans whom Newcomer describes as the "daughter of Evan Evans, who was a Virginia Quaker and a Revolutionary soldier." They married on August 3, 1809. The minutes for Fairfield Monthly Meeting show that Lydia was dismissed from the congregation on August 31, 1811 for "marrying contrary to discipline" -- meaning she married a man who was not of the Quaker faith.

From the first days of the movement, Quakers have tried to live non-violent lives and they were some of the first people to denounce slavery in America. Their beliefs have come into play and have been a major influence on how members moved to another place or Meeting. Many groups, sometimes entire Meetings, moved out of Virginia and North and South Carolina when slavery flourished. They were instrumental in creating the underground railroad. The Fairfield Monthly Meeting was established near Leesburg in Highland County about 1807. Though the Gossetts are not found in this Meeting's minutes it's likely the Meeting's members and their belief's influenced the Gossett family. Cinda Chaney wrote in a letter dated about 1900, "Nearly all of the Gossetts at the present time in the county are farmers and as a rule are very religious. . ."

The Gossett family had been a part of the Highland County landscape for almost 70 years, so it would have taken a lot for the family to move from the land they'd come to love. The exact date that Milton and his family moved to Indiana has not been established. Numerous records place youngest son William's birth in Ohio, but the 1880 federal census places it in Indiana. The could mean that the family moved to Indiana sometime shortly after the birth of son William in 1862 but before June 1870 when the family appears in the 1870 census for Grant County, Indiana. Using various documents to narrow down a date, Milton's son John requested to be addressed at Fulton, Madison County, Indiana, upon his discharge in 1865, but it's likely they moved during the second half of 1863 or early 1864. In July 1863, the Civil War spilled into Ohio with the battle at St. George's Creek on July 19th and the battle at Salinville on July 26th. With the War coming closer to home, Milton moved his family to Fairmount, a small town located in the north central part of the state of Indiana.

A look down Main Street in Fairmount, the town in Grant County, Indiana, where Milton settled with his family. Circa 1900.

Fairmount was settled by a group of Quakers who came from North Carolina arriving about 1829. The families left North Carolina "for the sake of their conscience to escape the evil of living in a slavery state." These families founded the Back Creek Society of Friends, more commonly known as the Quakers, having built their church on the banks of Back Creek. Milton and Naomi were members of this church. If Milton and Naomi were practicing the Quaker faith, Fairmount would seem a likely place to escape to avoid a direct confrontation with the Civil War.

Milton Gossett provided for his family by working at a trade rather than at farming as with most of his family. Because of this he is found living in villages or towns rather than a more rural environment found with farming. The 1840 federal census lists Milton and his family living in Adams County’s Winchester. One person is working in “manufacture or trade.” It can be assumed that the 30-40 year-old man in this census entry is Milton. The trade Milton is pursuing is revealed in the 1850 census when he is listed as a plasterer. The remaining census records where Milton appears report the same trade: plastering.

Members of the Religious Society of Friends migrated from the Carolinas to southern Grant County, Indiana, in the late 1820's where they settled along both sides of a creek. Having come from a local meeting in North Carolina called Back Creek, they named the creek and their new home Meeting: Back Creek. Worship began there in 1829 and the Meeting was established in 1831. Milton and Naomi were members of this congregation and are buried in the church cemetery. This photo is of the meeting house, circa 1880, and is as it appeared during the time Milton and Naomi worshipped there.

It is likely that Milton served in some sort of apprenticeship program to learn the craft of plastering. There is no official record of Milton entering into an apprenticeship and this may be due to the death of his father when Milton was 13 years old. It may have been an informal agreement with a friend or relative that allowed him to learn the trade, but he most certainly had some sort of formal training since he remained in the profession for the rest of his life. Only the 1870 census lists his occupation as something other than plastering. Milton was a brick mason in this census but research shows that plastering and masonry shared a common union with the techniques of finishing plaster and masonry sharing a similar set of skills.

The 1860 census reveals that Milton’s son, John L., was an apprentice plasterer. In 1880, Adney, Orlando and William were working as plasterers along side their 70-year-old father. The trade had become artistry with the appearance of detailed and ornamental plaster mouldings then a part of the Victorian-age of building. It’s likely that there are still many examples of Milton’s skills in and around the Fairmount, Indiana area, but it would be impossible to identify any of them.

Ruth Killen
Milton married his first wife, Ruth Killen, on June 4, 1830. Their marriage date is found in the records of Back Creek Church, but it does not give a place for their marriage. It's likely their marriage occurred in Adams County, Ohio. Though Ruth's parents haven’t been determined, it is thought that she might be a part of the Killen family that are so prominently found in the earliest records and days of Adams County history. John Killin, a contemporary of Milton’s father John Gossett, appears in many records, including jury duty and land sales, and was a licensed tavern keeper in West Union. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and likely received his land as payment for his service to the new nation. The 1840 census shows that Milton and Ruth were living in the village of Winchester in Adams County, Ohio.

Milton and Ruth appear in the 1840 federal census in Winchester and are enumerated with two children, a boy and a girl, under the age of five. These children would have been born between 1835 and 1840. Henry and John L are too young to be one of these children but it is possible that Mary A. is the child referred to as the girl. An age hasn’t been determined for her. At some point during late 1840 or early 1841 Milton and Ruth relocated to the small village of Sardinia, just a few miles across the border into Brown County, Ohio. At least two of their children where born there: Henry in 1841 and John L in 1843.

The Back Creek Church Cemetery in Fairmount, Indiana.

Naomi Pettyjohn
Milton married his second wife, Naomi Pettyjohn, on July 14, 1843. What happened with Ruth has not been determined. A death date or burial place has not been located for her. John L’s birthday is just five months before Milton and Naomi’s wedding leading me to believe that Ruth died during childbirth, or shortly thereafter, and Milton, overwhelmed with a newborn and three small children, quickly remarried. Whatever happened, Ruth was out of the picture when John L was a baby so the only mother he knew was Naomi.

Naomi Pettyjohn was born on January 26, 1825 in Brown County, Ohio. She was 18 years old when she joined a ready-made family by marrying Milton. They were just two days shy of their 46th wedding anniversary when Milton passed away in 1889. Naomi remained in Fairmount until her death on April 25, 1898. Both Milton and Naomi are buried in the Back Creek Church Cemetery. Unfortunately, there are no head stones marking their graves.

The Children
Milton had at least 14 children with his two wives; five with Ruth and nine with Naomi. Two children have not been identified but are known to exist because of their appearance in the 1840 federal census.

1.	An unidentified son born between 1835 and 1840.
2.	An unidentified daughter born between 1835 and 1840.
3.	Henry M. GOSSETT was born about 1841 in Ohio and died on October 31, 1894 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois about age 53. The cause of his death was asthmatic congestion. Census records, as well as his death record, agree that his birth took place in 1841, ruling him out as the unidentified son born between 1835 and the 1840 census. Henry is found in the 1870 census with a woman named Hannah. It is assumed that they were married bercause there is no one else counted in the household. If this is correct, then Henry and Hannah were married sometime between 1860 and 1870. Her maiden name, as yet, has not been identified. The only information about her comes from the Highland County census in that she was born about 1834 in England. If Henry and Hannah had children, they have not been identified. Nothing more is known about Hannah or her relationship with Henry. Henry married Mehitabel SELOVEN, daughter of John and Mary Ann SELOVEN, on December 7, 1875 in Shelby County, Illinois. She appears with the name Mehitabel and Belle. Mehitabel was born about 1843 in Ohio, died on August 7, 1893 in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois at age 50, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. They did not have children.
4.	Mary A. GOSSETT. The only known information about Mary is what is found in the Probate Court Records of Highland County, Ohio. Mary appears in two guardianship cases. She may be the unidentified daughter born between 1835 and 1840.
5.	John L GOSSETT was born on February 11, 1843 in Sardinia, Brown County, Ohio, died on January 25, 1930 in Leesburg, Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio at age 86, and was buried on January 28, 1930 in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio. The cause of his death was chronic endocarditis and arteriosclerosis. John married Mary Margaret CARLE, daughter of George W. CARLE and Sarah STREETS, on October 9, 1876 in Whitley County, Indiana. Mary was born on November 13, 1851 in Adams County, Ohio, died on December 10, 1916 in Leesburg, Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio at age 65, and was buried on December 12, 1916 in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio. The cause of her death was "acute indigestion and a weak heart." They had five children: Charles P., Cora G., Arthur, Walter, and Homer.
Milton also married Naomi PETTYJOHN on July 14, 1843 in Ohio. Naomi was born on January 26, 1825 in Brown County, Ohio, died on April 25, 1898 in Grant County, Indiana at age 73, and was buried in Back Creek Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana. They had nine children: Stephenie, Margaret Josephine, Angeline, Isaac N., Zephaniah, Addison P., Orlando, Elmer E., and William T..
6.	Stephenie GOSSETT was born in 1844 in Ohio.
7.	Margaret Josephine GOSSETT was born in June 1845 in Ohio. Another name for Margaret was Josephine GOSSETT. Margaret married John GRIFFEE. John was born in December 1844 in Indiana. They had 12 children: an unnamed son, Gertrude, Naoma, Martha V., Stella, Delmer D., Florence E., Minnie, Georgia A., Grover C., Dollie, and Maude P..
8.	Angeline GOSSETT was born in October 1846 in Ohio. Angeline married George Phillips about 1872. George was born in March 1837 in Indiana. They did not have children.
9.	Isaac N. GOSSETT was born in September 1852 in Highland County, Ohio and died on October 10, 1908 in Huntington County, Indiana at age 56. Isaac married Jennie WINSLOW, daughter of John WINSLOW, on September 15, 1872 in Grant County, Indiana. Jennie was born on November 5, 1851 in Indiana, died on August 9, 1880 at age 28, and was buried in Back Creek Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana. They had three children: Myrtle, Georgia, and Otto E.. Isaac also married Etta Martha LYTLE on August 6, 1882 in Grant County, Indiana. Etta was born in July 1862 in Indiana. They had three children: Delvin, Goldie, and Hazen Milton.
10.	Zephaniah GOSSETT was born on July 4, 1853 in Highland County, Ohio, died on October 25, 1910 in Grant County, Indiana at age 57, and was buried in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. Zephaniah married Martha W. WILSON, daughter of Jesse and Hannah WILSON, on February 21, 1875 in Grant County, Indiana. Martha was born on August 12, 1853 in Indiana, died on August 23, 1942 in Grant County, Indiana at age 89, and was buried in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. They had three children: Maude, Bernice, and Jessie L..
11.	Addison P. GOSSETT was born on September 7, 1856 in Highland County, Ohio and died before 1893. Addison also appears as Adney P. GOSSETT in various records. Addison married Lucy C. LYTLE on October 23, 1881 in Grant County, Indiana. Lucy was born on October 3, 1860 in Indiana, died on December 14, 1910 in Grant County, Indiana at age 50, and was buried in IOOF* Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana. They had three children: Bernice O., Donald Chaffee, and Eldon Franklin. *IOOF: International Order of Odd Fellows
12.	Orlando GOSSETT was born on June 26, 1858 in Highland County, Ohio, died on April 19, 1922 in Grant County, Indiana at age 63, and was buried in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. Orlando married Olivia FRENCH between 1910 and 1920. Olivia was born in 1861 in Kentucky, died on January 28, 1943 at age 82, and was buried in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. Olivia was also known as Ollie GOSSETT. They did not have children.
13.	Elmer E. GOSSETT was born on April 26, 1860 in Highland County, Ohio, died on December 19, 1921 in Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana at age 61, and was buried in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. Elmer married Allie SMITH, daughter of Leander SMITH and Minerva C. BALDWIN, on October 10, 1881 in Grant County, Indiana. Allie was born on January 17, 1866 in Indiana, died in April 1942 in Fairmount, Grant County, Indiana at age 76, and was buried on April 7, 1942 in Park Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. "Allie" is a nickname, her formal name being Aladelphia. They had five children: Clyde, Thomas Clarence, Emma Fredith, Arthur Jay, and Charles A..
14.	William T. GOSSETT was born in July 1861 in Highland County, Ohio. William married Nancy Ella NOSE on October 18, 1889 in Grant County, Indiana. Nancy was born in October 1871 in Indiana. They had six children: Walter E., Harry M., John W., Ruth F., Joseph H., and Edmond P..