Peter Gotschall
Franklin Township, of Grant County, has no citizen more highly respected or more entitled to the confidence and esteem of his community than Peter Gotschall, who has live din this county for more than half a century, and has seen all its development except the very first pioneer work. He came here in 1853, on September 16th, and has always taken a public spirited attitude towards every movement for the benefit of his locality.
Peter Gotscahll was born in Carroll County, Ohio, June 25, 1838, a son of John and Mary (Poland) Gotschall. The parents were both natives of Loudoun County, Virginia, the father born April 8, 1797, and the mother, January 9, 1795, and each came alone to Loudoun County, where they met and married. The mother's father was Nathaniel Poland. Their marriage was celebrated in Carroll County in 1816, and the mother passed away March 21, 1845. The father subsequently moved from Ohio to Illinois, and later drove an ox team through to California, where he died April 18, 1880. He was the father of thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, twelve of whom grew to maturity. Adam Gotschall enlisted in the Civil war and died at the end of one year's service. Of the large family of children, three are still living in 1913. Margaret is the wife of Henry Walton of Illinois; and Isaac is a farmer in Carroll County, Ohio.
Peter Gotschall was reared to the age of sixteen years in Carroll County, and then in 1853 moved to Grant County, Indiana. His early career was spent on a farm, working for wages by the year, and he worked from the time he was eight years of age until he was twenty-one, at which latter time he was possessed of a capital of one hundred dollars. Hi wife was given ninety-eight acres by her father.
Mr. Gotschall is a worthy member of the Methodist Church, in politics is a Democrat, but has never held any public office. He is the owner of eighteen lots and an interest in one hundred acres of land, and has enjoyed a quiet yet satisfactory prosperity, which has enabled him to provide well for his family, and to insure his own comforts in later years.
On September 19, 1858, he married Miss Pollie Drucemiller, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and came to this locality with her parents, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Gotschall began life poor, and had to rent land at first. They secured one hundred acres, and continued to rent until they managed to get all the land cleared up, and by progressive industry and thrift finally were on the high road to prosperity. Mr. Gotschall was drafted for service in the Civil war on September 21, 1864, and was out until November2nd, of the same year.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner