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Charles W. Gosse

Prominent among the enterprising farmers and public-spirited citizens of Fayette county is Charles W. Gosse, a native of Wisconsin, but since the year 1889 a worthy resident of Jefferson township and a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. His father, who also bore the name of Charles Gosse, was born in Germany, but came to the United States when a young man and settled in Wisconsin, where he subsequently married Miss Luloff, who bore him seven children, namely: Bertha, wife of William Metzmeier, of Independence, Iowa; Fred, for twenty-eight years a trusted employee of the Chicago Street Railroad Company; Anna, now Mrs. Moses Reynolds, also a resident of that city; Louise, wife of Charles Krapa, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Charles W., whose name introduces this sketch, and Frank, a teacher in the public schools of Toledo, Ohio. The mother of these children dying in 1873, Mr. Gosse afterwards married Augusta Draeger, by whom he had the following children: August, a farmer of Harlan township, Fayette county; Martha, who lives in Michigan; William, a resident of Buchanan county, a farmer by occupation; Henry, who is engaged in the livery business at Oelwein; Emiel, of Buchanan county, and Minnie, wife of Philo Rogers, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

In 1869 Mr. Gosse, senior, moved his family to Iowa and, settling ten miles southwest of Independence, purchased land and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was a reputable citizen, a worthy member of the Lutheran church and departed this life in 1879; his widow. who survived him, is still living near Independence on the place which he originally purchased and improved

Charles W. Gosse, the subject of this review, was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, April 11, 1868, and when quite young was brought to Iowa by his parents. He spent his early life in Black Hawk county and at the age of eleven years was practically left an orphan, from which time on he was obliged to rely upon his own resources for a livelihood. He first found employment as a farm laborer in the above county and continued in that capacity until 1899, when he came to Fayette county, where he was similarly engaged during the two and a half years ensuing. On November 1, 1891, he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Minnie Schwartz, daughter of Frederick Schwartz, a pioneer settler of this county, and immediately thereafter set up his domestic establishment on a farm, which for a period of four years he cultivated as a renter. In the meantime, by industry and excellent management, he succeeded in saving sufficient means to purchase land of his own, which he did in 1905 investing in an eighty-acre tract in section 12, Jefferson township, which he at once began to improve and to which he subsequently added sixty-four acres in section 3, the two tracts making a farm which in point of fertility and productiveness is unsurpassed by any like area in the township.

Mr. Gosse has made many valuable improvements on his place and as a tiller of the soil is progressive and enterprising, being up to date in all matters relating to agriculture and as a stock-raiser he keeps abreast of the time, devoting considerable attention to cattle, hogs and horses, besides adding very materially to his income by conducting a first-class dairy business. In all of his undertakings his success has been most gratifying and he occupies today a prominent place among the enterprising citizens and agriculturists of a the community, wielding a strong influence on the right side of every moral issue and giving his support and encouragement to all measures having for their object the advancement of the community and benefit of his fellow men. A Mr. Gosse vote with the Democratic party and in religion belongs with his family to the Lutheran church. His home is in many respects a model and, believing in using the good things of this world to wise and beneficent ends, he has not been sparing in adding to its beauty and attractiveness.

Beginning life in humble circumstances and having always been obliged to rely upon himself, his success in overcoming a discouraging environment and advancing to his present position of independence indicates the possession of well balanced intelligence, mature judgment and the ability to mould conditions to suit his purposes. By his first marriage, which is noted in a preceding paragraph, he had five children, whose names are as follows: Charles Frederick, Arthur Emil, Dora Minnie, Fritz Richard and Herbert August Fritz. His wife dying March 9, 1902, on November 23d, of the following year, he was united in marriage with Theresa Loeb, daughter of Valentine Loeb, of Black Hawk county, the union being blessed with four offspring, Walter Henry, Esther Minnie Marie, August Henry, and Willie Julius Valentine.

~transcribed for the Fayette County IAGenWeb project by Cheryl Walker