BIOGRAPHY: John L. Gosker
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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Reverend JOHN L. GOSKER was born on the 18th day of July, 1833, at 
Groninger, Holland, where his boyhood and youth were spent in 
attending the common school of his native country, and in assisting his 
father who was engaged in the mercantile business. He however 
received much of his early education from private tutors, who instructed 
him in the rudiments, of the ancient and modern languages, fo which he 
early developed a peculiar taste, and in which he made rapid progress. 
He commenced studying the English language when he twelve years 
old, and had made himself thorough master of it long before emigrating 
to this country, which he did when twenty-two years of 
age. He entered the University of Groninger and pursued his studies for 
some time, when his mother needing his services, as she was carrying 
on the mercantile business, his father having died some time previous, 
he left school, and devoted himself with the characteristic energy which 
has marked his whole life, to the management of his mothers 
establishment, which he carried on with success until 1855, when he 
disposed of it, and moved with his mother to this country, and located at 
Keokuk in this state. Here he was engaged a portion of the time in 
mercantile pursuits but devoting considerable time to reading and study. 
 
While crossing the Atlantic, he first thought of entering the priesthood of 
the Catholic Church, and after remaining at Keokuk about one year, full 
determined to do so. In order to fit himself for the life work he had chosen 
he removed to Bardstown, Kentucky, and entered the St. Thomas 
Seminary where he remained three years, completing his study of the 
languages, and thoroughly mastering the ancient classics, and rendering 
himself more familiar with the English, French, Belgian and German 
languages, all four of which, with his native tongue he now speaks with 
fluency. Having completed his classical studies, he entered the St. 
Vincent Theological Seminary, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 
where he remained three years. 
 
He was ordained at Dubuque, Iowa, by Bishop Smith, on the 24th day 
of November, 1862, and came to Independence the 18th of the following 
December and immediately took charge of the Catholic Churches in the 
Counties of Buchanan, Delaware, parts of Fayette, Bremer, Black Hawk 
and Butler, his duties often calling him outside of these counties as far 
north the Minnesota line, and west as Iowa Falls. The field of labor he 
occupied was large, the membership of the church scattered, without 
organization, rendering the duty devolving upon him, one not easy of 
performance and requiring great energy and ability to execute with 
success. That he possesses these qualifications in an eminent degree, it 
is only necessary to state, that in the territory placed under his control, 
he has organized and built eight churches, five of the number he erected 
without outside aid, besides established the Convent of Notre Dame, and 
the St. John's Parish School, both of which have peen under his 
immediate charge. Although Mr. Gosker an enthusiastic and earnest 
believer in the Catholic Church, he is not a bigoted zealot, but stands 
upon the broad platform of American individuality, conceding to every 
man the right to hold and maintain his own opinions, so long as they do 
not interfere with the rights of others. He is an earnest worker in the 
church, and a strong advocate for Catholic schools for Catholic children, 
as he says, "believing that it is the true church, the children should be 
educated in it."