Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Gsell, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 12:54 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

John Gsell, deceased, was formerly a resident upon section 30, Clyde Township, 
and was born Feb. 21, 1842, in Franklin Co., Pa. The full biographical sketch 
of his parents may be found in the account of William Gsell, which appears 
elsewhere in this work. Mr. Gsell was brought up on his father's farm, and was 
carefully trained in a knowledge of the details of agriculture, in which he 
was engaged all his life. He lived at home until he was 2 years of age, and, a 
few months after reaching that period, he became a householder. His marriage 
to Elizabeth Elter took place in Franklin Co., Pa., Oct. 25, 1863. She is the 
daughter of John and Mary (Huber) Elter. Her father was a German by birth and 
was educated in his native land. He came in young manhood to the United 
States, and his passage across the ocean was memorable for its length and 
hardships. The scarcity of food necessitated the use of bread which had become 
so moldy from age that clouds of dust would fly from it when the pieces were 
bitten. Mr. Elter located in Pennsylvania and married his wife at Rocky 
Springs in the same State. He was a farmer, and, after their marriage, the 
parents of Mrs. Gsell always lived in the same place. The mother died in 1841, 
when her daughter was but five years of age. The father was a second time 
married, and died of paralysis about 1861, after he had attained to a great 
age. Their family included four daughters and two sons. The surviving children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Gsell were born as follows: Aaron, May 25, 1865; Maria, Jan. 
20, 1867; Barbara, July 23, 1868; Sarah, June 13, 1870; William John, Oct. 8, 
1873. They have all been educated with care in the public schools. Two 
children died in infancy. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gsell lived on a 
farm in Franklin Co., Pa., about two years, when they removed to Illinois. 
They settled on one of the best located farms in Clyde Township, which they 
improved in the best possible way until it was greatly increased in value by 
the character of the buildings, stock and fixtures. Mr. Gsell died Sept. 8, 
1880. He was a Republican and a member of the Mennonite Church. Mrs. Gsell 
retains in her own right 133 acres of the original homestead estate, and is 
its manager. She belongs to the Dunkard Church.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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