Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Gotshall, Geo. M. June 1, 1845 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 28, 2009, 1:07 am

Author: Chapman Brothers

GEO. M. GOTSHALL,  of the firm of Cannon & Gotshall, Big Rapids, was born at 
Canton, Ohio, June 1, 1845.  

His parents, Daniel and Rebecca (Martin) Gottshall, were of German lineage; 
the father was born in 

Westmoreland, Pa., June 12, 1803, and mother, in 185 in Lancaster, Pa.  Mr. 
Gotshall learned the printer's 

trade when a mere boy, but abandoned the craft temporarily to contribute his 
part toward his country's 

defense.  His father was instrumental in raising a calvary company and ws put 
in command of Company K, 2d 

Ohio Cavalry, in which Mr. Gotshall enlisted, though but 16 years of age.  
Capt. Gotshall contracted camp 

diarrhea and was sent home to recuperate, but died June 18, 1862.  The mother 
still survives and resides 

at Canton.  Mr. Gottshall was in action at Chickamauga, Stone River, Kensaw 
Mountain and at the seige of 

Atlanta under Sherman; was with Kilpatrick on his raid in Georgia, and at the 
battles of Jonesboro, Ga., 

Franklin and Nashville, Tenn.  His period of enlistment expired in Sept., 
1864, but his command was not 

mustered out until DEc. 30 of that year.  He returned to Canton and again 
enlisted in Company D, 2d Ohio 

Cavalry, Capt. H. C. Pike.  This regiment was in Custer's Brigade at Five 
Forks, Va., which intercepted 

Lee and compelled him to place himself beyond the Appomattox previous to his 
final surrender.  At the 

close of the war the regiment was sent into Southwestern Missouri and the 
Indian Territory, and was 

mustered out in September, 1865, at St. Louis, Mo.  Previous to the engagement 
at Stone River Mr. 

Gottshall was promoted as Corporal.  At the battle of Chickamauga and also at 
the crossing of Elk river 

near Deckert Station, he received slight gunshot wounds, but throughout the 
entire period of his army life 

he was not seriously injured or ill.  Daniel H. Gottshall, a brother, enlisted 
in Company F, 4th Ohio Vol. 

Inf., and Martin V. B. Gottshall, another brother in Company B, 43rd Ohio Vol 
Inf., both of whom served 

their time of enlistment safely.

Mr. Gottshall returned to Canton and resumed the printer's business, himself 
and brother, M. V. B., 

starting a weekly paper - The National Democrat.  After two year's successful 
prosecution of this 

enterprise he sold to his brother and engaged with E. Ball & Co., manufactres 
of agricultural machinery, 

operating alternately in the office and shop as contractor.  He continued 
until 1869, when he went to Fort 

Wayne, Ind., in the capacity of book-keeper with a furniture house.  After a 
year he entered the employ of 

a lumber company - Beaver, Miller & Co., - where he acted as accountant, 
general manager, salesman, etc., 

remaining five years.  He came to Big Rapids in 1876 and in company with B. A. 
Webster established himself 

as a lumber dealer, the firm adopting the name of Gottshall & Webster.  This 
relation was dissolved at the 

end of three years, when Mr. Gottshall accepted an engagement with F. Fairman 
as traveling salesman, 

selling lumber, etc.  He afterward went into the office of Mr. Fairman's 
manufacturing establishment known 

as Big Rapids Iron Works and officiated as manager and book-keeper.  In Oct. 
1882, Mr. Edwin Cannon and 

himslef bought the Iron Works which they have since continued to operate, 
constructing all machinery 

necesary to the manufacture of lumber and shingles.  They own the building and 
site (315 x 195 feet) and 

have all the best facilities for making light or heavy work, from simple bolts 
to complicated engines.  

Their products sell in the lumber districts of Michigan, Wsiconsin, Minnesota 
and even Texas.

Mr. Gottshall was married at Canton, May 23, 1868, to Frances A., daughter of 
John E. and Maria T. 

(Rodgers) Whitney, who was born Dec. 9, 1849, at Cazenovia, N. Y.  Edith A., 
their only child, was born at 

Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 7, 1870.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

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