Biography of William A. Gossett, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Gossett, Briton, Lenz.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 261

WILLIAM A. GOSSETT

Our subject is a son of Eli H. and Elizabeth (Briton), born near Half Rock,
Grundy county, Missouri, October 29, 1860. While yet an infant he was taken by
his father to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, but soon after their removal thither, the
older Mr. Gossett was killed in the battle of Shiloh, he having enlisted in
the Fourteenth Iowa Infantry for service in the Civil war. When five years old
our subject was placed in the orphans' home at Davenport, Iowa, where he
remained, attending school, until thirteen years old. He then entered the high
school at Mount Pleasant, graduating from the same two years later. Afterward
helearned the trade of a barber, but he seems not to have followed his
handicraft much in Iowa, for soon afterward we find him in renton, Missouri, 
whence in 1885 he came to Baker county, Oregon. For a time after his arrival
he worked at the barber trade in Baker City, but soon misfortune overtook him,
and for several years he was compelled by sickness to retire from active 
articipation in any line of endeavor. When at length he recovered sufficiently
he engaged in contracting and building and in the manufacture of lime. His
kiln is located six miles east of Baker City, near the O.R. & N. track, and
has a capacity of about one hundred and sixty barrels. Its production is of
the very finest quality, less than three per cent, of the limestone being left
as dross after a burning.

Mr. Gossett has a fine herd of about thirty thoroughbred Angora goats, in
which he takes a pardonable pride. His energy and taste are further
manifestedin his having turned to good account as fish ponds the ponds near
his place created by the overflow from springs in the vicinity. In these at
present are about twenty thousand fish, mostly trout, and oru subject will
never be content until he has increased that number to one hundred thousand. 
In fratneral affiliations Mr. Gossett belongs to the Woodmen of the Word, and
his wife and two oldest daughters are members of the circle. On March 5, 1881,
in Baker county, Oregon, our subject married Miss Mary M., daughter of Philip
and Rosana Lenz, and to their union have been born six children: Rosa E., a
photographer in Baker City; Katie L., Charles D., Pauline A., Bertha J. and
Philip C.