Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Gotwals, Daniel
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Plumstead Township


   DANIEL GOTWALS director of Doylestown National bank, P.O. 
Gardenville, was born in Plumstead township, September 19, 
1821, and is a son of Adam and Esther (Atherholt) Gotwals, 
natives of Montgomery county.  The ancestors of the Gotwals 
family came from Switzerland several generations back.  His 
mother's family was of German descent.  Mr. Gotwals' father 
was a shoemaker and also carried on farming.  He lived in 
Montgomery county until his marriage, when he moved to 
Plumstead township, where he carried on his trade.  He was 
supervisor of the township for about twenty years.  He and 
his wife are both deceased.  They were the parents of five 
children:  Mary, Daniel, and Esther, living; and Catherine 
and Sarah (deceased).  Daniel Gotwals was reared on the farm 
until 19 years of age, when he began teaching school, 
continuing this about four years, when he was married.  In 
1845 he engaged in the mercantile business with his 
brother-in-law, Jonas Fretz, the partnership lasting five 
years.  From 1850 to 1853 he was in the same business at 
Dublin, this county, and in the spring of 1853 returned to 
Gardenville and went in with his former partner.  In 1865 
Mr. Gotwals bought a property in Lumberville, which he 
traded for his present property in 1866.  He continued in 
the mercantile business until 1884, when he gave it up to 
his son, Jonas, who still conducts it.  In 1880 he bought 
the patent right of the perfection bed spring, of which he 
made a great success. He has been director of the Doylestown 
National bank for the past twenty-seven years, and has held 
a number of private offices.  February 29, 1844, he married 
Sarah Fretz, by whom he had nine children, three living:  
Franklin, Jonas and William.  Mr. and Mrs. Gotwals are 
members of the Christian church.