Sullivan-Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....GANSEL, Joseph 1818 - living in 1899
  ************************************************
  Copyright.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
  ************************************************
  
  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 8, 2005, 6:43 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  HON. JOSEPH GANSEL, who is now living in practical retirement on his farm just
  beyond the corporate limits of the borough of Muncy Valley, has long been a
  prominent figure in the business and political circles in that section and at
  one time served as associate judge of Sullivan County. He was born in Mifflin
  township, Columbia County, Pa., January 4, 1818, and is a son of Gideon and
  Catherine (Fisher) Gansel.
  
    Adam Gansel, our subject's grandfather, was born in Germany, where he learned
  the trade of a weaver. He came to America a single man and followed his trade in
  connection with farming until his death at the age of eighty-seven years. He
  married Phoebe Bubamoyer, who lived to reach the advanced age of eighty-two
  years, and they had the following offspring: John; Gideon; Daniel; Jacob;
  Susanna; Mary (Polly); Lydia; and Betsey. Mr. Gansel for many years was a
  resident of Roaring Creek township, Columbia County, Pa., where he lived at the
  time of his death.
  
    Gideon Gansel, the father of our subject, was born in Roaring Creek township
  and at an early age learned the trade of a shoemaker which he followed for a
  time, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Catawissa Forge. During the
  later years of his life he followed the occupation of a farmer. His union with
  Catherine Fisher resulted in the following issue: Phoebe; John; Joseph; Odadiah;
  Samuel; Peter; Jacob; David; Sarah; and Rebecca. Mr. Gansel died in 1843 at the
  age of sixty-four years, and his wife passed away at an age two years younger.
  
    Joseph Gansel, the subject of this record, first attended the German schools
  and subsequently the English schools, following farming during the summer months
  until he was twenty-one years of age. After his marriage at the age of
  twenty-two years, he learned the trade of a shoemaker, but relinquished it to
  accept the postmastership of Beaver Valley. He was later elected constable and
  served in that capacity until he engaged in the manufacture of shoes at
  Foundryville, Pa., also clerking in a store while residing there. He was elected
  assessor of Briarcreek township, Columbia County, and served as justice of the
  peace for a period of five years. In 1851 he moved to Dushore, Sullivan County,
  where he engaged in the general merchandise business during the following nine
  years, or until he was elected sheriff of the county in 1860, when he located at
  Laporte. He served as sheriff for three years and three months, after which he
  bought a tract of land in Laporte township which he cleared and supplied with
  new buildings. There he successfully followed farming for several years, but
  disposed of the farm to Mr. Phillip, its present owner, when he was elected
  associate judge. He filled that office in a highly satisfactory manner for one
  term and three months, when he moved to Muncy Valley and accepted a position as
  superintendent of the bark peeling business in connection with D. T. Stevens &
  Son's tannery. Four years later he built the Pennington Hotel, a temperance
  house, and conducted it with excellent judgment until 1894, establishing a good
  reputation as a landlord. He also owned and conducted a stage line from Muncy
  Valley to Eagle's Mere, using four and five teams daily during the summer season
  to convey passengers. He also hauled provisions and building materials,
  employing on an average from ten to fourteen teams. Before the establishment of
  a railroad system between these points the thoroughfare was extensively used and
  at all times presented a lively appearance. He disposed of his hotel in 1894 and
  purchased a house and three lots comprising six acres adjoining the borough. He
  erected his present modern home on one of the vacant lots and now lives
  practically retired. He is well known throughout the county and has many friends
  who esteem him highly.
  
    Mr. Gansel married Polly Michael, a daughter of Adam Michael of Beaver
  township, Columbia County, and they had two children: Catherine, who died at the
  age of twelve years; and Mary, whose union with Mathias Trough has been blessed
  with three children, Charles, Joseph, and Harvey. Mrs. Gansel died three and
  one-half years after her marriage, and Mr. Gansel formed a second marital union
  with Mary Anman, a daughter of John Anman, of Catawissa township, and they are
  the parents of nine children: Sarah Matilda, the wife of John Sperry, by whom
  she has four children, Charles, William, Roy, and Lizzie; Clementine D., the
  wife of Murray Henry of Philadelphia; James, a mason by trade, who married Emma
  Culley; John, a mason of Laporte, whose wife was Annie Keller; Charles D., who
  was a teacher, died at the age of twenty-two years; Carrie, the wife of Walter
  Pardo, who has four children, Lee, Clarence, Lottie, and Opal; William, a
  resident of Laporte, who married Effie Swicher; George L., a master of
  mathematics who lives at home; and Jessie, the wife of Samuel Eddy of Sonestown.
  Politically Mr. Gansel has always been an active supporter of the principles of
  the Republican party. He is a good speaker; he has served as delegate to the
  constitutional convention and has held many minor offices. Religiously our
  subject has always been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has
  served as trustee, steward, superintendent of the Sunday School and as a
  class-leader. Socially he is a charter member of the Bushore and Laporte lodges
  of the Odd Fellows and is past master. In 1894 he was asked to serve in a very
  difficult capacity for the Trust Company tanneries, to estimate the amount of
  bark on 11,000 acres of timberland, having as assistants in this undertaking a
  surveyor and another. It took from October 2d to December 25th, and they covered
  from eight to sixteen miles per day, besides the amount of riding which they
  did. Mr. Gansel completed the work to the satisfaction of the company.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
    
    Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
    Published by 
    Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/
  
  File size: 6.5 Kb