BIO:  Jacob GOHN, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Wrightsville Borough and Hellam Township, Pg 77

JACOB GOHN, son of George and Magdalena Gohn, of Hellam Township, was born 
November 20, 1825; is of German descent, and was reared on the home farm.  In 
March, 1847, he begun butchering in partnership with Thomas Harris, but one year 
later dissolved the partnership and united with his brother, John Gohn, with 
whom for seven years he was engaged in the same business, and one year in the 
cattle trade.  From 1856 to 1867 he was in the mercantile trade under the firm 
name of Heppenstall & Gohn, and for two years thereafter was with Levi and 
George Lehman, under the firm name of Gohn & Lehman.  William Witman then came 
in and business continued until 1871 under the style of Gohn, Lehman & Co., and 
then was changed to Gohn & Witman; as such it continued until March, 1876, since 
when Jacob Gohn has been in business alone, carrying a large stock of groceries, 
dry goods, boots, shoes, hardware, etc., having rebuilt and enlarged his 
storeroom in 1879.  With Mr. James Cook, Mr. Gohn was the originator of the 
Wrightsville National Bank in 1862, of which he is a director, as well as 
director of the Wrightsville Hardware Company; he was also a large stockholder 
in the furnace.  January 11, 1855, he married Martha, daughter of John and Sarah 
Heppenstall, and of the seven children born to this union, the only son is dead, 
and six daughters living:  Sarah, Mary Martha, Carrie May, Laura Silvers, Minnie 
and Nellie Levingston.  Mr. and Mrs. Gohn are members of the Lutheran Church, 
and Mr. Gohn of Riverside Lodge, No. 503, A. F. & A. M.  Mrs. Martha Gohn is of 
English descent; her parents came from England about 1812.