John Golly

As printed in 1890

John M. Golly, farmer and stock-raiser, Zearing, Iowa. Located in the midst of one of the finest agricultural centers of Story County, the farm which Mr. Golly owns and occupies is conceded to be among the best in the vicinity, and this is saying not a little, for on every hand may be seen superior places, whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. Mr. Golly is descended from a race who have given their attention principally to farming. His father, John Golly, was a native of New York State [see sketch of William H. Golly].

John M Golly was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1855, and was married in 1876 to Miss Lucy Spohr, the daughter of Frederick and Lucinda (Piper) Spohr, natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Golly were born six children: Elizabeth, Gertrude, Guy, John, Leona, and Ernest. Mr. Golly bought the northwest half of Section 24, and is now the owner of 240 acres, all well improved. He has in the neighborhood of 500 rods of tile on his land, has about fifty-one cattle and eleven horses on his place, and keeps a good grade of all kinds of stock. His fine place is located two and a half miles from Zearing.

M. W. Gossard, steward of the county poor farm, was born in White County, Ind., in 1854, and came with his parents to this county two years later. He was the youngest of nine children born to William M. and Sarah (Ely) Gossard, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Ohio. They were married in the last named State and moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1856, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits. He bought an improved farm in 1858, and made this county his home until his death, which occurred in November, 1884. He was a Republican in politics and an honorable, upright man. The mother died in August, 1881. The children were named as follows: W. A. (married and resides in Washington Township; in 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Infantry, and served thrt years, being discharged

1865), J. C. (married and resides in Adams County, Iowa; he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Infantry in 1861, and served four years, being discharged in 1865), Phoebe Jane (now Mrs. Kelley, resides in Miami County, Kas. T. M. (married and enlisted from Story County, Iowa, in 1861, in Company L\ Tenth Iowa Infantry, and served four years; he died in April, 1890), S. W. (married and resides in Nebras-

>V ka, where be is treasurer of Red Willow County; he enlisted in 1862 in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, was wounded, but served three years), R. C. (married and resides in LaFayette Township), W. W. (resides in Red Willow County, Neb. Sarah A. (now Mrs. Brown, resides in Holt County, Neb. and M. W. The latter grew up with a farm experience, and received his education in the schools of Grant Township, Story County, Iowa. He commenced for himself at the age of sixteen years, and was married in Story County on September 1, 1881, to Miss Sarah A. Campbell, a native of that county, and the daughter of James and Ann (Eccles) Campbell, both being natives of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell came to this country when quite young, settled in New York City, were married there, and a short time resided in Canada. From there they moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1853, settled on a farm in Milford Township, improved it, and there Mr. C. passed the balance of his days. His death occurred in 1880. The mother is still living and resides with our subject. After his marriage Mr. Gossard followed agricultural pursuits in Story County, and now has charge of the Story County Poor Farm. He is not active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. To his marriage have been born three children: Cecil Grace, Charles G. and Genevieve. Mr. Gossard has seen many and great improvements in Story County since coming here, and has witnessed the complete growth of the country. He is one of the county's best men, and has always taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the township and county.

Mrs. Sarah J. Gossard, widow of Thomas M. Gossar-d, is a resident of Grant Township. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, August 29, 1840, the youngest of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Emery, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Thomas Emery, born in 1801, was a blacksmith, farmer, and retail merchant. He died in Story County at the age of sixty-nine years. Elizabeth Emery, born in 1805, is now living with her daughter at the extreme age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Gossard emigrated with her parents to Story County in 1857, and has witnessed the changes which thirty odd years have brought with them. She was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county, began teaching in 1858, and taught almost continuously until 1865. She taught the first school in the Ames district, and was among the most successful of her profession. She was married July 4, 1865, to Thomas M. Gossard, and to this union were born four children — a daughter and three sons: Blanche (a school teacher and undergraduate of the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls), Harry A. (a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Ames, and now at home), Will E. (a school teacher and prospective Iowa Agricultural College student for 1891), and T. Lamont (at home). Mrs. Gossard has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-four years. She expects to pass the remainder of her days in Story County, surrounded by the associations which her long residence has rendered dear.

Thomas M. Gossard (deceased) was a native of the Buckeye State, born in Ross County, May 17, 1842, the fourth of nine children, all of whom are living at the present time with the exception of the subject of this sketch. They are named as follows: Phoebe Jane (married Hezekiah Kelley, a farmer, and now resides in Kansas), Allan (farmer, Story County), James C. (farmer, Adams County), subject (deceased), Willis (county treasurer of Red Willow County, Neb. Rufus (a carpenter, Boone County), Walker (a mason by trade, in Red Willow

County, Neb. Alice (married William Brown, a farmer in Nebraska), Wallace (farmer, steward of the county farm of Story County). Mr. Gossard's parents were natives of Ohio. He removed with them to Indiana in 1855, and thence to Iowa in 1858. He obtained a good practical education in the public schools, and commenced life for himself as a farmer when seventeen years of age. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and followed the fortunes of his regiment until August, 1865, when he was mustered out of service. He participated in seventeen battles, among them Corinth, Iuka,

Hill, Jackson, Mi siege

Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Missionary Eidge. and many of the lights on the way to the sea with Sherman. He also took part in the Grand Keview at Washington, D. C. He was a member of the G. A. K. Post No. 30 at Ames. He was a member of long standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was identified with the Sunday-school work of his township for many years as superintendent and general worker. He contracted his sickness in the service of his country, and died at his home April 11, 1890. His remains are interred at Ames. This gentleman was loving I as a husband, kind as a father, brave as a soldier, upright as a citizen. His memory will remain green in the hearts of his relatives and friends long after his body has returned to dust.

As printed in Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa (1890). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.