Milton's Son John: Was He My John L. Gossett? By Joe Baker (Milton's gggrandson) This has been the question I have been asking myself, and becoming more convinced of, ever since a third cousin and I talked about our same great-great-grandfather: John L. Gossett (see below). She recently wrote me a letter to express her belief that our gggf was the son of Milton Gossett, son of John and Honor Gossett of New Market, Highland County, Ohio, not the son of John and Mahala Gossett as everyone in the family had previously believed. Her conclusions were sensible and had some basis in documentation. Here are some excerpts from my cousins letter (printed here with her permission): "I have been kind of reluctant to accept that John's father is Milton because Milton does not fit the description of the father described on John L's death certificate. But it is uncanny how much our John L looks like the John in the "eight Gossett boys" photo...." "I am, at this point, discounting the info on John L.'s death certificate. The information is only as good as the informant's memory even though it can be a good starting point. Since I have exhaustively tried to trace John L through parents named John Gossett and V. McHenley of Indiana, and have had no luck, it is reasonable to conclude that Mrs. Sexton was wrong in the information she gave on his death certificate..."

John L. Gossett

"According to the census records and that from the Chronicles of the Gossett Family, our John L was born in 1843. It is entirely possible that this is his correct birth year and not 1840 as stated in his pension records. He could have lied about his age in order to join the army. In looking through his pension records John L had a tendency to tell stories. My grandmother related a story that John L said he was wounded in the war and that is why he needed a cane. Who would want to admit they were discharged for diarrhea? Also, in 1885, John L tried to get pension benefits based on deafness he claimed was caused during the war. Why did it take 20 years for him to notice his deafness?...."

"Further information about Milton in the Chronicles of the Gossett Family put him in Highland County at the correct point in time. It states his son Elmer was born in Highland County in 1860, near the time John L enlisted in the army from Highland County.

I also wonder if there was some falling out among John L and the rest of the family. According to pension records, John L was back in Ohio as early as 1880, but the rest of the family (at least where noted) was married and died in Indiana. This could explain why Mrs. Sexton gave wrong info on his death certificate. Did John L claim that his grandfather John was his father rather than Milton? It is still unexplained why John L listed his mother's birthplace as Scotland in the census records. This too, could be describing a grandparent. Also, Mrs. Wright , who gave the names of Milton and Naomi's children, did not have any information about John L other than his year of birth. Another indication that John L may have broken off ties with his family..."

After reading my cousin's ideas and conclusions, I had to agree with her, especially after I had also hit a dead-end trying to research a John and Mahala Gossett from the time-frame for John L Gossett’s parents.

So, then I began my search for the connection between our John L Gossett and Milton and Naomi Gossett of Indiana.

Here is some of the information we have accumulated that lead us to conclude that John L Gossett is the son of Milton/Naomi Gossett:

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1. CENSUS DATA for Milton Gossett

1840 Ohio Census Adams County, Winchester #069
	Gossett, Milton 1 Male 20-30, 1 female 20-30, 1 male under 5, 1 female under 5
1850 Ohio Census Highland County HIFA 202 (Fairfield Twp.)
	Gossett, Milton	37	M	b. OH	Plasterer	600 acres
	Naome	22	F	OH		2500 acres
	John	7	M	OH	[Is this my John L?]
	Stephene	5	F	OH
	Angeline	2	F	OH
1860 Ohio Census - July 25th, Fayette County FYPE 438 (Perry Twp.) p. 253, P.O. = New Martinsburg
	Gossitt, Milton	50 (?) smudged	M	Plasterer	b. OH
	Naomi	35	F		OH
	Margaret J	15	F		OH
	John L.	18	M	Apr Plasterer	OH	[the census records actually say “John L.”]
	Angeline E.	12	F		OH
	Isaac A.	10	M		OH
	Zephania	8	M		OH
	Andrew P (?)	5	M		OH
	Orin O.	2	M		OH
	Infant	1/12	M		OH
1870 Indiana Census - June 16th, Fairmount, Indiana Grant County
	Gossett, Milton	53	M	Brick Mason	b. OH
	Naoma	45	F	Keep House	OH
	Isaac	19	M	Brick Mason	OH
	Zephaniah	16	M	Teamster	OH
	Adney	15	M	Works on farm	OH
	Arlando	13	M		OH
	Elmer E.	12	M		OH
	William	9	M		OH
1880 Ohio Census (June 9th) Brown County, Soundex code = G230
	John L. Gossett	38 yrs old		Farm Laborer	Born in Ohio	Father b. in Pa	Mother b. in Scotland
	Mary Margaret	26 yrs old		Keeping house	b. in Ohio
	Charles P.	4 yrs old	Son
	W. R.	5 mo	Dau.	[this must be Cora]

1900 Ohio Census Highland County, Fairfield Township, Village of Leesburg, Page 66, Dwelling 41, family 43:

Gossett, J. L.

Head

W

M

Feb

1843

57

M

24

Ohio

Penn

Ohio

Margaret

Wife

W

F

Nov

1850

49

M

24

5

4

Ohio

Ohio

Ohio

Cora

Dau

W

F

?

1880

19

S

Ohio

Ohio

Ohio

Arthur

Son

W

M

Aug

1882

17

S

Ohio

Ohio

Ohio

Homer

Son

W

M

?

1889

10

S

Ohio

Ohio

Ohio

1910 Ohio Census Highland County, Fairfield Township, Village of Leesburg, Page 296, S. Fairfield St., Dwell -112

Gossett, John	Head	68	M	33			OH	OH	OH
Mary	Wife	57	M	33	5	3	OH	OH	OH
Homer	Son	21	S				OH	OH	OH	Laborer/odd jobs

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2. PUBLISHED DATA for Milton Gossett

From Chronicles of The Gossett Family by Grace Jerkins, p. 207:

"(IV.) Milton Gossett, born 2 May 1808 in Highland County, Ohio; died 12 July 1889 in Grant County, Indiana; son of John Gossett and Honor Morgan of Ohio; married ae 1841 in Ohio to Naomi Pettyjohn, born 26 Jan. 1825 in Ohio; died 25 Apr. 1898. She was the daughter of James Pettyjohn and Frances Wistey. Milton and Naomi are buried in Backcreek Cemetery, Fairmount, Ind. (V.) Children of Milton and Naomi Pettyjohn: John; b. ae 1843; d. ___________; m. ________________ Stephene; b. ae 1845; d. ___________; m. ________________ Angelina ; b. ae 1848; d. ___________; m. ________________ Isaac N. ; b. __ Sept 1852; d. ___________; m. (1) Sept. 1872 , Jennie Winslow; m. (2) 6 Aug. 1882 Martha Lytle. Adney P. (sometimes written “Addison”): b. 7 Sept. 1856; d. ________, Ind.; m. Lucy Lytle Orin (Oren) : b. 26 June 1858; d. ____________; m. ________________ Zephaniah: b. ___________; d. ____________, Grant Co., Ind.; m. 21 Feb. 1875, Martha Wilson. They are buried in the Park Cemetery at Fairmount. Elmer E.: b. 6 Apr. 1860, Ohio; d. _________1921, Ind.; m. 16 Oct 1881, Adelphia Smith. Orlando: b. ________; d. __________; m. __________ to Olivia French. William: b. ________; d. __________; m. __________ “Nin”. He shot his wife to death and went to prison. I (Grace Jerkins) have not checked his record). In the marriage records of Grant Co., Ind., these 2 marriages are found: Wm. Gossett, m. 18 Oct 1889, Ella Nose (Book 8, page 536) and 18 July 1891, Wm Gossett married Ella Gossett (Book 9, page 261). This sounds like the same people and denotes marital problems. Josephine: b. _________; d. ____________; m. _______________ Henry: b. _________; d. ____________; m. _______________ Note: Mrs. Wright got the names of Milton’s children from Jessie Gossett Simmons, age 96, at Marion, Ind., The Making of a Township, by Edgar Baldwin; also, Ind. Quaker Records. Listed in marriage records of Marion, Ind. we find: Isaac N. Gossett married 15 Sept. 1872 to Jennie Winslow (Book 4, page 540).

[NOTE: A picture of the “8 Gossett sons” of Milton Gossett and Naomi Pettyjohn is in Ms. Jerkins’ book]
[NOTE: Based on the 1860 and 1870 Census data, I believe Oren and Orlando are one and the same person]

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From The Family of Gossett by Evangeline Gossett Newcomer:

p. 99 - “ Very little information is found in the Ohio records concerning Lindsey, Presley (or Preston), Milton, and Wilson (Miles Wilson), sons of John Gossett. Some of their names occur under Bonds Of Guardianship and in old letters.... Bonds of Guardianship filed in the Probate Court of Highland County follow: ...Case no. 1612 - John S. Spargur, Guardian Margaret Gossett Wards Mary A. Gossett Year 1850 (Children of Milton Gossett) [Note: John Spargur was married to Sarah Gossett, dau of John Jr (Jack) Gossett. Therefore was Milton's niece and nephew-in-law. John Spargur was born 1827 married in 1843] Case no. 1620 - William Purdy, Guardian Margaret J. Gossett Wards Mary A. Gossett Isaac C. Gossett Zephaniah Gossett Year 1854 [Note: William Purdy was married to Nancy Jane Gossett, dau of Amariah Gossett. Therefore was Milton's niece and nephew-in-law. William and Nancy were married in 1839] The only information given is that they are the children of Milton Gossett, who was not deceased at the time, since he was one of the sureties on the bond of the guardian.”

From Records of the Recorders Office of Highland County, Ohio 1805-1850:

p. 58 - 21 June 1830 - Gossett, Milton, lands to Oliver Harris, all titles of land from his father, John Gossett Sr. (deceased) and all titles to lands claimed by the death of his sister Lavinia Gossett. p. 141 - 9 Feb 1830 - “... Deed states decedent in his will devised to his six youngest children, Lindsay, Abigail, Hanah, Milton, Presley and Miles Wilson Gossett, his home farm containing 150 A, to be divided among them after the death of their mother, Honor.... p. 400 - 23 June 1846 - Sam Peele to Milton Gossett, land in Lynchburg. p. 406 - 25 June 1846 - Milton Gossett and Naomi of Brown Co. to Sam Peale mortgage on land in Lynchburg.

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From the Civil War enlistment/discharge papers/certificate of John L. Gossett:

From “The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio, The War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865” Volume III Twenty-Seventh Regiment, Company H : Gossett, John L pvt 20 Aug 13, 1861 3 yrs Discharged June 1, 1865, at Willets Point, N.Y. on Surgeon’s certificate disability From John L. Gossett re-enlistment papers dated 25 December 1863 : “... aged 21 years and by occupation a soldier...” From John L. Gossett’s Certificate of Disability for Discharge dated 1 June 1865: “Private John L. Gossett, of Lieut. Biggadike’s Company H of the 27th Ohio Vet Regiment of the United states volunteers was enlisted by Lieut. Diebolt ... at Prospect, Tenn on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1863, to serve three years; he was born in Sardinia in the State of Ohio, is nineteen years of age, five feet seven inches high, dark complexion....” “I certify that I have examined the said John L. Gossett ... and find him to be incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of chronic diarrhea, not yielding to treatment. Is much emaciated...” “...The Soldier desires to be addressed at TOWN - Fulton, COUNTY Madison, STATE Indiana” [NOTE: Fulton is not in Madison County, Indiana. It is in Fulton County. However, Fairmount, Indiana is just across the county line from Madison County, and is in Grant County. Grant County is where Milton and Naomi are buried]

Notes from the Civil War papers in the National Archives:
The following are notes I took on scrap pieces of paper at the National Archives when I was there visiting in Washington D.C. These notes relate to his attendance and pay which was recorded by his superiors every 2 months:

Guard for hospital at Farmington, MS, 8-18-1862 Same as above, Jul & Aug 1862 Mustered out and re-enlisted in Prospect, Tn Jan & Feb 1864 - “Stoppage for ordinance lost: rifle, bayonet, wiper, screwdriver, tompion, bayonet scabbard, cap pouch, cartridges box and plate, waist belt and plate - $22.08” Sent to 1 Division 17 Army Corps Hospital April 3, 1865 - sick

From the death certificate of John L. Gossett:

1. PLACE OF DEATH County : Highland Registration District No. 588 File No. 3485 2. FULL NAME: John L. Gossett Did deceased serve in U.S. Navy or Army: YES 6. DATE OF BIRTH: 2-11-1839 [Incorrect Year] 9. BIRTHPLACE: (city or town): Sardinia (State or country): Ohio 10. NAME OF FATHER: John Gossett [Incorrect] 11. BIRTHPLACE OF FATHER: Ind. [Incorrect] 12. MAIDEN NAME OF MOTHER: V. McHenley [Incorrect] 13. BIRTHPLACE OF MOTHER: Ind. [Incorrect] 14. INFORMANT: Mrs. Chas. Sexton, Leesburg, O 16. DATE OF DEATH: 1-25-1930 19. PLACE of Burial, cremation, or removal: Leesburg Ohio DATE OF BURIAL: 1-28-1930

OBITUARY of John L. Gossett from Leesburg, O. Citizen, 1-30-1930:

"John L. Gossett, oldest son of John and Mahala Gossett, was born at Sardinia, Ohio, February 11th, 1840 and departed this life January 25th, 1930. Had Mr. Gossett lived until the 11th of February, he would have rounded out his 90th year. When 21 years of age, he enlisted in the Union Army, Co. H, 27th Infantry. After three years of faithful, active service, was honorably discharged June 1, 1865. On September 15th, 1894, he was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Carle, who preceded him into the great beyond many years. Mr. Gossett's faith was strong, he often spoke of his loneliness and hope of reunion since his wife's death in 1916. He repeatedly said he was ready and willing to leave this world and had arranged for his funeral several months ago. His life was spent mostly in and around Leesburg where he has many friends. For a number of years he has made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sexton, and deeply appreciated the loving tender care of this daughter, and her family. He was uncomplaining during the many months of illness and gratefully received the necessary attention. Nothing was left undone that could make his declining years more comfortable or his last long illness bearable. No one will miss him more than his devoted daughter and the two grandsons who were constantly at his bedside. He took a great interest in all of his grandchildren, and great grand children. He leaves the daughter, two sons, nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren to mourn his departure. In the passing of this aged veteran the community has lost a faithful citizen and the family a kind and loving father......." [Note: We believe the date of the marriage is incorrect and the year of birth is incorrect in this obituary]

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Also from the same paper above, same date - an article about John L.'s death:

DROPS FROM RANKS - ANSWERS LAST CALL Death Caused By Infirmities of Old Age. Merely Faded Away. Was Civil War Veteran Saturday evening, at 8:15 o'clock, news was spread of the death of another Civil War veteran, when John L. Gossett, 89 years old, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Sexton. If Mr. Gossett had lived until the 11th of February he would have passed the 90th milestone of his life. He died of infirmities of old age. He served in the Civil War, being a member of Company H of the 27th Regiment. Mr. Gossett had lived in Leesburg the greater part of his life, and has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Sexton, the past 13 years. He is survived by Mrs. Sexton, Charles Gossett, of this place, and Homer Gossett, of Piqua. Funeral services were held from the Friends Church Tuesday afternoon in charge of Rev. Cloud and Rev. Fremont Milner. Burial was made in the Leesburg cemetery."

From the “Regimental Histories”, p. 1509, from Vol. 3 of Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, by Frederick H. Dryer:

27th Regiment Infantry Organized at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, July 15-August 18, 1861. Left State for St. Louis, Mo., August 20, thence moved to Mexico, Mo., and duty on the St. Joseph Railroad till September 12. March to relief of Col. Mulligan at Lexington, Mo., September 12-20. Attached to the Army of the West and Dept. of Missouri to February 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Mississippi, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 8th Division, Left Wing, Army Corps (old) Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 8th Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 4th Brigade, District of Corinth, Miss., 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Memphis, Tenn.., 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to November, 1863. Fuller’s 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865. SERVICE - Fremont’s advance on Springfield, Mo., October 15 - November 2, 1861. March to Seldalia, Mo., November 9-17. Duty there and at Syracuse till February, 1862. Expedition to Milford December 15-19, 1861. Blackwater, Mo., December 18. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., February 2, 1862, thence to Commerce, Mo. Siege operations against New Madrid, Mo., March 3-14. Picket affair March 12. Siege and capture of Island No. 10, Mississippi River, and pursuit to Tiptonville March 15 - April 8. Expedition to Fort Pillow, Tenn., April 13-17. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 18-22. Action at Monterey April 29. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29 - May 30. Reconnaissance toward Corinth, May 8. Occupation of Corinth and pursuit to Booneville, May 30 - June 12. Duty at Corinth till August. Battle of Iuka September 19. Reconnaissance from Rienzi to Hatchi River September 30. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12. Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862, to January 12, 1863. Expedition to Jackson December 18, 1862. Action at Parker’s Cross Roads December 30. Red Mount or Parker’s Cross Roads December 31. Duty at Corinth till April 1863. Dodge’s expedition to Northern Alabama April 15 - May 8. Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22. Tuscumbia April 23. Town Creek April 28. Duty at Memphis, Tenn., till October and at Prospect, Tenn., till February, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 - September 8. Demonstrations on Resaca May 8-13. Sugar Valley, near Resaca, May 9. Near Resaca May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25 - June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10 - July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Ruff’s Mills July 3-4. Chattahoochie River July 6-17. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22 - August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31- September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Duty at Marietta till October. Pursuit of Hood into Alabama October 3-26. March to the Sea November 10. Montieth Swamp December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Reconnaissance to Salkehatchie River, S.C., January 20. Salkehatchie Swamp February 3-5. River’s Bridge, Salkehatchie River, February 3. Binnaker’s Bridge February 9. Orangeburg February 11-13. Columbia February 16-17. Juniper Creek, near Cheraw, March 3. Battle of Bentonville, N.C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro and Raleigh. Bennet’s House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29 -May 20. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and duty there till July. Mustered out July 11, 1865. Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 80 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 6 Officers and 122 Enlisted men by disease. Total 214.

CONCLUSIONS

So here are the facts and some of the questions that lead us to the conclusion that our John L Gossett is the eldest son of Milton Gossett, son of John and Honor Gossett of Ohio:

1.	The “8 Gossett boys” picture taken in Fairmount, Indiana and published in Chronicles of The Gossett Family by Grace Jerkins was given to me (along with John L’s original Certificate of Discharge) by my mother after she had received it from my great-aunt, Mary, granddaughter of John L. Why would my great-aunt have this original picture, along with John L’s original Civil War discharge papers, if he wasn’t the “John” Gossett in the picture?
2.	Why did Milton put his children in guardianship in 1850 and 1854? And why wasn’t John mentioned in these court papers?
3.	Could this be the start of the “family rift”?
4.	Was John already living with another family when he was 10 and 14 years old? And, yet, he was with them in the 1860 census. In the 1860 Ohio Census records for Milton Gossett, he clearly has a son entered as “John L” whose age is 18.
5.	Was he a fabricator?? On John L’s civil war papers, his age was noted as “20” upon enlistment, “21” upon reenlistment 3 years later, and “19” in 1865 on his discharge papers; he seemed to have told his family that old war wounds were why he needed a cane (versus chronic diarrhea); he applied for a pension due to deafness—20 years after the war; his father-in-law states/swears he has no interest in the outcome of the pension application, and acts like John L was just a neighbor, when in fact his daughter was married to him. On his discharge papers, he stated he could be “addressed” at Fulton, Madison County, Indiana.

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