My Genealogy Hound

JACOB M. GOTTSHALL. Among the representative residents of Boiling Springs, South Middleton township, is Jacob M. Gottshall, who springs of old, substantial stock, long associated with the growth and history of this section of country.

Peter Gottshall, his father, was born in South Middleton township, in 1814, and until he was eighteen years of age, he alternately attended school and worked upon his father’s farm. At that age he began to learn the trade of a carpenter at Boiling Springs, and when he had completed his apprenticeship, he went into business with his brother Adam at Boiling Springs, and for forty years these two did a flourishing business as builders and contractors. Peter Gottshall was forced to retire on account of ill health, and he died at Springville, South Middleton township, in 1886, aged seventy-two years. He married Elizabeth Gross, and they had children as follows: George; Jacob M.; Henry; John; Daniel; Willis; Peter; Mary and Alfred. The wife and mother died, and he married (second) Rebecca Shupp, and they had two children, Annie and one that died in infancy.

Jacob M. Gottshall was born in 1839, in Monroe township, but attended school in South Middleton township, and when sixteen years of age, he began learning the shoe-maker’s trade at Boiling Springs. In two years he was able to do journeyman work, and for three years he worked at his trade, and then embarked in business for himself at Boiling Springs. For forty-nine years he has been one of the prominent shoe men of Boiling Springs, and has occupied his present location on Third street for fifteen years.

In 1875, Mr. Gottshall married Fanny Harnish, daughter of Jacob and Susan Harnish, and one child was born to them, Herman, who married Catherine Deitch, of Boiling Springs, daughter of John and Barbara Deitch. He is employed in Plank’s department store at Carlisle, as head of a department, and is a very enterprising young man. Mr. Gottshall had two children by a former marriage: Charles H., living in Philadelphia; and Elmer F., who married Ella Sparrow, and is employed in Harrisburg as a moulder. Mr. Gottshall is a very highly respected business man, and has many friends in Boiling Springs, and throughout the county.

Jacob Harnish, father of Mrs. Gottshall was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1799, and was there educated in the public schools. He followed farming until his death. The following children were born to himself and wife: Christian, who lives in Perry county, Pa.; George, who is at Boiling Springs; Mary Ann, who died at Boiling Springs; Catherine, who died in Lancaster county; Jacob, in California; Susan, in Carlisle; Elizabeth, who lives in York county; Fanny, who became Mrs. Gottshall. The family is an old and highly respected one in both Lancaster and Cumberland counties, and its representatives are numbered among the leading citizens in the several communities where the name is found.