My Genealogy Hound

PETER D. GOTTSHALL, who is at present engaged at the pumping station of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at Boiling Springs, Cumberland county, is a native of that county, and was born in 1852, at Springville, in South Middleton township.

Peter Gottshall, father of our subject, was born in South Middleton township in 1814, and the family has long been associated with the development of this section of the county. Until he was eighteen years of age Peter Gottshall alternated attendance at the local schools with work on the farm, and then began to learn the carpenter’s trade at Boiling Springs with his father, Jacob. On the completion of his apprenticeship he engaged in business in that line with his brother Adam at Boiling Springs, and they did a flourishing business as builders and contractors for forty years, Peter Gottshall retiring eventually on account of poor health. He died in 1886, aged seventy-two years, at Springville. Mr. Gottshall married Elizabeth Gross, and they had children as follows: George, Jacob M., Henry, John, Daniel, Willis, Peter D., Mary and Alfred. The mother of these dying, Mr. Gottshall married Rebecca Shupp, and they had two children, Annie and one that died in infancy.

Peter D. Gottshall received a good practical education in the common schools, attending until he was eighteen years old. After leaving school he worked on the farm for his father for about ten years, and then learned the carpenter’s trade, serving his apprenticeship at Boiling Springs with his father. He was in business with his father until the latter’s death, after which he was in partnership with his brother Henry for six years. He then took a position as boss carpenter with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, having his headquarters at Boiling Springs, and was thus engaged for about seven years, until incapacitated by an accident. His adz slipped, cutting his leg so severely that he was under the doctor’s care for two years. Mr. Gottshall is still in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Company, having for the past four years been engaged at the pumping station at Boiling Springs. He has been one of the most respected citizens of that place for many years.

On Jan. 1, 1874, Mr. Gottshall married Miss Matilda C. Wise, daughter of Frederick and Maria Wise, of South Middleton township, and they have had one child, Franklin E., who was born in 1874, attended the schools of South Middleton township, and is now engaged in the photographing business at Harrisburg, though he continues to live in Boiling Springs, making the trip morning and evening. He married Minnie A. Lehman, daughter of David P. and Elizabeth M. Lehman, of South Middleton township. Mr. and Mrs. Gottshall are both members of the Lutheran Church of Boiling Springs. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat.

FREDERICK J. WISE, father of Mrs. Gottshall, was born in South Middleton township, Oct. 12, 1814, and received his education in the common schools of his native township. He chose farming as his life work, and, aside from six years spent in Carlisle, he had always devoted his life to that calling. He married Maria E. Lobaugh, a daughter of Joseph Lobaugh, a native of Adams county, in 1844. Of the children, born of this union, four lived to maturity, as follows: Joseph, deceased; Jane; Matilda C.; and Edward. Those that died in infancy were: John, Harry, Elizabeth, Annie, Abbie, Frank and Ella. The family were Lutherans in religious faith. Frederick J. Wise died in August, 1890, and his wife died in January, 1891, aged sixty-seven years.