Free Genealogy Biography of William H. Gausler,
Pennsylvania Volunteer of the Civil War
William H. GauslerMAJOR WILLIAM H. GAUSLER. - David Gausler (or Gossler), the father of William H., was a native of Bucks County, Pa., and reared by Mr. Huber. He learned the trade of a shoemaker in Northampton County, which was successfully followed for a brief period, after which he embarked in the business of hotel-keeping at Rittersville, Hanover township, Lehigh Co., and later at Howertown and Butztown, Northampton Co., Pa. He was an officer in the Florida war, in 1835 -36, as also under Gen. Sam Houston in Texas, where he doubtless met his death. Mr. Gossler married Polly, daughter of Abram Clater, whose family were distinguished in early times, and had children, - William H. and Augustus A., the latter of whom was drowned, in 1848, in the Lehigh Canal, near Easton.
William H. was born on the 9th of May, 1830, at Rittersville, Hanover township, and spent much of his early youth at Bethlehem in school. From 1840 until 1856 he was associated with the Lehigh Canal, first as driver and (at fourteen) as commander of a boat. Being a young man of much enterprise he soon acquired a large boating property, and on attaining his majority was the proprietor of a line of twelve transportation boats on the above canal plying between Philadelphia and White Haven. He also had a line running from White Haven to Allentown, supplying the towns en route with provisions and other materials, and returning with lumber.
In 1856, under the firm-name of Pretz, Balliet, Gausler & Co., he established a planning-mill and lumber-yard, which business was continued for three years. In 1860, Mr. Gausler established a wholesale coal- and lumber-yard, and conducted an extensive trade until the freshet of 1862 compelled its abandonment.
At the beginning of the late war (in 1861) he entered the service as commander of the Allen Rifles and Jordan Artillery, of Allentown. He was, at the expiration of his term of service, appointed major of the Forty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, organized by colonel Good and himself, and participated actively in the Red River expedition under General Banks. He was appointed provost-marshal at Key West, Fla., in 1862, and was also placed in command of Fort Taylor.
Mr. Gausler, in 1866, made Philadelphia his place of residence, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery trade. In 1868 he became an importer of queensware, and a year later organized the firm of Gausler, Russel & Co., which existed for five years, after which the present firm of Gausler, Hoffman & Co. was established, now the leading importers of queensware in the city of Philadelphia.
Mr. Gausler was married, in 1852, to Miss Sarah A. Schimpf, of Allentown, whose children are Augustus C., Emma (Mrs. William Leeds), Nina (Mrs. George C. Child), William H., Edward A., and Jennie. In politics Mr. Gausler's sentiments are strongly Republican, and though formerly active in the political arena and a member of the City Council of Allentown, he is now chiefly devoted to business pursuits. He is in religion a member of the Lutheran Church. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, as a member of Porter Lodge (of Catasauqua), Free and Accepted Masons, and of Hector Tindale Post, No. 160, of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Source: History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon.,, Mathews, Alfred & Austin N. Hungerford, 1884.
|
| Gausler Ancestry Resources
|
Gausler in Family Trees
Gausler in the largest collection of family trees online contributed by Ancestry.com users.
Gausler Genealogy Records
Gausler in thousands of birth, marriage & death, church, immigration & naturalization, and Civil War service records and pension index.
Gausler in Census Images
Gausler U.S. census records. The 1910 census lists Civil War survivors.
Gausler in Newspapers
Look for Gausler in historic PA newspapers. Articles may list battles, draft lists, soldiers returning home, lists of killed, injured, and POWs.
Gausler in PA County History Books
Look for Gausler biographical sketches in historic Pennsylvania Family and Local History Books and Stories. 
|
|
| Civil War Research
|
Civil War Research
Want to find out if your ancestor was a Civil War soldier? Follow these research ideas.
|
|
|
