From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 746

Moses Gonser was born in Whiteeyes Township, Coshocton Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1829, a son of David and Catherine (Miller) Gonser, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. After their marriage his parents moved to Ohio and settled on a new farm in Holmes County, and subsequently moved to Coshocton County, where they improved another farm. In the spring of 1848 they moved to Fairfield Township, DeKalb Co., Ind., where the father died April 17, 1856. The mother died at the house of our subject Jan. 17, 1879. They had a family of ten children eight of whom are living -- Jacob, of Kansas; Elizabeth, of DeKalb County; David, of St. Joe County, Ind.; Daniel of DeKalb County; Moses; Elias, of Lagrange County, Ind.; Susan, wife of John J. Ling, and Mary, in DeKalb County. John, the eldest son, died in Iowa, aged sixty-two years, and Sarah died in Fairfield Township, DeKalb County, in the fall of 1848, aged twenty-four years. Moses Gonser was nineteen years of age when he came to Indiana. He lived in DeKalb County till 1869 when he came to Steuben County. His homestead contains 250 acres of land 180 acres located on sections 35 and 36, Salem Township, and seventy acres across the county line in Fairfield Township, DeKalb County. His residence, on section 36, Salem Township, is a fine two story brick built in 1880 at a cost of $2,500. He also owns a farm of 200 acres on sections 18 and 19, Salem Township, which is carried on by his son Albert. Mr. Gonser is a successful farmer. He has cleared over 200 acres of land, seventy-five of which are in his homestead farm, which is one of the best farms in Northeastern Indiana. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen, and although not a politician never refuses to perform any duty which his fellow-citizens assign to him. He served as Land Appraiser of DeKalb County a year, and Trustee and Clerk of Fairfield Township. He has been a Justice of the Peace of Salem Township, and for three years was a Commissioner of Steuben County. In politics he was originally a Whig casting his first vote for General Scott in 1852. Since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. Mr. Gonser was married Feb. 22, 1852, to Louisa Wright, a native of Orleans County, N. Y., daughter of Edward Wright, of DeKalb County. They have five children -- Albert, Flora A., Marietta, Robert M. and Martha L. Their eldest child, Amanda, died at the age of seventeen years, in Salem Township.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com