Biography of John Gushwa, Jr., Tippecanoe Co., Indiana

JOHN GUSHWA, Jr., of Perry Township, is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Tippecanoe County, a son of PETER GUSHWA. The latter was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a son of JOSIAH GUSHWA. He was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native county, and was there married to MISS MARY MAGDALENA GEPHART, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. In 1830 he came with his family, consisting of wife and seven children, to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and first camped in the woods in Perry Township, until their log cabin was erected. JOHN SHARP and PETER PENSOD came to the county with their families at the same time the GUSHWA family settled here. Their log cabin was built in the most primitive style, with puncheon floor, huge fireplace and clapboard roof. Here the father commenced making a home out of the forest for his family, having entered a tract of 160 acres of land from the Government, and buying another tract of 160 acres. He died March 1861, his wife having died December 25, 1853. They were members of the Lutheran church, and were among the respected residents of Perry Township. In politics he was a Democrat. They were the parents of the following children—MARGARET, deceased; MRS. ELIZABETH BIGLER, living in Wayne County, Iowa; CATHERINE, deceased; JOHN, the subject of this sketch; WILLIAM, of White County, Indiana; MRS. SARAH ISLEY, of this county; MRS. MARIA GARRISON, of Missouri; MRS. ANNA McKOPE; HENRY, of Carroll County; ISAAC, of Montgomery County, Indiana; and MRS. LYDIA EVERLY and ALEXANDER, residents of Fairfield Township, this county.

JOHN GUSHWA, our subject, was born June 30, 1823, and was a lad of seven years when brought by his parents to this county. He was reared to manhood on a frontier farm, and received such education as the pioneer schools of the county afforded. In 1850 he started for California, going first to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he joined a company going by overland route to the Pacific coast, and after passing through terrible hardships, and dangers from hostile Indians, etc., he arrived at his destination. He remained in that State three years engaged in mining, hen he returned to this county, by the Isthmus of Panama, New Orleans and St. Louis. He was married in 1863, to MISS CATHERINE WICKLE, who was born in Washington Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, a daughter of DAVID and ELIZABETH (ISLEY) WICKLE, of that township. They have six children, named HENRY, FLORA, LUCY, IVA, CLAYTON and JOHN. After his marriage our subject bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead, and is now the owner of 248 acres of fine land, his farm being one of the best in his township. No better residence than his can be found in the county, and his farm buildings are correspondingly good, all the surroundings of the place showing the owner to be a man of thrift and enterprise. In his political views he is a Democrat, and is classed among the leading men of his township.