George Goetchius (1821 - 1906)

GOETCHIUS, GUTCHES, WAITS, ARMSTRONG, OWEN, TAYLOR, ALKIRE, BRIGGS, JONES, TELLER

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 12/24/2021 at 17:37:43

Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
April 26, 1906 , page 6
‘Goetchius’ is sometimes spelled ‘Gutches’ in newspapers and documents.

Major George Goetchius died at his home in Osceola, Iowa, early Wednesday morning at the age of eighty-four years, four months and twenty-six days. His sickness dated from the fall of 1904 when he fell from a buggy in which he was to have been taken to a reunion of his old soldier comrades. From this time the familiar sound of his fife was not heard by the "boys,” and he was forced to remain at home.

George Goetchius was born near Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1821, his parents being John and Nancy (Waits) Goetchius, early pioneers from New York state, who helped to master the virgin forests of Ohio and convert them into smiling fields of plenty. The family came from patriotic stock, the grandfather having been a major in the Revolutionary war.

The subject of our sketch lived on his father's farm until he was twenty-four years of age, and in 1844 was married to Miss Alcinda Armstrong. In 1854 the family drove over the trackless prairie to this county, and Mr. Geotchius entered 120 acres of land from the government and at once began work, making a new home. A log cabin was built and it had for companions the hospitable homes of Messrs. Johnny Lewis, John Baldwin, Oweny Owen, (brother-in-law of his present wife) and others. All of these pioneers have passed to the other world. The other neighbors were chiefly Pottawattamie Indians and the wild game of the prairies, including deer which were yet numerous.

In 1858 his wife died and left a family of five children, the youngest being four years of age. He was married a second time in 1859 to Mrs. Ellen Taylor Owen, who with the five children—William W. of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Briggs, of New Windsor, Colo.; George W. of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Alice Jones of near Greeley, Colo.; and Mrs. Anna Teller, of New Windsor, Colo.—survive and deeply feel the loss of a loving husband and father. Of the nine brothers and sisters of the deceased only one survives—Mrs. Sarah Alkire. now living in Indiana at the age of eighty-one years. One brother, Edmund, died in Osceola in 1890.

George Goetchius served his country faithfully in four and a half years of hard service. He enlisted as musician in the Sixth Iowa infantry, Co, F, and this regiment participated in twenty-seven battles, including Shiloh, Mission Ridge and the Siege of Vicksburg, and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. Enlisting at the age of forty he became a seasoned veteran, reenlisting as such and serving his country until the long sought victory was won.

While he was absent his wife took care of the family and did valiant work in maintaining the farm. The deceased loved his country with a deep devotion and his comrades with something like adoration. His soldier friends in the G.A.R. post and U.V.U. camp, both of which orders he was a member, will miss him greatly. He was a true and honorable citizen and a devoted husband and parent.

His membership in the M.E. church dates from early manhood, and his life is the record of a faithful, consistent Christian. The deceased goes to his grave full of years and with the respect and esteem of hosts of friends. The funeral services will be held in the Methodist Episcopal church Friday afternoon at two p.m., in charge of Revs. Walburn and Cotton, after which his old soldier comrades will lay the body to rest in Maple Hill cemetery.

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The Osceola Democrat , Osceola, Iowa
April 26, 1906 , page 1

Major George Goetchius, one of Clarke county's oldest citizens, died at his home in Osceola, about midnight Tuesday, April 24. He was born in Franklin county, Ohio, November 29, 1821, being at the time of his death 84 years, 4 months and 20 days old.

He lived in Ohio following the business of farming until 1854, when he came to Clarke county, Iowa and entered 120 acres of land about five miles east of Osceola. During the summer of 1854 he cut the logs and erected a small log house on his claim and in the fall of the same year moved his wife and small children into it. In 1858 his wife died leaving him with five children and subsequently he was married again to Mrs. Ellen J. Owen, who after proving a devoted companion for more than forty years survives as his widow. About ten years ago he sold his farm, and buying a home in Osceola, has resided here up to the time of his death.

At the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, Mr. Goetchius was among the first to enlist in Co. F., 6th Iowa Infantry. He was a great fifer, and was soon advanced to the rank of a fife major. He served through the war and participated with his regiment in twenty-seven hard fought battle, among which were Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg and Mission Ridge, and all the conflicts of Sherman's march to the sea.

During all his absence at the front, his faithful wife kept the family together and ran the farm. He did not return until the last foe had laid down his arms. During his later years his life has been made easy by a liberal pension paid by the government which was thoroughly merited. He was an intensely patriotic man and in politics a staunch republican, requiring no other spur for his political zeal than the recollection of political events back in the ‘60’s.

He was known to every man, woman and child in Clarke county as a great fifer, for on every public day he could be seen on the streets at the head of a martial band while the shrill notes of his fife reached to the farthest distance. It was his delight to play, and to him the music of the drum and life was the finest on earth. It revived in him the stirring days of life in the army.

Only in the last year has he ceased to appear on our streets and have the notes of his life been no longer heard. He loved it. Only a few hours before his death he spoke of his approaching funeral and his eyes brightened and his face lit up as he said, "and brother Abe Forney will play the fife."

Mr. Goetchius was strongly inclined to religion and from boyhood was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. During his long illness he preserved a cheerfulness which was born of a fixed hope of the future, and went down to his end talking of the friends who would greet him on the other shore.

He leaves surviving him his widow, three daughters and two sons, all the children living in distant states. One daughter, Mrs. George Briggs, of Colorado, arrived soon after his death, and others of the family are expected. At this writing the time of the funeral has not been fixed but it will probably be at the church on Thursday.

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