ka, where he is treasurer of Red Willow County ; he enlisted in 1862 in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, was wounded, but served three years), R. C. (married and resides in La Fayette Township), W. W. (resides in Red Willow County, Neb.), Sarah A. (now Mrs. Brown, resides in Holt County, Neb.), and M. W. The latter grew up with a farm experience, and received his education in the schools of Grant Township, Story County, Iowa. He commenced for himself at the age of sixteen years, and was married in Story County on September 1, 1881, to Miss Sarah A. Campbell, a native of that county, and the daughter of James and Ann (Eccles) Campbell, both being natives of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell came to this country when quite young, settled in New York City, were married there, and a short time resided in Canada. From there they moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1853, settled on a farm in Milford Township, improved it, and there Mr. C. passed the balance of his days. His death occurred in 1880. The mother is still living and resides with our subject. After his marriage Mr. Gossard followed agricultural pursuits in Story County, and now has charge of the Story County Poor Farm. He is not active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. To his marriage have been born three children: Cecil Grace, Charles G. and Genevieve. Mr. Gossard has seen many and great improvements in Story County since coming here, and has witnessed the complete growth of the country. He is one of the county's best men, and has always taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the township and county.
Mrs. Sarah J. Gossard, widow of Thomas M. Gossard, is a resident of Grant Township. She was born in. Madison County, Ohio, August 29, 1840, the youngest of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Emery, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Pennsyl vania. Thomas Emery, born in 1801, was a blacksmith, farmer, and retail merchant. He died in Story County at the age of sixty-nine years. Elizabeth Emery, born in 1805, is now living with her daughter at the extreme age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Gossard emigrated with her parents to Story County in 1857, and has witnessed the changes which thirty odd years have brought with them. She was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county, began teaching in 1858, and taught almost continuously until 1865. She taught the first school in the Ames district, and was among the most successful of her profession. She was married July 4, 1865, to Thomas M. Gossard, and to this union were born four children —a daughter and three sons: Blanche (a school teacher and undergraduate of the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls), Harry A. (a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Ames, and now at home), Will E. (a school teacher and prospective Iowa Agricultural College student for 1891), and T. Lamont (at home). Mrs. Gossard has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-four years. She expects to pass the remainder of her days in Story County, surrounded by the associations which her long residence has rendered dear.
Thomas M. Gossard (deceased) was a native of the Buckeye State, born in Ross County, May 17, 1842, the fourth of nine children, all of whom are living at the present time with the exception of the subject of this sketch. They are named as follows: Phoebe Jane (married Hezekiah Kelley, a farmer, and now resides in Kansas), Allan (farmer, Story County), James C. (farmer, Adams County), subject (deceased), Willis (county treasurer of Red Willow County, Neb.), Rufus (a carpenter, Boone County), Walker (a mason by trade, in Red Willow