Albert M. Gosser and Susan Hill
Husband Albert M. Gosser 1 2 3
Born: 14 Jan 1834 - Adamsburg, Hempfield Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 4 Christened: Died: 29 Mar 1913 4 Buried:
Father: William Gosser (1803-1888) 1 2 4 Mother: Susanna Kistler (1808-1838) 1 2 4
Marriage: 1858 5 6
Wife Susan Hill 5 7
Born: 30 Sep 1839 - Hills Mill, Allegheny Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 6 Christened: Died: Aft 1914 Buried:
Father: Israel Hill (1820-1878) 7 Mother: Catherine Shaffer (1821-1879) 7
Children
1 M Newton H. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
2 F Emma D. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Henry Kepple ( - ) 6
3 M D. Homer Gosser 5 6
Born: Abt 1864 Christened: Died: 1909 - Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA 6 Buried:Spouse: Alberta Lindsay ( - ) 6
4 M Franklin I. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
5 F Lydia K. "Lidie" Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Albert Manning ( - ) 6
6 F Lottie E. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Lee Randel ( - ) 6
7 F Grace L. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Robert F. Stivenson (1879- ) 8
8 M William A. Gosser 5 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Bertha Vogel ( - ) 6
General Notes: Husband - Albert M. Gosser
He was only a child when the family came to Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and there he was reared, receiving his education in the common schools. When a young man he learned the trade of marble cutter at Greensburg with his cousin, Capt. Daniel Kistler, and he continued to follow that line of work for about ten years, establishing an extensive business in West-moreland, Armstrong and Indiana counties. As it did not agree with his health he gave it up and purchased a boat, the "Spartan," which he operated on the Allegheny river, he himself acting as captain. This was dur-ing the period of the early oil excitement in Venango County, and supplies sold at high prices, but the construction of the Allegheny Valley railroad destroyed the profitable river trade. Selling his boat in 1867, Mr. Gosser returned to Leechburg, and in company with his brother Daniel engaged in the gen-eral store business at Freeport. He soon bought his brother's interest and in 1868 es-tablished the business at Leechburg. In 1871 he sold his store and removed to Allegheny township, Westmoreland County, where in 1872 he erected a fine residence on a high plateau overlooking the Kiskiminetas valley and Pennsylvania railroad. In 1883 he again entered mercantile business at Leechburg, that year erecting his large three-story brick building on Market street, at Bridge alley. He carried a large and comprehensive stock, having a fine line of dress goods, clothing, shoes and carpets, and was considered the leading merchant of the borough until his re-tirement, in 1901. He was one of the best known business men in that district during his active career. Besides the store building men-tioned Mr. Gosser erected what was known as the "Gosser Block House," a three-story and basement building constructed of cement blocks which is considered one of the most substantial structures in Leechburg. The blocks, which he made, were the first cement blocks manufactured in that vicinity, and he also designed the building, which was the first of this kind of construction in the locality. The store of J. J. Long and the Nickelodeon theatre were located in the building, and the rest of the space was used for residential pur-poses, it having been erected originally as an apartment house. It contained twenty-five rooms. Mr. Gosser erected twenty-five houses in all, at Leechburg and Gosser Hill. He long continued to make his home at the fine place on Gosser Hill previously mentioned, in 1904 building his late residence in Leechburg, on Main street.
Mr. Gosser was always public-spirited and active in movements affecting the general welfare, and though he did not seek office he was a candidate for the State Legislature in 1884, while a resident of Westmoreland County. It was mainly through his efforts that the bridge across the Kiskiminetas river, at Leechburg, connecting Armstrong and West-moreland counties, was made free. Mr. Gos-ser did not think it was fair that the residents of Allegheny township, Westmoreland County, and Leechburg, Armstrong County, should pay toll on their own bridge when they were also paying taxes to maintain the bridges else-where in their counties, and after a long and persistent campaign succeeded in having the toll removed, in June, 1890.
He and his wife early joined the Luth-eran Church, in the work of which he was very active, and served as superintendent of the Sunday school. In political sentiment he was a Democrat.
1 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 724.
2 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 546.
3 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 569, 572.
4 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 569.
5 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 725.
6 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 570.
7 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 572.
8
—, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 346.
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