Jacob Gutshall

GUTSHALL, MANBECK, MATHIAS, SNYDER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 1/2/2012 at 17:18:14

The History of Dallas County, Iowa - 1907
Past And Present Of himDallas County

Jacob Gutshall

No history of Dallas county would be complete without mention of Jacob Gutshall, who is one of the largest land owners and prominent agriculturalists of this section of the state, his property holdings aggregating ten hundred and sixty acres. He still operates and manages his farm and supervises his financial interests. His investments have been to judiciously made, as a result of sound judgment and keen foresight. He early on had the prescience to discern the greatness which the future had in store for this country and he wisely purchased land that had continually increased in value. His record is also notable from the fact that while he has now passed the ninety-second milestone on life's journey, he is still numbered among the active man of the County.

A great majority of men, long before the attain his age put aside business cares, feeling that they have a right to rest from labor, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to the nature of Mr. Gutshall and therefore he still supervises his farming interests.

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Perry county, that state, on 27 May, 1815, a son of John and Elizabeth Gutshall, who were like wise born in the Keystone state. There the father died and the mother afterward removed to Ohio, where her demise occurred. In their family were seven children, of whom Jacob is the third in order of birth. After losing her first husband Mrs. Gutshall married again, becoming the wife of John Manbeck and unto them were born eight children.

In taking up the personal history of Jacob Gutshall we present to our readers the life record of one whose history should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished when one had determination and energy. He left home at the age of fourteen years and has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He has worked persistently without thought of failure, knowing that success comes as a reward for perseverance and unceasing toil. After his first marriage he engaged in clerking for an on call in a mercantile shop for a years. On the expiration of that. He purchased a half interest in the business and followed that pursuit until 1853, when he disposed of his store in Harrison County, Ohio, and came to Iowa, buying sixteen hundred acres of land in Dallas and Madison counties. He again visited this state in 1854 and the following year moved his family to Dallas county, since which time he has made his home in Van Meter township. Upon coming to Iowa he abandoned commercial pursuits and turned his attention to the development of a farm. As the years passed by his harvest brought to him good financial returns for his labor. He has disposed of some of his land is still possesses ten hundred and sixty acres in this county. This is divided into several farms but Mr. Gutshall remains the supervisor of his property interests and attends to his financial affairs himself.

In early manhood Mr. Gutshall was united in marriage to Miss Ruth A. Mathias, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania. The only child of this marriage died in infancy and Mrs. Gutshall passed away in 1839. For his second wife Mr. Gutshall chose Miss Mahala Snyder, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, while her parents were natives of Maryland. The sons and daughters of this union were as follows: Joshua, who died at the age of three years; Elizabeth; Ruth; Harry; George A.; And one who died in infancy.

Mr. Gutshall was a democrat and politics until 1860, since which time he has supported the republican party and is in thorough sympathy with its principles and policy. In early life he took an active interest in public affairs and held the office of supervisor for several terms and was likewise school director for some years. He was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife in 1906, her death occurring on 28 September of that year, when she had reached the age of eighty-three years. She was a member of the United Brethren Church, to which he also belongs. He is now ninety-two years of age and enjoys remarkable help for one of his years, possessing the vigor and energy of a much younger man.

Many years have passed since he arrived in Dallas County and he is justly numbered among her honored citizens. He has a remarkable record of one who has by his upright life won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He has long since rounded the Psalmist's span of three score years and 10 but though the snows of many winters have whitened his hair he has the vigor of a much younger man and spirits and interests seems not to have passed his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonym for weakness or inactivity. It need not suggest, as a matter of course, want of occupation or helplessness. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that comes in contact with it, that gives out of rich stores of learning and experience and grows stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is the life of Mr. Gutshall-and encouragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emulation to the young.