John Gossett: Ohio state representative
Lead Summary
By
Steve Roush-
Ladies and gentlemen, Highland County pioneer John Gossett was elected Ohio state representative in the county’s first election in November 1805, while fellow pioneer George Washington Barrere was elected to the state Senate.
The two leading citizens of New Market rode together through the woods on horseback, in 1805, as the first legislators to represent Highland County, to be present at the seat of government at Chillicothe, which was then the capital of Ohio.
According to the 1954 book, “The Family of Gossett” by Evangeline Gossett Newcomer, John Gossett was, again, the state representative in 1809. Highland County was represented with Ross County in 1806-07, and Joseph Swearingen was the representative in 1808. These dates have been verified from authentic sources.
Intensive research has been made regarding the exact years John Gossett was a state legislator. Historians differ on the dates, and some records erroneously refer to “James” instead of “John” Gossett. One Hundred Year Book and The Biographical Annals of Ohio, compiled under Authority of the Act of April 19, 1904, pp. 203 and 282, state, “James Gossett was representative in 1809.”
Like many of his ancestors, John Gossett had no middle name, so he could not have, on occasions, dropped “John” and signed “James.” According to all court records, there was no James Gossett living at that time in the county — only John Gossett’s name appeared in the first census of Highland County in 1807. “James” was on no tax lists as a property owner. The Clerk of the Probate Court of Highland County gives information: “... We searched our records here and we find no Estate or Will of a James Gossett on our books in those early days.”
As early as 1856, David Scott was writing his History of Highland County. Newcomer wrote that Scott had all the fine qualities of a great historian and he lived near the period of the early settlement in Highland County. Unfortunately, he died before completing his history. David Scott in his History of Highland County states that John Gossett was assemblyman in 1803, representing his district before Highland County was organized, and was present at Chillicothe at the first session of the Ohio State Legislature. Thus, John Gossett was a member of the Constitutional Assembly which wrote the noteworthy document, The Constitution of the State of Ohio.
These facts indicate that John Gossett was the state representative in 1803, 1805 and 1809 for Highland County.
The black top hat which John Gossett wore when he was a dignitary at Chillicothe has been preserved among family mementos and was in the possession of my great-grandmother, Lavina Gossett Roush, until her death in 1978. Today, it’s at the Highland County Historical Society. This rich silk plush hat has a French blue brocaded lining, which is stamped in gold lettering with an interesting trademark, “Made in Paris,” as encircled by a French name to indicate a firm.
We’ll finish with what Newcomer refers to as the often repeated “boot story,” quoted from History of Ross and Highland counties, Ohio, pub. 1880 by William Bros, in Cleveland, p. 485:
“Mr. Scott relates an amusing anecdote of Mr. Gossett’s first visit to Chillicothe as representative. He was dressed in plain homespun and wore a pair of fair-leather shoes. On his arrival at the seat of government he put up at the best hotel, and on retiring gave his shoes into the care of the servant to be cleaned. In the morning he could not find his shoes, and applied to the servant for them. The latter protested that he had returned as many as he carried away. The landlord was appealed to, it being Mr. Gossett’s belief that they had been stolen. If so, the landlord would replace them as soon as a pair could be made, but meanwhile suggested that Mr. Gossett try the only pair left, which he found a perfect fit. He then made an examination, and found, to his surprise, that they were really his own shoes; but, as they had never before been blackened, he did not recognize them as being the fair- leather pair he had worn the day before.”
Let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next time.
Steve Roush is vice chairman of the Highland County Historical Society Board of Trustees, a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.
The two leading citizens of New Market rode together through the woods on horseback, in 1805, as the first legislators to represent Highland County, to be present at the seat of government at Chillicothe, which was then the capital of Ohio.
According to the 1954 book, “The Family of Gossett” by Evangeline Gossett Newcomer, John Gossett was, again, the state representative in 1809. Highland County was represented with Ross County in 1806-07, and Joseph Swearingen was the representative in 1808. These dates have been verified from authentic sources.
Intensive research has been made regarding the exact years John Gossett was a state legislator. Historians differ on the dates, and some records erroneously refer to “James” instead of “John” Gossett. One Hundred Year Book and The Biographical Annals of Ohio, compiled under Authority of the Act of April 19, 1904, pp. 203 and 282, state, “James Gossett was representative in 1809.”
Like many of his ancestors, John Gossett had no middle name, so he could not have, on occasions, dropped “John” and signed “James.” According to all court records, there was no James Gossett living at that time in the county — only John Gossett’s name appeared in the first census of Highland County in 1807. “James” was on no tax lists as a property owner. The Clerk of the Probate Court of Highland County gives information: “... We searched our records here and we find no Estate or Will of a James Gossett on our books in those early days.”
As early as 1856, David Scott was writing his History of Highland County. Newcomer wrote that Scott had all the fine qualities of a great historian and he lived near the period of the early settlement in Highland County. Unfortunately, he died before completing his history. David Scott in his History of Highland County states that John Gossett was assemblyman in 1803, representing his district before Highland County was organized, and was present at Chillicothe at the first session of the Ohio State Legislature. Thus, John Gossett was a member of the Constitutional Assembly which wrote the noteworthy document, The Constitution of the State of Ohio.
These facts indicate that John Gossett was the state representative in 1803, 1805 and 1809 for Highland County.
The black top hat which John Gossett wore when he was a dignitary at Chillicothe has been preserved among family mementos and was in the possession of my great-grandmother, Lavina Gossett Roush, until her death in 1978. Today, it’s at the Highland County Historical Society. This rich silk plush hat has a French blue brocaded lining, which is stamped in gold lettering with an interesting trademark, “Made in Paris,” as encircled by a French name to indicate a firm.
We’ll finish with what Newcomer refers to as the often repeated “boot story,” quoted from History of Ross and Highland counties, Ohio, pub. 1880 by William Bros, in Cleveland, p. 485:
“Mr. Scott relates an amusing anecdote of Mr. Gossett’s first visit to Chillicothe as representative. He was dressed in plain homespun and wore a pair of fair-leather shoes. On his arrival at the seat of government he put up at the best hotel, and on retiring gave his shoes into the care of the servant to be cleaned. In the morning he could not find his shoes, and applied to the servant for them. The latter protested that he had returned as many as he carried away. The landlord was appealed to, it being Mr. Gossett’s belief that they had been stolen. If so, the landlord would replace them as soon as a pair could be made, but meanwhile suggested that Mr. Gossett try the only pair left, which he found a perfect fit. He then made an examination, and found, to his surprise, that they were really his own shoes; but, as they had never before been blackened, he did not recognize them as being the fair- leather pair he had worn the day before.”
Let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next time.
Steve Roush is vice chairman of the Highland County Historical Society Board of Trustees, a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.