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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Rev William F. Goessling, stated supply of the German Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Congregation, Franklin County, Mo., was born in Prussia March 7, 1836, and is the son of Henry C. and Mariah (Schroeder) Goessling’ both natives of Prussia. They emigrated to America in 1852, and located in St. Louis, Mo. Here the father was employed in the sugar refinery for a number of years, and died in that city in 1860. The mother is still a resident of St. Louis William attended the common schools of his native country, and came to the United States with his parents. He was married in 1859 to Louisa Young who was born in Hanover, Germany, January 20, 1840, and is the daughter of John H. Young. She came with her parents to America in 1843, and for a while located in St. Louis. Mo., but later removed to Jefferson County, Mo. To the union of our subject and wife were born ten children, all living: William F. is a citizen of St. Louis, where he is proprietor of the Union Box Factory. Charles F. is employed in a wholesale stove house in Chicago. Lizzie makes her home with Charles F., in Chicago. Fred and Henry are in the employ of their brother William, in St. Louis. Louis, Joannah. Sarah, Clara and Helena, the younger children, make their home with their parents. Mr. Goessling joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1866, and four years later began preaching in St. Louis. He was ordained in Steelville, the county seat of Crawford County, Mo., in 1876, while still a resident of St. Louis. He was then pastor of the German Cumberland Presbyterian Church in St. Louis for about twelve years. He received a call in 1883 from Bethlehem Congregation, and came to his present charge August 15, of that year.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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