DIED

GOTTSCHALK--By the death of Frederick Gottschalk, which occurred early last Friday morning, passed from earthly scenes one of the very first white men who called Platte county home, and who settled in this section of Nebraska. His early experiences were those typical of the frontier settler, and he lived to enjoy the typical abundant fruits of Nebraska pioneers whose confidence in the future led them to endure patiently the hardships and the labor of developing an empire on the western prairies.
Mr. Gottschalk was one of five men who walked here from Omaha in the spring of 1856. Of these five, Jacob Lewis, residing in east Columbus is now the sole survivor. They filed upon land, and during the first summer built log houses. During the winter they trapped, hunted or walked back to Omaha, returning the following spring with provisions for the ensuing season. For the first few winters Mr. Gottschalk worked in stone quarries near Omaha. Later he built and operated a ferry across the Loup river. In the course of time he accumulated money to buy three yoke of oxen. He then engaged in hauling grain to the soldiers at Ft. Kearney, fording the rivers and streams enroute.
His next purchase was a team of horses, said to be the first brought to this county by a settler. The team was bought in Iowa. On the first trip that Mr. Gottschalk made to Kearney his team was stolen by soldiers, and sold to Indians. Single-handed he started out to recover his property. For several days he followed the Indians and finally came upon them on the river bluffs almost directly south of this city. He had a six-shooter, which he used as effective argument in recovering his team. That was the only time the horses were stolen. They lived to be over thirty years old, and remained in Mr. Gottschalk's possession until they died of old age. The revolver which he used on the Indians is now a family keepsake.
Another achievement with which he is credited was killing the first elk ever slain by a white man in this county. This was done in the Shell Creek valley, about ten miles northwest from this city. Mr. Gottschalk was alone at the time, and he made the killing just at dusk. Guilding his course by the stars he walked back to Columbus that night, reaching home without mishap, and returned the following day for his game.
He took part in one Indian hunt. Indians had killed four settlers down on the Elkhorn river. A posse of soldiers and settlers was organized to run down and administer punishment to the redskins. The posse caught up with the Indians on the Niobrara river. The Indians were in a friendly mood, but threatened to annihilate their pursuers should an attack be made. It was a hopeless case for the settlers, and the matter was finally settled by the Indians surrendering those of their number who had committed the murder, four in number, who were taken to Omaha for punishment.
These and many other reminiscences of frontier life were frequently discussed by Mr. Gottschalk, but he lived throught them all and profited by the experience. He was always a farmer, and died leaving an estate of four hundred acres of choice land in the vicinity of Columbus. He also left personal property amounting to a small fortune.
Friederich Gottschalk was born January 27, 1827, at Winpfen im Thal, Hessen Darnstadt, Germany. He sailed for this country in 1853, arriving at New York the day after Christmas. One year he worked in a sawmill and one year on a farm in Pennsylvania. Then he came to Nebraska. On August 20, 1861, he was married in this city to Margaretha Denk. His wife died four years ago last May. Two of his children have died. The only survivor of his immediate family is one son, L.F. Gottschalk, of this city. He leaves two sisters and one brother in Germany.
The funeral in his honor was held at 3 o'clock, Monday under trees planted by his own hands on the homestead in pioneer days. Rev. R. Neumarker, of the German Reformed church conducted the service. A large number of the old settlers and friends of the deceased were present. The remains were laid to rest in Columbus cemetery. The pall bearers were Louis Phillipps, George Berney, Wm. Schilz, Gus G. Becher, F. Brodfeuhrer and Henry Loseke.

BIO
FREDERICK GOTTSCHALK

Frederick Gottschalk, born January 27, 1827, in Thal Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1853, arriving in New York on December 26. For one year, he worked in New York at a saw mill, and the following year, in 1855, he worked on a farm in Pennsylvania. From Pennsylvania, he moved to Columbus, Ohio, late in 1855, and there joined several men who came to Omaha, Nebraska, early in 1856.

Frederick Gottschalk was one of the five men sent out by the Columbus Company to find a townsite in March, 1856. These men marked a site a few miles east of the present town of Columbus and returned to Omaha. On May 29, 1856, Mr. Gottschalk, with the other twelve members of the Columbus Company, founded the present town of Columbus.

On August 20, 1861, in Columbus, Frederick Gottschalk was married to Margaretha Loy Denck, the widow of Adam Denck. Mrs. Gottschalk was born in Bavaria in 1827, came to America in 1854, and to Columbus in 1859. The Gottschalks had three children: L. Frederick, born April 30, 1864; and two other children who died in infancy.

The Gottschalks took up a homestead near Columbus. For the first few winters, Frederick worked in stone quarries near Omaha. Later, he operated a ferry across the Loup River of Columbus. In time, he accumulated enough money to buy three yoke of oxen and then engaged in hauling grain to soldiers at Fort Kearney, fording the rivers and streams en route.

His next move was to purchase a team of horses, which he bought in Iowa. This was the first team of horses in Columbus. Among other firsts, he is credited with killing the first elk slain by a white man in this territory.

He was a farmer and left an estate of four hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Columbus.

Frederick Gottschalk died August 18, 1905. Mrs. Gottschalk died May 31, 1901. They were members of the German Reform Church.


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The Columbus Journal, June 5, 1901

DIED
GOTTSCHALK--Another of Platte county's pioneer settlers has gone to the majority. Mrs. Fred Gottschalk died Friday, May 31, at 10:45, a.m., after an illness the closing weeks of which were passed at St. Mary's hospital.

Mrs. Margaratha Gottschalk was born in Bavaria, December 28, 1826. She came to Chicago, Illinois, in 1854, and to Columbus in 1858, since which time she has made this her home. June 5, 1858, she married Adam Dank, who died in 1860. August 20, 1861, she married Fred Gottschalk and to them were born three children, one son and daughter dying in youth, the other son being L.F. Gottschalk, who with the husband survives her.

The funeral services were held at the German Ind. Protestant church, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, by the pastor, Rev. Neumarker, who spoke in German.

Mrs. Gottschalk came to this country in the pioneer days when privations and hardships meant more than the younger generations can appreciate. She had the peculiar strength of character to withstand any troubles that might arise, and always come out victorious on the side of right. Few of the older people in the county, but know that she had the mental ability and the courage to maintain right against any assailant.

She was perfectly fearless, where a question of right and wrong was concerned. Mrs. Gottschalk had no desire for public prominence, and her whole life was devoted untiringly to home interests and home ties.


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You can find the brief obit about Fred Gottschalk from the old newspapers located on the website of Platte County, Nebraska Researchers located HERE it's listed under 1905.

The Bio of his life was taken from M. Curry and is located HERE