Gott - William T.
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913 (1913) p 744
Kentucky has contributed to Indiana many prominent families of the class of pioneers who followed Boone - the greatest of pioneers - into the Blue Grass region and were especially suited to the needs of the new country north of the Ohio River. Many of the men who crossed that picturesque stream to found new homes for themselves were determined largely by the absence here of that curse to any country - slavery.
However, the practice of that institution in the "dark and bloody ground country" was not, by any means, the only reason that the Gott family left there away back in the 20s and established their home in the primeval forests of Montgomery County, Indiana for here by hard work and persistent effort, they became well established and from that early day to the present the name Gott has been a familiar sound throughout this section of the Wabash country, which they have done much to develop.
No family is worthier of conspicuous representation in a work of the nature of the one in hand than the Gotts one of the best known members of the present generation of which is the popular and able physician, William T. GOTT of Crawfordsville, one of the most successful and well liked general practitioners of Montgomery County. Dr. Gott was born near Ladoga, this county on March 18, 1855 and he is a son of WIlliam and Rhoda Ann SWINDLER Gott. The father was born in 1806 in Shelby Co Kentucky and there he grew to manhood and spent his earlier years, coming to Montgomery County, Indiana in 1829 and entered 160 acres form the ghovernment in Scott Township and there he cleared a place and erected a cabin like the other early farms in his township. He was a man of great industry and wise foresight, and, as he prospered, added to his original farm until he owned a large and well cultivated tract of land at the time of his death. He was one of the most progressive general agriculturist of his day and generation here and he was a man of positive convictions; nothing could swerve him fromt he right as he saw and understood the right and he maintained an unblemished reputation to the end.
He took much interest in local public affairs and on accoutn of his sterling integrity, he enjoyed the confidence of his friends and neighbors in a high degree. As a result his services were frequently sought in settling estates and making investments for the minor heirs of deceased friends and neighbors. Upon one occaison in the early 40s he was appointed guardian of the minor heirs of a friend and neighbor. THese heirs wished that their share of their father's estate should be invested in western lands. In deference to these wishes the estate was converted into gold coin and by him taken on horseback (there being no railroads at that period) to a point near Cedar Rapids, Iowa and invested in lands. These wards after becoming of age, moved to the lands purchased by him and became quite wealthy upon the proceeds of this investment. Wiliam Gott was prominent in Masony and was past worshipful master in theblue Lodge.
His grandfather was Robert Gott, a Revolutionary soldier, who served under General Greene as quartermaster. His name appears on the cooper tablet placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the federal building at Crawfordsville. William Gott retired from the active duties of the farm in 1861 and moved to the village of Ladoga, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 1877.
He and Rhoda Ann Swindler were married in 1831 and they reared a family of 10. The death of the mother occurred at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch in 1891. Rhoda Ann Swindler's mother was Letitia Mount, daughter of Thomas Mount of Shelby Co, KY.
Dr. William T. GOTT grew to manhood on his father's farm where he found plenty of hard work to do when a boy, for the acres of the old homestead were extensive. He attended the country schools and the Ladoga Academy. He studied medicine under Dr. William Hill of Greencastle and he was graduated from the Mother Institution of Reformed Medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio with the class of 1878.
He immediately began to practice of his profession in Vigo County, this stae but in 1880 he came to Crawfordsville and here he has remained continuously in the practice ever since. During his practice here of nearly 33 years his name has become a household word and there has been no more popular and successful family physician here during the past 3 decades. He has remained a close student and has kept up with the times in his profession in every way. He has taken post graduate work in the New York Polyclinic in 1884 and 1886 and in London City hospital, London, England in 1903.
He has for 16 years been a member of the state board of Medical Registration and Examination, serving under the administration of 5 governors, namely: Mount, Durbin, Hanly, Marshall and Ralston. He was the first member apopinted to the State Board of Medical Registration and Examination and was elected president of the board in 1898 and 1901 he was elected secreatary, a position which he has retained continuously eer since. The secreatry being the executive officer of the board he has had much to do with the execution of the medical practice act of this state a work that has been greatly appreciated by the medical profession and the more descerning public who understand the chief function of this department to be exercised with regard to the educational qualification sof all physicians entering the practice of medicine in Indiana. Dr. Gott was the first health officer ever elected to that office in Montgomery County.
He was president of the United States Board of Pension Examining Surgeons at Crawfordsville during both temrs of the Cleveland administration. He was a member of Governor Mount's staff, with the rank of colonel. He and Dr. JC Webster of Lafayette, Indiana and a surgeon from the regular army were appointed to conduct the examination of all physicians and surgeons in Indiana making application for service in the Spanish-American war. These examinations were conducted at the State House at Indianapolis. Politically, Dr. Gott has always given his support to the Democratic party, while, fraternally he is affiliated with the Free & Accepted Masonis, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. In 1886,
Dr. Gott was united in marriage to Mary M. ALLEN the daughter of on. James M and Henrietta WEDDING Allen of Terre Haute. Her father, who was a native of Shelby County, Kentucky was one of the most prominent attorneys of Terre Haute. He was elected judge of the superior court of Vigo Co, in which capacity he served for a period of 8 years in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of his constituents and all concerned. To Dr. and Mrs. Gott was born one child, which died in infancy. The Dr. and his wife have a wide acquaintance over the county and state and are popular members of the social circles in which they move. -- typed by kbz
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Source: H. W. Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago:
HH Hill, 1881) p 317
Dr. W. T. GOTT, Crawfordsville, is a son of William and Rhoda
A (SWINDLER) Gott. His father was b. in Shelby Co, KY in 1806 and
came to Montgomery Co. 1829 and entered 160 acres of land in
Scott Twp. In 1831 he was marr, and on that farm Mr. & Mrs.
Gott lived until 1861 and raised a family of 10 children, 5 of
whom, two sons and 3 daughters are now living. In 1861 they
retired from active labor and moved to Ladoga, where he died, Dec
20, 1877 and rests in the Ladoga Cemetery They had been
successful farmers, adding to their first 160 acres until they
owned a farm of 340 acres. Mr. G. was a whig in early times, but
later became a democrat in which party he was quite prominent,
having been twice elected land appraiser. he was a man who took
an active part in all progressive movements such as gravel roads,
etc. He was a man of strong conviction, acting from a sense of
duty in important questions. He was firm and decisive, generally
taking a leading part in public meetings. He was worshipful
master in a Masonic lodge for some time. His father was a
revolutionary soldier and served as quartermaster under Gen.
Greene. Mrs. Gott is still living, at the age of 67 years. Her
children living are: RC Gott, prominent in the democracy, and
later a national and a successful farmer; Letitia, wife of Casius
M. STONE ; Mary S, wife of Joseph N. SIDENER ; America, marr. to
James U. LOFOLLET (sic
Lafolette); and W. T., whose name appears at the head of this
sketch. The last named son, like the rest, was raised on the
farm. He attended the Ladoga Academy for some time, then began
under Dr. William HILL, of Greencastle, with whom he remained two
years, then entered the Mother Institution of Reformed Medicine
at Cincinnati in 1877. Leaving the medical college, he settled
for the practice of medicine in Atherton, Vigo Co IN where he
remained until April 1880, when he removed to Crawfordsville.
Here he formed the copartnership with Dr. JN TAYLOR which firm
still exists. Their office is in the Blue front. Mr. Gott is a
member of the Christian Church.