There is perhaps in Coshocton no better representative of the spirit

of the age than Charles F. Gosser, a young man of broad outlook, of

keen discernment and of sound judgment, who realizes that one must

be thorough and efficient and at the same time must possess a

progressiveness that enables him to keep pace with the onward march

that is manifest in the business world. While meeting with well earned

and well merited success, he has at the same time contributed in

in substantial measure to Coshocton's commercial and industrial

development and not the least of his important acts in this connection

was in securing the establishment in the city of what is now one of its

most important productive concerns --the Pope-Gosser China Company.

A native of Coshocton, he is the son of George and Anna Gosser, the

former born in Alsace-Loraine, France, and the latter in Carroll

County, Ohio, in 1833. The father was eight years of age when in 1840

he came to the United States with his parents and for many years he

remained a resident of Coshocton. In the public schools of this city

Charles F. Gosser pursued his studies until he completed the couse by

graduation in the class of 1885, being at that time seventeen years

of age. Immediately afterward he made his initial step in the business

world as an apprentice to the watchmaker's trade under William Burns,

the jeweler. He could never be content with mediocrity in any line nor

with superficial knowledge of any business to which he directed his

attention. This quality prompted him to gain a thorough knowledge of

watchmaking and to this end he attended the Horological Institude,

where he completed a course in practical and theoretical horology

in 1892. The following year he purchased a half interest in the

jewelry business, in which he still continues, being now junior partner

of the well known firm of Burns & Gosser. They carry a large and well

selected line of watches, diamonds and jewelry and in this department

receive a liberal support from the public. They also have an optical

goods department and their increasing trade in this connection again

aroused Mr. Gosser's disposition to be throrough in his knowledge of

the subject. He therefore went to New York, where he pursued a complete

course in two optical schools, receiving diplomas from both. He also

took a course in metal engraving under the most proficient instructors

in the country.

The great majority of men feel that it is enough to attain a fair measure

of success in one line butMr. Gosser, although yet hardly in the prime of

lie, has manifested his ability and demonstrated his power in the several

fields of business activity. As a member of the advisory board of the

Mercants' Electric Light and Power Company he is prominently identified

with the establishment and construction of Coshocton's system of hot water

heating from a central station,--an enterprise which was regarded by the

public as a most h azardous one but which time has proven to be one of the

city's greatest and most appreciated public utilities, while to its owners

it yields a fair renumeration. Mr. Gosser was actively asociated with the

installation and management of the municipal electric light plant and

later added the central heat plant. However, he retired from the electric

light company in 1903 to promote and establish the Pope-Gosser China Company,

of which he is now the secretary and treasurer and one of the principal

stockholders, devoting his attention largely to the management of its

interests. Since the organization of the board of trade of Coshocton he

has been most active in its work, serving from the beginning as director

and vice president, while later he was honored with the presidency. In all

of his official capacities he has labored indeatigably to secure new

industries for Coshocton and it was through his efforts that the present

china manufacturing company was formed. It has only been since a comparatively

recent date that the ceramic art has been developed in the United States.

Prior to which time the finest articles of this character came from France,

Germany, England and other old world countries. In more recent years, however,

the skill of American artisans and artists has brought the product of their

own kilns to such a high degree that it is now no longer necessary to go

abroad for wares of the finest texture and of the most artistic mold and

decoration. Evidence of this is seen in the output of the Pope-Gosser China

Company, consisting of plain and decorated semiporcelain dinner and toilet

ware. Already the new company has won for itself a prominent place in industries

of the city. The plant was constructed for its present use. The building is

of brick, three hundred and fifteen by ninety feet, and three stories and

basement in height in the man portion and two stories in the other part.

The plant is thoroughly equipped with the most improved modern machinery

for manufacture of this character. The officers of the company are:

I. Bentley Pope, President; William Burns, vice president; and C. F. Gosser,

secretary and treasurer. This constitutes a strong combination, for the president

is a man of world-wide reputation as a practical potter and decorator, while

Mr. Gosser is recognized as a man of marked executive ability and enterprise

in business circles.

Politically he is a democrat but without desire for office. He was reared in

the faith of the Presbyterian church and his fraternal relations are with

the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Coshocton is proud to

number him among her native sons, for he has made for himself a prominent

place in business circles as one whose force of character and keen insight

into complex situations enables him to bring to successful completion whatever

he undertakes.

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