These pages updated May 23, 2005
For the most part, the majority of our ancestors were
farmers or stock raisers. However, there were others who looked for work
outside of the home. In considering the high cost of education and the
need for these persons to remain on the homeplace working, it is sometimes
amazing that they were able to become educated in some fields. Some trades
though were learned from the father and passed down, such as blacksmithing;
others were learned when young men were apprenticed out to others or in some
instances, these young men were orphaned early in life and had no other options.
I have tried to include most all of the most prominent occupations of the early
days, with a short explanation of the trade. Some of these are simply positions
that people held in ADDITION to farming such as a trustee.
If you know of the occupation of your ancestors, and they are not listed
here, please submit them and I will post it.
Attorneys
Barber
Blacksmiths
Cabinet Makers
Carding Machine Operators
Carpenters
Cooper
Coroners/Medical Examiners
Cream Testers
Dentists
Diners/Cafeterias
Distillers
Druggist
Dry Goods/Mercantile
Ferrymen/Women
Hotel/Boarding House Owners
Judges
Justice of the Peace
Law Officers
Livery Stable
Meat Packing
Gosport Pork Packing Business
Mill Operators (Saw-Grist-Flour)
Ministers/Preachers/Evangelists
NewsMen & Editors
Painters
Physicians
Post Masters/Postmistresses
Railroad Men
Saddle & Harness Makers
Saloon Owners & Bartenders
Shoe & Boot Makers
Stone Masons
Store Clerks
Switchboard Operators/Telegraphers
Tailor/Dressmakers/Clothing Dealer
Tanner
Teachers
Tin Makers
Trustees
Undertakers
Wagon/Plow Makers
Wheelwrights
.
Debbie Jennings
Website Coordinator