GOSPORT PORK PACKING BUSINESS

Joseph Ephraim Goss commenced making his way in the world as a farmer, taking lands in the wild which he felled and cleared with a determined ambition and earnestness that had no answer but success: his ever faithful and helpful wife often accompanying him to the clearing after her household duties were done for the day. Meantime the present site of Gosport was located upon lands owned by his father and Abner Alexander and took its name in honor of the former.
As in all new towns in a new country, business began here and the firm Hussey & Edwards was established in the mercantile interest. Young Joe Goss was not a light to be kept hid under a bushel for no sooner known by these merchants than were his services secured as clerk though he continued to have his farming interest carried on.To this business, was soon added pork packing then, perhaps about the year 1833--the second if not the first interest of the kind in the State.

Through changes that soon followed J.E. Goss became the equal partner of Dr. Hussey under the firm name of Hussey & Goss which firm continued in business as merchants and pork packers until 1854 when they dropped the merchantile interest but continued the business of pork packing until 1865 when Dr. Hussey retired. From then on Mr. Goss was associated with various parties in the same interest until 1877. He retired in 1877 being the oldest pork packer in Indiana. All who knew him honored and revered him and loved him far above what is common among men. He and Elizabeth are buried in the Gosport Cemetery. They had three girls and two boys.
On 2 May 1872 in Owen county Joseph Ephraim Goss married Mrs Elizabeth (Robinson) Wampler. For a time, a nephew, Joseph Goss Arnold was associated with Joseph Ephraim Goss in the pork packing business.