Delegate to Missouri state constitutional convention, 30th District, 1875.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 1 - Judge Louis Gottschalk died of heart disease to-day, aged sixty-two years. He was a captain in the Union army during the civil war. He was elected city attorney of St. Louis in 1865. Later he served six years as circuit judge in Missouri, was a member of the State senate, and was for eight months acting governor of Missouri. In 1884 he came to Los Angeles, and in 1889 was appointed by President Harrison as consul at Stuttgart, which position he filled for three and a half years.
~ The Washington Post & Chicago Daily Tribune, 2 Jan 1901
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The funeral of the late Judge Louis Gottschalk, who died in this city New Year's day, was held yesterday afternoon at the family residence, No. 703 West Eighteenth street, under the direction of the Turnverein Germania, of which the deceased was a member. The services at the house were very simple, and consisted merely of a few remarks by the Turnverein president, Adolph Frese, on the life and character of the deceased. There were many beautiful floral pieces sent by friends, a number coming from New York, St. Louis, Chicago and other eastern cities. The pallbearers were August Boecklin, A. H. Koebig, Dr. Joseph Kurtz, Joseph Murphy, Maximillian Esetrnaux, Joseph Maier, Dr. R. Wernigk and Dr. C. F. Kuster. A large number of friends attended the body to its last resting place, the Bar Association being well represented.

At Rosedale Cemetery, where the interment took place, the services consisted of vocal music by the singing section of the Turnverein.

~ The Los Angeles Times (California), 4 Jan 1901
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HON. LOUIS GOTTSCHALK.
Saint Louis

Louis Gottschalk, late judge of the Saint Louis circuit court, was born in Ems, Germany, January 1, 1836, being a son of Charles and Margaret (Luther) Gottschalk. The family emigrated to the United States in 1849. Mr. Gottschalk read law in the city of New York and Dubuque, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in the latter city in 1856. In 1858 he settled in Saint Louis, which has since been his home and the scene of his success at the bar and on the bench.

Mr. Gottschalk served in the army for nearly two years, as captain of company B, 5th Missouri infantry; was elected city attorney in 1863; a member of the senate in 1869, and became its president in 1871. While holding the last named office he was also acting governor, Lieutenant Governor Gravely having died, and the governor, B. Gratz Brown, running for vice-president of the United States. In 1875 Mr. Gottschalk was a member of the constitutional convention, and while at his post of duty in that body was elected a judge of the Saint Louis circuit court, which office he held until January 1, 1879. He has a thorough understanding of the law, and on the bench showed himself to be clear-headed, cool and impartial, and he was quite popular with the bar. Since leaving the bench Judge Gottschalk has been very actively engaged in the practice of his profession, his business being first-class.

He was married in Saint Louis in 1863, to Nancy L. Gottschalk, and they have four children.

~ "The Bench and Bar of St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and other Missouri Cities", publ. 1884, pg. 72.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hon. Louis Gottschalk. For a period of almost thirty years Judge Gottschalk was prominently associated with the bench and bar of St. Louis, and during his residence in that city he won a constantly increasing reputation for breadth of knowledge and keenness of intellectual faculties. In the many positions of honor to which he has been called he has proved himself a man of superior ability, in whose hands large responsibilities may be safely entrusted. During the early part of the period, notable in California for its great accessions to the population of Los Angeles and the striking development of the city's real estate interests, he came to the Pacific coast, and has since engaged in the practice of law in this city, with the exception of four years spent in Germany as United States consul, under appointment from President Harrison.

As indicated by the name, the Gottschalk family is of German origin. Judge Gottschalk was born in the city of Ems, which lies in terraced lengths along the Lahn, in Hesse-Nassau. In the home of his parents, Charles and Margaret (Luther) Gottschalk, he was born on New Year's day of 1836. When thirteen years of age he accompanied the family to the United States. For a few years he attended school in New York City, after which he began to read law. In 1856 he was admitted to the bar of Iowa at Dubuque, where he began the practice of his profession and remained for two years.

The turning point in Judge Gottschalk's career came in 1858, when he removed to St. Louis. He met with success from the first, and soon became prominent among the members of the legal fraternity. When the Civil war opened he was stauch [sic] in his adherence to the Union, and enlisted in the service. For nearly two years he was captain of Company B, Fifth Missouri Infantry, during which time he shared in many of the campaigns and conflicts that re memorable in history. His first official position in St. Louis was that of city attorney, to which he was elected in 1864. Three years later he was chosen to serve in the city council. As his ability became more widely recognized he was offered positions of greater honor and trust. In 1869 he was elected to the state senate of Missouri, and shortly after he began his term of service he was selected to act as president of the senate, in which position his impartiality, tact and quick, cool judgment won for him the respect of both parties. While filling this position he ws also acting lieutenant-governor, by reason of the death of the gentleman elected to that office. At the same time the governor, Hon. B. Gratz Brown, was the nominee for vice-president of the United Stated on the Democratic ticket.

While officiating as a member of the constitutional convention in Missouri, in 1875, the subject of this article was elected a judge of the St. Louis circuit court, which position he held until January, 1879. His mental powers, being of an unusually vigorous order, he was qualified to fill the position with judgment and dignity. In addition to being well informed, he possessed the added qualifications of wise judgment and an impartial spirit. Comprehensive study of the law had made him thoroughly familiar with its every department. When he was upon the bench he had the respect of all members of the bar, who deferred to his decisions with the highest regard. After his retirement from the bench he resumed his professional practice, establishing a large and important clientele. In 1886 he removed to Los Angeles, where he now has his office in the Henne building.

During his residence in St. Louis he married Miss Nancy L. Gottschalk, by whom he has four children, namely: Louis F.; Fred C.; Nancy, wife of J. B. Francisco; and Otto, a student of law.

~ "Historical and Biographical Record of Los Angeles and Vicinity" by J. M. Guinn, A.M., publ., 1901, pgs. 259 - 260.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1880 (Nov) Census, St Louis, Missouri:
Louis Gottschalk, 42, lawyer, b Germany, parents Germany.
Mrs N., 35, wife, at home, b MO, parents Germany.
Louis Jr, 16, son, at school, b MO.
Ferd, 14, son, at school, b MO.
Mis N, 7, dtr, at school, b MO.
Otto, son, at school, b MO.
Johanna Busch, 35, servant, b Germany, parents Germany.
Theresa Busch, 24, servant, b Germany, parents Germany.
Henry Meyer, 19, servant, b MO, parents Germany.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1900 Census, Los Angeles Co, California:
Louis Gottschalk, 60, m 35 yrs, b Jan 1830 Germany, parents Germany, immigrated 1837, naturalized, lawyer.
Nancy, wife, 52, 5 born/4 liv, b Jul 1847 MO, fthr Germany, mthr IL.
Nancy Francisco, dtr, 24, m 5 yrs, 1 born/0 liv, b Jan 1875 MO.
John B Francisco, s-in-law, 33, b Dec 1866 OH, parents OH, artist.
Matilda Vogt, servant, 32, b Feb 1868 Germany, parents Germany, imm. 1887.
Address: 703 West Eighteenth St.