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Peter Gutohrel, a farmer and stock raiser of Joachim Township, was born
in Bavaria, Germany, September 22, 1829 and is the youngest son in the
family of six children of George and Rachel Gutohrel.  His father having 

died before Peter was born, leaving the family in limited circumstances, 

the latter was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. He attended 

the schools of his native country for the better part of seven years, and 

was afterward employed as a common laborer in various occupations until he 

had reached the age of twenty two years, when, in 1849, he came to America, 

stopped one month as a farm hand in New York, and then came west to 

Mansfield, Ohio, where he secured employment on a railroad then in process 

of construction, remaining in that vicinity two years.  December 16, 1860, 

he married Bridget Connley, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who was 

born in October, 1834; her parents having died when she was quite young, 

she was dependent upon relatives, with whom she lived about three years, 

and then came to America with a family from her native place.  Mr. and Mrs. 

Gutohrel have been blessed by the birth of seven children, of whom Peter 

and Thomas are deceased. Those living are: William, born December 12, 1861; 

Mary, born April 9, 1867; Christian, born October 12, 1868; John, born 

January 14, 1871; and Joseph, born March 5, 1873.  William married Mary 

Clarke and has two children: Peter and Laura.  Mary is the wife of Robert 

Wolmer.  Mr. Gutohrel located in Jefferson County in 1864, where he has 

since resided.  He owns sixty acres of land, and four houses and lots in 

Festus. He is president of the school board of directors of Joachim Township,
and is a member of the American Legion of Honor.  In politics he is a
Republican.  He holds membership in the Christian Church and his wife in the 

Catholic Church.  The family command the respect and confidence of a large 

circle of friends and acquaintances.