Frank Gotch - Humboldt, Iowa - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Frank Gotch was a native of Humboldt, Iowa where he gained a reputation as a tough grappler by taking on all the local talent. His wrestling ability led to his first professional match in 1899 when he defeated a man named Marshall Green. His second match was against The American Heavyweight Champion Dan McLeod. It took McLeod almost two hours to defeat Gotch. Undeterred by his defeat, Gotch almost immediately challenged former Heavyweight Champion “Farmer” Martin Burns. It took Burns only 11 minutes to defeat Gotch, but Burns was so impressed with the young grappler that he agreed to train him. With Burns help Gotch traveled to the Yukon where he was crowned the Champion of the Klondike. After his time in the Yukon, Gotch returned to Iowa where he challenged the World Heavyweight Champion George Hackenschmidt. It was almost 5-years before the two would meet in a classic match in Chicago. The match on April 3, 1908, went for almost 2-hours with Gotch finally taking the first fall with his signature toe hold. Hackenschmidt refused to answer the bell for the second fall, relinquishing the championship to Gotch. As Champion, Gotch defeated everyone who stepped into the right with him, and he retired as the undefeated Heavyweight Champion on April 1, 1913. During his Career Gotch had a total of 160 Professional Matches finishing with a record of 154 wins and 6 Losses. His last defeat was to Fred Bell on December 1, 1906. After a short stint of traveling with a circus, Frank Gotch returned to his home town of Humboldt, Iowa where he passed away on December 17, 1917. He is entombed in the Gotch Family Mausoleum in Union Cemetery in Humboldt, Iowa.

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Description: Frank Gotch was born in Humboldt, Iowa on April 27, 1877. As a teenager he earn a reputation as a tough grappler by beating all the local competition and developing his signature toe hold. Frank’s first professional match came on April 2, 1899, when he defeated a man named Marshall Green. His next match was against a man who claimed to be a furniture dealer from a nearby town. The two men wrestled for almost 2-hours before Gotch was pinned. Only later did he learn the man was actually the American Heavyweight Champion Dan McLeod. Even in defeat the match against McLeod bolstered his confidence and he soon challenged the Former Heavyweight Champion “Farmer” Martin Burns. Gotch Lost the match in just 11-minutes but so impressed “The Farmer” that he agreed to train him. Under “The Farmer” tutorage, Gotch won all his match in Iowa and later traveled to the Yukon where he won the Championship of the Klondike. After his time in the Yukon, Gotch returned to Iowa where he challenged American Heavyweight Champion Tom Jenkins. The two met in 1903 with Jenkins defeating Gotch Undeterred by his defeat, Gotch then set his sight on the World Heavyweight Champion George Hackenschmidt. But the World Champion ignored Gotch and refused to even acknowledge him. For more than 5-years Hackenschmidt dodged Gotch. But finally on April 3, 1908 the two met at the Dexter Park Pavilion in Chicago. Hackenschmidt contempt of his foe showed as he constantly complained to the referee that Gotch was using “foul” and illegal tactic. For more than two hours the two men traded the advantage. Finally Gotch took Hackenschmidt to the Mat and trapped him in his signature Toe Hole. Hackenschmidt was forced to submit, surrendering the World Championship to Gotch. Over the next 3-years Gotch took on and defeated all comers. Despite his success, the sports fans clamored for a rematch with Hackenschmidt. They got their wish on September 4, 1911, at Chicago’s New Comiskey Park. The highly anticipated match drew a crowd of 30,000 and a record $87,000 gate. The match failed to live up to the hype as it took Gotch only 30-minutes to defeat Hackenschmidt in Straight Falls. Frank Gotch was recognized as the World Champions from his first victory over Hackenschmidt in 1908 until he retired on April 1, 1913. During his Career Gotch had a total of 160 Professional Matches finishing with a record of 154 wins and 6 Losses. His last defeat was to Fred Bell on December 1, 1906. As the World Heavyweight Champion, he retired undefeated. In retirement Gotch joined the Circus where he would pay any man $250 if they could last 15-minute with him without submitting or being pinned. He never had to pay. After a while Gotch grew tired of traveling and returned to Humboldt where he retired for good. Back home his suffered from a number of health problems that eventually claimed his life on December 17, 1917. The man that most regard as the greatest professional wrestler of all time is resting in the Gotch Family Mausoleum in Union Cemetery in his hometown of Humboldt, Iowa. Date of birth: 04/27/1877 Date of death: 12/17/1917 Area of notoriety: Sports Marker Type: Tomb (above ground) Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - Dawn to Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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