Biographies of Hyde County, SD
Jacob Goldsmith Family
Jacob Goldsmith came to Ohio with his parents Joseph and Maria Goldsmith/Goldschmidt and siblings from Switzerland in 1883 to Fulton County, OH . He was 10 years old. He moved in 1893 to Morton, IL where he married and started a family. They lived there untill 1907. He moved his wife and family to Highmore, SD. One reason for the move was the condition called "Catarrh" which he was ill from . He tried several areas, but liked SD best. The family went in what was called a emigrant train to SD to a 480 acre farm. In the move they sold their land and hauled their furniture, matched teams of horses and personal belongings. He worked his farm until 1937 when he retired. He helped establish and was a member of the Missionary Alliance church of Highmore where he taught a Adult Bible class . He became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
He was on a trip to Harlem MT to visit his sons Walter and Victor Goldsmith and their families when he died.
[Information given by John Sleger, a grandson of Great-Uncle Jacob, Some of it from an interview of Jacob's son Wilbert Goldsmith in book "Hyde Heritage 1880's 1977 "by the Hyde Historical Society printed by The State Publishing Co Pierre, SD 1977 and contributed to Genealogy Trails by Norita Shepherd Moss]
WILBERT GOLDSMITH
My name is Wilbert. I would like to tell you about my grandfather Joseph Goldschmidt of Bothell, Switzerland. Joseph was a dairyman in Bothell but decided to move to the United States so his sons Joseph and Jacob wouldn't be drafted into the army. In the old country there was controversy between Catholics and Protestants but the day they left for the U.S. a Catholic lady brought them a basket of apples. The family settled in or near Archbold, Ohio about 1879.
Jacob had his name Goldschmidt legally changed to Goldsmith because so many people had trouble spelling it. Jacob married Caroline Gerber, 1898, in Pekin, Illinois. They had four children: Walter, 1902; Wilbert, 1905 (thats me); Anna, 1907; and Victor, 1909. They called us boys Valter, Vilbert, and Wicktor.
In 1907 my folks sold their land and moved their family by emigrant train to a 480 acre farm near Highmore, South Dakota. They brought all their furniture, matched teams of horses and carpenters to build a new home. Their reason for moving was Jacob had what was then called Catarrh condition and doctors thought a drier climate would be better. So he traveled to Arizona and California before coming to Highmore and deciding Highmore was his choice.
We boys slept upstairs in an unfinished attic and in the winter we would undress downstairs by the stove, then run upstairs and jump into the feather beds. Many mornings there was snow on our quilts. Anna preferred studying to housework so Mother kept Victor with her and had him help her as long as she could. All of us worked on the farm before we went to school
and as soon as we came home. I was called Wee Wee in school but still made the basketball team. One game I will never forget. It was in the district tournament. We played Hitchcock, and in the closing seconds I had the ball and started to dribble in for a lay up. All of a sudden I fell. While lying on my back I shot and made it, giving us the needed points to win. At that
time our colors were purple and gold. We hauled gravel from our pit for the streets of Highmore and a new school. My first two years I went to school in the Franklin Hotel. My last two years in the new school. I graduated in 1923.
I started going with Helen Oxwang. On September 5, 1930 we were married at her home by Reverend Chase. Close family was present. Louise Oxwang and Walter Goldsmith were attendants. Our honeymoon was a trip to the Black Hills. Helen was an R.N. and worked in town doing private duty and in the dentist office. Times were dry and hard. I worked for W.P.A. one year, as there was not enough money on the farm. I owned my own truck and started hauling gravel in the summer and ice in the winter. In 1919, our gravel pit eventually became the city swimming hole. Kids would walk out the 2 miles to cool themselves off.
I added other trucks and did livestock hauling, grain, and general trucking for the people of our community. The first truck I ever owned was a 1919 International with solid rear tires. Then I went to a 1923 Stewart with cushion rear tires. Later I found a 1929 Reo that had been repossessed I sold that for a 1939 new International. Business was getting better so I bought a 1941 International tractor and trailer. In 1945 I bought a 32 trailer and in 1948, a 40 trailer and tandum livestock trailer. I had many exciting adventures hauling. The very first trip I made with my new 1939 International Straight Truck was for Gerald Myers of northwest Hyde. I took 10,000 pounds of hogs to Watertown. He received $0.03 a pound for them. I received $35 dollars for a round trip. On my return I brought back a load of corn for Mr. Myers.
In 1947, I participated in a Tri-State Truck Rodeo in Sioux Falls. Helen and I drove down in the Chevy. It was a three-day
affair in which you competed with other truck drivers that had an accident free record. We did parallel parking, obstacle driving, written tests and skill handling. The last night at the banquet I made headlines. I came in second, only
losing by one point. The plaque and medal made me feel very proud.
In 1952 I sold my two livestock trucks and went into the house moving business. At this time I kept my straight truck and truck tractors and bought a set of timbers 40 feet long and some built up moving dollies. We built up from there to 52 and 65 footers. Houses were moved with all the furniture in them and no cracks in the walls. Some of the homes in Highmore that we've
moved are Wayne Studt home, Mark Durfees, Ray Weislers, Harry Robinsons, Goldsmiths duplex, the house Randy Olson lives in, Don Matres. I lifted up the Kenny Klebsches house, turned it around, and then put it on the foundation again. I moved a barn for Joe Husband and many others. I've moved a standby diesel power plant for N.W.P.S's new plant. I placed steam boilers for the Stephan Mission School, moved motels, elevators, churches, barns, radar stations, and depots. One unusual move was Louie Carter's house, which was made of tile and brick. It had to be removed so Sully Buttes could build their new office building. I moved it three blocks south on some lots that I owned and later sold it to Mrs. Anton DeGooyer.
When Fort Thompson had to be moved on the hill, I helped relocate all the government buildings that were moved to the new site. We bought the school and two cottages and spent three months salvaging them. We stayed there most of the time. At Whitlock Crossing, 20 miles west of Gettysburg, we moved the school to Eagle Butte, which is a distance of 65 miles. It was 30
by 80 feet long, and in one unit. An elevator was moved 125 miles from Broadland to Agar, South Dakota. It
was 45 ft high so we laid it down and then sat it back up. Our son, Jim, made a small scale model so we could place our timbers properly to find its drop past center. We agreed if I dropped it, P.V. Grain Company of Minneapolis would have kindling and I would have had experience. Good planning and strategy paid off. After ten days it was set up again in its new location and I received my $1,000 for the job. I figured $100 a day for three men and all equipment. Gas was about $0.25 to $0.28 cents to a gallon. The average move was 20 to 25 miles. I moved five new ready built motel units from Onida to Martin, South Dakota 225 miles one way.
Overall, you name it, we did it. We unloaded, hauled, and placed all the electrical equipment plus transformer, which weighed 65 tons each which came from Germany by boat down the St. Lawrence Seaway then reloaded and shipped by rail to Highmore, to the Fort Thompson Sub Station the first state of the cut out unit. Also moved the old store back at Mac's Corner
near Stephan so they could build the new modern store and all the while we were loading and unloading the grocery store, the cash register kept ringing. This was another unusual moving deal. Also moved Hagen Raske's old farmhouse back so they could build a new one. While we were rolling it off the foundation one evening, Mrs. Raske prepared supper. When supper was ready we stopped and went inside and ate. Another unusual move was a farmhouse northwest of Miller that was built on the wrong section line. We had to load it up and move it across the section line. While we were pulling it across the section line the farmer's wife was getting dinner with a wood-burning cook stove. I looked up and smoke was coming out of the chimney. When we got it to the new foundation we went into the house and had dinner. There were a number of these kinds of moves but generally the people did not stay in the house. Generally people would give us our meals while on the job if possible. We always came home at night. The last ten years the custom changed and people did not give us our meals. We carried
our lunch.
In these changing times, many people sold their farms to their neighbors who were enlarging their own operations, so the farm buildings were sold and the houses were moved to town and the other buildings to the farms. I moved all the buildings from five farms for Ted Jennings of Miller one fall. This was the trend for the last full year that I moved, for the big were getting bigger. Now a lot of the new homes are built at the lumberyards and then moved to new foundations. In 1970 I sold my house
moving business to Charlie Kleinsasser who kept himself busy and is now booked six months ahead.
Retirement did not come easy. I was always so active and had to do something. One winter while Helen and I were out to the West Coast, we became interested in agate jewelry as a hobby. We invested in a diamond tooth saw, polisher, tumbler, and grinder. That winter we went to classes to learn the art of making jewelry. We both enjoyed it. I did the first part and Helen did the finishing touches. Now we make everything from tabletops to lights, rings, belt buckles, necklaces, pins, and bola ties.
Our daughter Shirley had inspired us to make many unique things. One unusual rock, brought to us by our granddaughter Susan, was a rough piece of turquoise. I cut it and made three rings form it. Our jewelry has gone to the West and East Coast, Germany, and Yugoslavia. We are now enjoying retirement, fishing or making our jewelry. The world moves ON. [Read Wilbert's obit] [Read Helen's obit]
Note: from an interview of Wilbert Goldsmith in book "Hyde Heritage 1880's 1977 "by the Hyde Historical Society printed by The State Publishing Co Pierre, SD 1977 - submitted by Norita Shepherd Moss
WWI Draft Card of Jacob Goldsmith
Goldsmith, Jacob --- 11 Jun 1873 --- W --- naturalized citizen --- Hyde SD
Name: Jacob GOLDSMITH
Birth: 11 JUN 1873 in Alschwil Canton Basle, Switzerland
Death: 6 SEP 1946 in Harlem, Blaine Co., MT
Burial: Highmore Hyde Co., SD
Father: Joseph GOLDSMITH b: 16 NOV 1841 in Alschwil Canton Basle, Switzerland
Mother: Maria (Mary) Lydia GOLDSMITH b: 14 JAN 1846 in Alschwil Canton Basle, Switzerland
Marriage 1 to Carolina (Carrie) GERBER b: 24 FEB 1868 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
Married: 21 JUL 1898 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
Children
Walter GOLDSMITH b: 1902 in Pekin, Tazewell, IL
Wilbert GOLDSMITH b: 12 JAN 1905 in Perkin, IL
Anna GOLDSMITH b: 24 NOV 1906 in Pekin, Tazewell, IL
Victor Amos GOLDSMITH b: 27 JAN 1909 in Highmore, S.D.
Name: Carolina (Carrie) GERBER
Birth: 24 FEB 1868 in Pekin, Tazewell Co., IL
Death: 30 MAY 1948 in Highmore Hyde Co., SD
Burial: Highmore Hyde Co., SD
Father: Christian GERBER
Mother: Anna Unknown
Obit for Carolina Gerber Goldsmith printed in a newspaper in Highmore, Hyde Co.,SD on 30 May, 1948
MRS. JACOB GOLDSMITH
Funeral services for Mrs. Jacob Goldsmith, who passed away Sunday morning were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 P. M. at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church and conducted by Rev.James A. Odgen, assisted by W. E. Ellsworth. Mrs. Jacob Goldsmith quietly passed away in the arms of her daughter Mrs. Joe ( Anna ) Sleger about 3:20 a.m. Sunday morning ,following a heart attack at 2:45 a. m. Her son Wilbert and his wife were also by her side when she passed on to be with her Lord and Savior. She had been suffering from a heart ailment since 6 March, 1945. Her condition had improved until she was seriously stricken on 8 Feb.,1948.
Since then she had been tenderly cared for at the home of her daughter. All that human hands could do was done for her during that time.
Carolina Gerber, daughter of Christian and Anna Gerber was born at Pekin, IL. 24 February, 1868. She was 80 years, 3 , and 6 days old at the time of her death. She was a resident of Hyde County, SD the past forty one years. 21 July, 1898 at Pekin, IL. she was united in marriage to Jacob Goldsmith. To this union four children were born;
Walter and Victor of Harlem, MT: Wilbert and Anna( Mrs. Joe Sleger) of Highmore SD. Her husband preceded her in death on September, 1948. Though the days without him by her side were lonely, she possessed the " peace which passeth all understanding," Her life and influence as a Christian wife and mother will never be forgotten. She leaves to mourn her loss her four devoted children; seven grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends. Those from out of town who were here for the funeral were Mr. William Birkey of Morton, IL; Misses Cecilia and Alvina Ropp; Mr.Raymond Ropp and Mr.Theodore Udfers; all of Gibson City, IL. Music for the funeral services was furnished by Mrs. James A. Odgen, Mrs. Fred Erlandson, Dick Lauing and Leroy Ratzlaff with Mrs. Dick Kauing as pianist. Pallbearers were Sam Stephenson, John Konrad, Fred Erlandson, Chris Schnieder, Furley Fife and Dick Lauing.
* CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our appreciation for the many kindness of our friends following Mother's death. The music; the floral tributes;the words of the pastor; the services of the ushers; the pall bearers; the Hurd Funeral Home; and the ladies who served such lovely meals meant much to us.
Mr.and Mrs. Walter Goldsmith and family
Mr.and Mrs. Wilbert Goldsmith and family
Mr.and Mrs. Joe Sleger and family
Mr.and Mrs. Victor Goldsmith and family
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