Goldberg - Joseph
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913, p. 905
The most elaborate history is perforce a merciless abridgment, the historian being obliged to select his facts and materials from manifold details and to marshal them in concise and logical order. This applies to specific as well as generic history, and in the former category is included the interesting and important department of biography. In every life of honor and usefulness there is no dearth of interesting situations and incidents, and yet in summing up such a career as that of Joseph Goldberg, one of the leading businesses men of Crawfordsville and one of the best known and most successful dealers in hides and furs in the Middle West, the writer needs touch only on the more salient facts, giving the keynote of the character and eliminating all that is superfluous to the continuity of the narrative. Mr. Goldberg has led an active, useful and honorable life, not entirely void of the exciting, but the more prominent have been so identified with the useful and practical that it is to them almost entirely that the writer refers in the following paragraphs.
Mr. Goldberg was born in Poland, April 5, 1852. His parents both died in the old country. His father was a farmer, tanner and contractor, and, being industrious and a good manager, had a very comfortable income, and a good home.
Joseph Goldberg spent his boyhood in his native land and there received his early education, which has been greatly supplemented later in life by contact with the business world and by extensive home reading. When a young man he left Poland in order to escape military service, which was enforced by the Russians, our subject being very much opposed to the military system. The trip was a tedious one, and he was sixteen days on the water. He landed in New York City with twenty-five cents in his pocket, but he had plenty of grit and ambition, and he was soon working for a friend for one dollar and fifty cents per day. After working two weeks, during which time he had saved enough to defray his expenses to Chicago, he made his way thither and worked there six months, then purchased a horse and wagon and drove to Evansville, Indiana, and remained there for two years engaged in the junk business. On account of the disagreeable climate of Evansville he drove to Indianapolis where he spent thirteen years, very successfully engaged in business, then came to Crawfordsville, and established his present business which has rapidly grown with the years. He has shipped two million pounds of hides, furs, pelts of all kinds, and is one of the best known dealers in this line in the country; and the fact that a great many of his regular shippers have remained with him for years, refusing to ship to any one else is sufficient proof of his honest treatment, his sound business judgment, and his uniform courtesy. He understands thoroughly every phase of his business and no better judge of the value, grades, and varieties of furs and hides could be found. He is deserving of great credit for what he has accomplished in the face of obstacles, having started with nothing and had no one to aid him.
Mr. Goldberg was married on March 10, 1875 to Setty Hart, of Indianapolis, and to this union four children were born, one of whom is deceased; the living are: Fannie, who married Morris Block, of Oskosh, Wisconsin; Hannah, who is the wife of Edward Epstine, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Harry, who is at home, is in partnership with his father in business.
Source: Saturday, Jan 2, 1932 Crawfordsville Journal-Review
Joseph GOLDBERG, 81, former resident of this place died suddenly at his home in Los Angeles, California Friday afternoon, according to word received here. Mr. Goldberg resided in this city for more than 35 years, during which time he was an active businessman. Always interested in civil affairs, Mr. Goldberg was a successful candidate for this city council, serving capably and efficiently for two full terms on the board. The deceased was born in Poland while that country was still a part of Russia. Not desiring to be forced to do military service in the army of the Czar, he came to the US when he was a mere boy first settling in Indianapolis where he resided for 20 years. He moved to Crawfordsville 45 years ago, leaving for California in 1920. Mr. Goldberg while residing here, was a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows and Red Men lodges. Although he had been in ill health for 3 years, his death Friday cam as a shock to his many friends here. A sudden heart attack was given as the cause of death. The survivors include one sons, Harry Goldberg, local business man and a daughter, Mrs. Edward Epstein of St. Paul, Minn. His wife and two daughters preceded him in death. Definite funeral arrangements have not as yet been made but it is believed that burial will take place in Chicago.
Source: Circuit Court Naturalizations Bk 5 p 141 Jan 1851.
Joseph Goldberg, b. Jan 1853 (1900 Census 9th District Crawfordsville) b. Russia parents b. Russia, junk dealer here in 1871 Betty ? July 1855 7 children; 3 living b Md. Germany Germany Polock, Fanny daughter. Jan 1877 In Russ Md Morris son in law b March 1870 Russia Russia Russia Isador (their son) March 1897.