Charles Goldsbury, by Marguerite Whiting
"Cherokee
County Bank, Charles Goldsbury, Banker. Prepared to draw drafts on New
York, Chicago and Europe." Thus read a card in the Cherokee Times in
1872.
Charles Goldsbury came to Cherokee in the fall of 1869. He
was described by Myron Hinkley as a tall, keen minded young man from
Massachusetts. Goldsbury was the best checker player ever seen in
Cherokee, comments Hinkley. Shortly after meeting Hinkley, Goldsbury
attempted to borrow money to buy land in a Plymouth County land sale.
Goldsbury explained that he was heir to considerable money
controlled by trustees, but that in a few months he would come into his
inheritance. Hinkley believed at the time that Goldsbury was a shark
trying to fleece him but admitted in his memoirs that he was mistaken
and that the young man had told the truth. Hinkley mentions in his
diary that by April of 1870 Goldsbury had put out his card as an
attorney.
In January of 1871, Charles went east to Vermont and
the Cherokee Times reports his marriage in that state on January 25,
1871. His bride's name is reported merely as Ella.
He was 30
years old, and brought with him a degree in law from Williams College,
and some money to invest. He bought the two corner lots on which the
Brummer block now stands, and had built two 2-story buildings with
living quarters over business places. He put his shingle up on one of
them, and soon went into the banking business---by 1872 that was his
sole interest. He continued with it "in a desultory way" (McCulla)
until 1883, when he discontinued it. Six children were born to he and
his wife in Cherokee.
An old photograph shows Charles as a fine-looking man. McCulla in his Cherokee County History says of him:
"An able, educated man, but possessing pronounced eccentricities
and militated against his success in business. His death in 1895 was a peculiarly sad one."
Ella
Amidon Goldsbury secured a divorce from her husband in 1893 or 94. She
lived until 1930. The probate of Charles' will lists their children,
Maude, William, Mary, Charles and Eva. A guardianship was set up for
the last two, who were minors when he died.
In
1949, Maude Goldsbury, who had not changed her name, wrote to Nestor
Stiles telling of her family. We quote in part: "My father's life was
such a disappointment to himself and to his family...why, it is hard to
say. He had a keen appreciation of Literature, and delighted in
reading the classics aloud. He loved playing the flute, expressing his
anguished moods until one had to leave the house. His passion for games
was rather sad. I remember Mother burning up some of his chessmen. It
was more than she could endure to see him playing such games by the
hour, and no money coming in and we in such need of it. A complete lack
of a sense of humor in the Goldsbury family explains some of the
misery."
The Cherokee Democrat tells of Goldsbury's death. From the April 3, 1895 edition:
"Nothing
in the history of this town has seemed more horrible than the death of
Charlie Goldsbury...or, rather, the finding of his dead body, because
nobody k nows when he died." The article then describes in detail of
people wondering what had become of Charlie, who hadn't picked up his
mail in the post office for quite a while, nor been seen. Late one
afternoon several men got the constale and they decided to investigate.
Broke into Goldsbury's rooms over a store building which he owned,
where the Brummer building now stands. A terrible stench hit them, but
they bravely went about their business. The decomposed corpse is
described, unrecognizable. Coroner came, and so forth. He was 55 years
old.
"He died as he lived, seemingly without a friend. A short
service was held at the home of the late wife and family of the
deceased."
After telling of the attorney's arrival in Cherokee,
of his banking business, and his six children, the paper says; "Within
the past few years his family troubles grew to serious proportions, but
we will not dwell on that. His wife secured a divorce from him a year
ago, and he had lived like a hermit since. At times a few friends met
with him in his rooms to play checkers. He had a mania for checkers,
chess, and cards, and if he had any enjoyment in life, he got it out of
these games, although we hardly think he ever gambled."
Mr.
Goldsbury was a peculiar man. He loved a dollar more than anything
else, had a life that might have been a useful, brilliant and happy one
was sacrificed and made miserable by a selfish disposition. But could
he help it? How many of us are more than a few degrees removed from
him? He had many good qualities, and tried hard to be sociable, and
agreeable...perhaps the world did not understand him.
Cherokee
County Historical Society Newsletter, February Issue, Vol. 14, No. 2, 1977, pg. 3 |
