John & Martha Goldsmith

GOLDSMITH LAW CHAPMAN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 15:10:09

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

John and Martha Law Goldsmith
By Louis A Peterson

Martha Law was born May 12, 1849, in England, the first child of Joseph and Mary (Chapman) Law. The family came to America in 1852 and lived in various places in the Midwest before finally settling in Woodbury County. She met John Thomas Goldsmith while living in LeSeuer County, Minnesota, and when the Law family moved to Woodbury County, he came with them. John Athomas and Martha were married October 8, 1877, and moved back to Minnesota for a time. Later, they returned to Iowa where they farmed until retiring in Lawton in the spring of 1912.

Their seven children were: Arthur A, born in 1879, and George, born in 1880, both died in infancy; Joseph Nelson, 1882-1954, Charles H, 1884-1976, Mary Helen, born August 31, 1886, John Thomas, 1888-1948, and Mignonette, 1889-1933. John Thomas Goldsmith died May 22, 1928, and Martha Goldsmith died Janaury 20, 1941.

Mary Helen, the only one of the children now living, married Gustaf Herman Peterson, on November 14, 1906. He had a grocery store in Lawton, and they lived in foru rooms at the back of the store. After a few years, Mary’s folks bought the house south of the sotore for them since he had started the boys in farming. They lived thre until buying Herman’s parents’ farm. After a year there, they bought Mary’s parent’s farm which was larger, with better land. Mary’s parents then retired to Lawton.

Seven children were born to Mary and Herman Peterson: Arthur Herman, born September 26, 1907; Louis Andrew, born March 5, 1909; Helen Esther, born September 22, 1910; Emma Martha, born June 29, 1912; Clifford Thomas, born April 2, 1917; Mildred Marie, born August 9, 1919; and Albert Gustaf, born October 1, 1920.

Herman farmed several years before he became ill and had to give up farming. They continued to live on the farm, renting out the land, until 1920. At that time, they bought a house in Lawton where they lived until 1925 when Arthur graduated from high school. Returning to the farm, Arthur and Louis, with help, farmed the land. Herman passed away August 28, 1934. Mary was able to manage through hard work and with the help of her children. Arthur niever married and continued farming, attending a business college during the winter months. He passed away December 19, 1963, after open heart surgery.

Louis married Bessie Geraldine ‘Jerry’ Van Syoc in 1933. They rented a farm, later buying one south of Lawton. Louis served five terms in the Iowa Legislature. Their children are: Karen Louise and Joyce LaRae, twins born August 1, 1936; and Dale, born in 1946. Karen married Ernest Thomsen in 1954 and has three children: Pamela, Patrice, and Jeffrey. Joyce works at Bethphage Mission in Aptell, Nebraska. Dale, a chiropractor now living in Springfield, Missouri, married Connie Johnson, in 1967. Their children are Angela, Todd and Tana. Jerry passed away September 28, 1973. Louis was remarried in 1975 to Loretta Konkel.

Helen taught five years and married Earl Vermilyea in 1936. Their children are: Judith Ann, born in 1940; James Earl, born in 1945; Mary Jane, born in 1946; and Joan Rae, born in 1948. Judith, a teacher, married Kenneth Te Slaa in 1968, and has two children, Deborah and Rebecca. Jim, who works for Western Electric in Denver, married Patricia Shults in 1968, and they have two children, Mark and Jill. Mary Jane, a teacher, married Larry Henness in 1973, and they have two sons, Jason and Joshua.

Emma taught in Iowa for fourteen years, and then moved to Upland, California, where she acquired her degree and taught for twenty-eight years. She retired in 1974 and returned to Iowa, buying a house in Lawton where she and her mother now live.

Clifford married Eileen Clare Hansel in 1940, and they live in Sioux City. Their three children are: Nancy, born in 1941; Kristine Mare, born in 1950; and John Thomas, born in 9156. Nancy is now a nurse at Marian Health Center in Sioux City. Kristine married Steven Shults, a carpenter, in 1969, and they have two children, Karissa and Thomas. John is Assistant City Engineer for the city of Ankeny, Iowa. He married Nancy Turnquist, a veterinarian, in 1979.

Mildred taught in Iowa, and then moved to California where she worked in a bank. She married Harold Holmes in 1958, and they now live in Arkansas.

Albert joined the Navy soon after high school graduation, serving in Florida and Cuba. He was an airplane mechanic and now has his own business in Miami, Florida. He married Louise Jones in 1947. Their children, all living in Miami, are: Thomas Albert, born in 1948; Douglas Arthur, born in 1950, and Bruce Andrew, born in 1952. Thomas is married and has two sons, Craig and Brian.