“Taught school when 17 yrs. old”

The Goldsmith monument—topped with a smooth gray sphere—in Blendon Central Cemetery bears four names. Just a bit of detective work reveals the relationships among the four:

John Goldsmith (d. 1864) and Sarah J. Goldsmith (d. 1894) are the parents of William C. Goldsmith (d. 1933). Nellie Romaine Goldsmith (d. 1951) is William’s wife.

JOHN GOLDSMITH
MEMBER OF
CO. C. 133^D REGT. O.N.C.
DIED JULY 18, 1864,
ON THE HOSPITAL BOAT MATILDA
NEAR BERMUDA HUNDRED
AGED 26 Y. 9 M. 10 D.
———
There is rest in Heaven.

SARAH J. GOLDSMITH,
DIED
OCT. 29, 1894
AGED
60 Y. 3 M. 5 D.
———
Gone but not forgotten

WILLIAM C. GOLDSMITH,
DIED
MAY 16, 1933
AGED
69 Y. 7 M. 16 D.
———
An honest man is the noblest
work of God

NELLIE ROMAINE GOLDSMITH,
DIED
OCT. 10, 1951
AGED
80 Y. 8 M. 29 D.
———
Taught school when 17 yrs. old
The 1910 US Federal Census record for William C. Goldsmith lists a 36-year-old wife (could be consistent with Nellie), but what’s this? The wife’s name is given as William C. Goldsmith.



The 1930 US Federal Census record for Nellie R. Goldsmith lists her as an inmate in Columbus State Hospital, an institution once known as Lunatic Asylum of Ohio.



Blendon Central Cemetery, Franklin County, Ohio