James A. Gold Biography


	This biography appears on pages 358-362 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES A. GOLD.  

	James A. Gold, of Big Stone City, is one of the capitalists of 
that region and is connected with many important and varied business 
interests. He is quick to recognize opportunities which others fail to 
see, manifests sound judgment in the formulation of his plans and is 
enterprising and resolute in carrying his undertakings to successful 
completion. He was born in Davis, Illinois, on the 14th of May, 1860, a 
son of Aaron and Ellen (Calhoun) Gold. The father was born in 
Pennsylvania on the 2d of August, 1820, and passed away June 26, 1890, 
when almost seventy years of age, while the mother, who was born in 
Ohio in 1829, died on the 21st of June, 1874. They were married in 
Easton, Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1857, when they removed 
with their family to Davis, Illinois The father entered land from the 
government in that state and for a time engaged in its cultivation but 
subsequently removed to Davis, where he conducted a hotel during the 
remainder of his life. For four years in his early manhood he followed 
the carpenter's trade.  

	To Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Gold were born ten children. Tillie resides 
with her brothers. Sidney R., who was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 
1851, there received his education. He accompanied his parents to 
Davis, Illinois, and became connected with merchandising there when 
fifteen years of age, going into business for himself four years later. 
When twenty years of age he went to Delmar, Iowa, and became a member 
of the firm of Ashton, Gold & Becker, so continuing until 1875. He then 
entered the employ of the Ohio Champion Reaper Company as general 
agent, which position he held until 1885. In that year he removed to 
Big Stone City, South Dakota, and with his brothers, John T. and James 
A. Gold, formed the firm known as Gold & Company and was connected with 
the various enterprises which the firm conducted until his demise in 
1905. He was married and had seven children. He was a republican and 
for two terms represented his district in the state legislature. His 
religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church and 
fraternally he was a Royal Arch Mason. Hattie, the next child in order 
of birth, was also born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and died in 1906. 
Frank O. engaged in merchandising for himself when twenty years of age 
and continued in that business in various places until 1886, when he 
went to Sacred Heart, Minnesota, where, in partnership with his 
brother, W. H. Gold, he established a lumber business and later a bank. 
The firm opened up branches in Renville, Olivia, Wabasha and Redwood 
Falls. In 1909 he removed to Minneapolis and gave his time to looking 
after his banking interests, which extended throughout Minnesota and 
North Dakota. In all that he undertook he was highly successful. Allie, 
the widow of Dr. Ammon Kuns, is now living in Los Angeles, California. 
James A. of this review is the next in order of birth. John T., who was 
born in Davis, Illinois, on the 15th of November, 1862, and passed away 
on the 3d of March, 1912, was a member of the firm of Gold &; Company. 
He was married in 1885 to Miss Alice Harrington, who now resides in Big 
Stone City and by whom he had three children William H., who was born 
in 1862 in Davis, Illinois, was connected in business with his brother, 
Frank O. When the latter went to Minneapolis William H. Gold removed to 
Redwood Falls, Minnesota, and is connected with the Redwood Falls State 
Bank, which has deposits aggregating three hundred thousand dollars. He 
also formed the Gold-Cooper Security Company, which is capitalized at 
one hundred thousand dollars and is engaged in the farm-loan and land 
business. He also owns individually over one thousand acres of land and 
is raising high grade Holstein cattle extensively. Ella became the wife 
of A. H. Tasker, of Regina, Canada. He is a financial agent and deals 
largely in farm loans and mortgages. Mabel is the deceased wife of W. 
H. Wallace, vice president of the Bank of Long Beach, California. He 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopan church, is a Mason and is a 
republican in politics.  

	James A. Gold received his education in Davis, Illinois, but when 
only fourteen years of age put aside his textbooks and began learning 
telegraphy. When sixteen years old he accepted a position as operator 
with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, for which he worked 
for sixteen years. In 1883 he became the company's agent at Big Stone 
City, South Dakota, but in 1892 severed his connection with the 
railroad and formed the firm of Gold & Company, which at first engaged 
in the land business, buying a great deal of cheap land in the state 
which they improved and developed. Subsequently they also dealt in 
grain and fuel extensively. In 1894 they established a private bank, 
which on the 8th of March, 1906, was incorporated as a state bank with 
a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. It is still capitalized at 
that figure and has a surplus of six thousand dollars and average 
deposits of one hundred and seventy thousand dollars. In April, 1905, 
the Gold Brothers Security Company was incorporated with a capital of 
one hundred thousand dollars and it now has a surplus of fifty thousand 
dollars. It does the largest farm-loan business in the state and also 
acts as agent for eastern loan companies, its total annual loan 
business exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, while the loans on 
the company's books aggregate five million dollars. Mr. Gold of this 
review also owns the Albee State Bank of Albee, South Dakota, the 
Marietta State Bank of Marietta, Minnesota, and holds title to 
extensive tracts of farm land and property in Big Stone City. He also 
conducts a line of grain elevators which do an annual business 
aggregating one hundred thousand dollars, and operates the Big Stone 
City Canning Company whose output is one million cans of corn per year. 
The plant is well equipped and is scientifically conducted and the 
refuse is turned into a source of profit as it is used to feed cattle. 
The business of the company totals one hundred thousand dollars per 
year. Our subject is also heavily interested in the Gold Brothers Brick 
Company, which turns out three million five hundred thousand bricks per 
year and which employs thirty five men continually. He is likewise a 
director in the Dakota Mutual Life Insurance Company.  

	Mr. Gold was married on the 2d of December, 1885, to Miss Ida 
Belle Stone, a daughter of C. C. Stone, who was a millwright and 
carpenter and resided in Minneapolis. To Mr. and Mrs. Gold have been 
born nine children, namely: Ray, who passed away June 22, 1915; Lee A., 
cashier of the Gold & Company State Bank and vice president of the Gold 
Brothers Security Company; Earl S., who is a director of the bank and 
secretary of the Security Company and who has charge of the loan 
business of the latter concern; Grace M., the wife of Frank Jones, a 
druggist of Wilmot; Irene, who gave her hand in marriage to Frank 
Webber, superintendent of schools of Stanley, North Dakota; Verna, who 
is a student in the State University at Vermillion; Mildred, who 
graduated from the Big Stone City high school with the class of 1915; 
and James and Kenneth, both of whom are still in school.  

	Mr. Gold is a republican but his political activity has never 
extended beyond the exercise of his right of franchise. However, he has 
been school treasurer for years and takes the keenest interest in all 
that pertains to the welfare of the public school system. He is also a 
trustee of the Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell and the Methodist 
Episcopal church finds in him a loyal member and an active worker. He 
is steward and a trustee of his church and contributes generously to 
its support. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of 
America, in which he has passed through all of the chairs, the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  

	When Mr. Gold came to South Dakota he had no capital, but he 
possessed more valuable assets — business acumen, sound judgment, 
determination and initiative, — and although he began business on a 
small scale the firm of Gold & Company, which he organized, prospered 
from the beginning and has become one of the large concerns of his part 
of the state. As time passed he entered other fields of business and 
his interests constantly grew in importance and he today occupies a 
commanding position in financial and industrial circles in the 
northeastern part of South Dakota. The greater part of his investments 
are in the state, which indicates the great faith which he has in its 
future development. Throughout his business career he has adhered to 
high standards of commercial ethics and in building up his fortune he 
has never taken undue advantage of others. Because of this he has not 
only gained the unqualified respect but also the sincere goodwill of 
his fellow citizens.