Abson Goldsoll
Born: 1840, Russia
Died: ?
It is unclear when Abson Goldsoll immigrated to the United States, however it is likely that he arrived with his wife, Jeannette, from Russia sometime in the mid to late 1860s. The couple then took up residency in Cleveland, Ohio and started their family there. Abson’s occupation is listed in the 1880 United States Census as a “Traveler”, [1] which seems appropriate; leaving his family behind in Ohio he came to Leadville later that year where he established a pawn shop, where he also resided, at 102 West Chestnut Street. [2]
Abson’s time in Leadville was brief, but he made a lasting impression; pictures of his pawn shop are featured in multiple publications (because of its prominent location) and Edward Blair mentions in his book, “Leadville: Colorado’s Magic City”, that there was a notable sense of fraternity among Leadville’s pawnbrokers and Goldsoll was a prominent member within that group. [3] In addition, newspapers in 1880 explain that Abson granted a loan to the St. Louis Smelting & Refining Company [4] on two city lots owned by the company. The company defaulted on the loan and the property was sold at public auction in 1881. [5]
On October 16, 1882, a fire broke out in the office of Justice Mathews, located above a bookstore on west Chestnut Street. The fire spread rapidly and attacked many of the other establishments on the block. Abson’s pawnshop was completely destroyed, he never reopened his store, and left Leadville a short time thereafter. [6]
1 "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ1R-YT3 : 15 September 2017), Abson Goldsoll, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 2, sheet 32B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1004; FHL microfilm 1,255,004.
2 TB Corbett, WC Hoye, and JH Ballanger. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1880”. P165.
3 Edward Blair. Leadville: Colorado's Magic City. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company. 1980. P1.
4 A source of some controversy, the St. Louis Mining & Smelting Company claimed to own mining patents on lots that totaled some 160 acres within the Leadville City Limits. This was the subject of quite a few lawsuits regarding property ownership in early Leadville. The issue was resolved in the United States Supreme Court on December 18, 1882, when it was determined that the agent for St. Louis Mining And Smelting Company was not a United States Citizen at the time he filed the mining patents in 1860, and therefore fraudulently filed the company’s mining patents which nullified any claims the company had to the property. For more information please see: Steel v. Smelting Co. 106 U.S. 447 (1882) (December 18, 1882), 1992 United States Cornell Law School 106 U.S. 447. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/106/447 .
5 “Trustee’s Sale”. Leadville Daily Herald. Leadville, CO; USA. March 7, 1882. P3.
6 Don L Griswold and Jean Harvey Griswold. History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado: from mountain solitude to metropolis. Vol. 1. Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1996. P711.
Bibliography
Blair, Edward. Leadville: Colorado's Magic City. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company. 1980. P1.
Corbett, TB, Hoye, WC and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1880”. Democrat Printing Company; Leadville, CO: USA. 1880.
Griswold, Don L., and Jean Harvey Griswold. History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado: from mountain solitude to metropolis. Vol. 1. Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1996. P711.
Steel v. Smelting Co. 106 U.S. 447 (1882) (December 18, 1882), 1992 United States Cornell Law School 106 U.S. 447.
“Trustee’s Sale”. Leadville Daily Herald. Leadville, CO; USA. March 7, 1882. P3.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ1R-YT3 : 15 September 2017), Abson Goldsoll, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 2, sheet 32B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1004; FHL microfilm 1,255,004.
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Jeffrey P. Grant
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Goldsoll
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, Colorado; USA. 2017.
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishledville.org/goldsoll.html
