Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3. Chicago-
Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 167.

BERNARD GOLDSMITH

     Bernard Goldsmith deserves to be especially remembered and honored by
reason of his advocacy of a well developed park system in Portland and it was
under his administration as mayor that City Park was purchased.  A native of
Germany, he was born November 20, 1832, in Munich, a son of Abraham and Esther
Goldsmith.  His elementary education was acquired in his native country and at
the age of seventeen years he came alone to America.  After a short period
passed in New York city he made his way to San Francisco by way of the Panama
route and subsequently removed to Crescent City, California, and also lived for
a short time in southern California.  He came to Portland about 1860.  He had
been engaged in general merchandising at Crescent City and had also bought gold
dust there.  On coming to Portland he took up the business of assaying gold and
later turned his attention to the wholesale dry-goods business, which claimed
his time and energies for a period.  Subsequently, however,, he became
interested in steamboating on the Willamette and Columbia rivers and he was the
prime mover and the head of the company which built the locks at Oregon City.
During the later years of his life he gave his attention to numerous and various
financial interests, which, capably managed, brought him substantial success and
at the same time proved factors in the progress and material upbuilding of this
section of the state.
     Mr. Goldsmith was married in March, 1863, to Miss Emma Frohman, a native of
Munich, Bavaria.  They became parents of seven children, of whom five are
living:  J. S., a wholesale grocer of Seattle; Louis J., financial agent of
Portland; M. M., a manufacturer of Seattle; May B., also of that city; and
Alfred S., who is engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Seattle.  The
mother passed away December 14, 1891, and the father's death occurred July 22,
1901.
     Mr. Goldsmith was always reckoned as a most public-spirited citizen,
interested in everything that pertained to the general welfare, to progress and
improvement.  He was a member of the Jewish church and was always active in the
ranks of the democratic party.  He was strongly opposed to slavery and was a
stalwart advocate of any measure which he believed to be right.  In 1868 he was
elected mayor of Portland on the Union republican ticket.  He foresaw the wisdom
of purchasing property for parks when it could be obtained at reasonable rates,
knowing that with the growth of the city there would be a demand for these
public playgrounds and places of amusement and adornment.  During his
administration and largely through his influence City Park was purchased and in
this connection as well as in other ways his name will long be known and
honored.
 
Vol. 1, page 470
The Oregon Humane Society
     This society for the prevention of cruelty to domestic animals was
organized in April, 1872.  Bernard Goldsmith was its first president, and Henry
Failing, Dr. J. R. Cardwell, Wm. Wadhams, Rev. T. L. Elito, James Steel and W.
T. Shanahan were directors.

*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.