New Haven county lost one of its most valued and representative farmers when James Daniel Goldsmith was called to his final rest. He had been a worthy and respected citizen as well as a leading agriculturist and all who knew him entertained for him warm regard.

  He was born in Guilford, Connecticut, December 24, 1833, a son of Daniel Case and Laura (Frisbie) Goldsmith. The father was born on the same farm where occurred the birth of his son, James D., and which is still being cultivated by the sons of the latter. Daniel C. Goldsmith devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, always retaining his residence upon the old homestead, where he passed away at the age of eighty years. He was widely known and highly respected and his genuine worth endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. His wife was born in Branford and spent her last days there.

  James D. Goldsmith acquired his education in the schools of Guilford and his training was that of the farmbred boy who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. As the years passed he became more and more familiar with farm work and the best methods of cultivating and caring for the crops and, when his father died, the farm, which was one of the largest in Guilford, was divided, James D. Goldsmith receiving one half, while the other half went to his brother, John. Upon the further development and cultivation of the place James D. Goldsmith concentrated his efforts and brought his fields under a very high state of improvement. Everything about his place indicated his thrift and his practical and progressive methods and he annually gathered good harvests which brought to him a substantial financial return.

  On the 20th of February, 1860, in Branford, Connecticut Mr. Goldsmith was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Baldwin, who still occupies the homestead farm. She is a daughter of Arvah and Harriet (Carpenter) Baldwin. Her father was born in Putnam county, New York, and was a member of the old Baldwin family of that section of the country. He followed the occupation of farming in Putnam county until 1851, when he removed with his family to Guilford and purchased the old Colonel Fowler farm, which he continued to improve and cultivate until 1869. His wife was born in the Scrub Oak Plains district of Yorktown, Westchester county, New York, and spent her last days in Guilford. To Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith were born seven children: Eva Baldwin, who is the widow of John B. Hubbard, of Guilford; Minnie, the deceased wife of Eber G. Fisher, a farmer of Guilford; Leon, who died in infancy; Laura, the widow of Howard Clayton, of Guilford; Charles Baldwin, a farmer of Branford, who married Fannie Palmer; Jennie, the wife of Theron W. Fenner, of East River, Connecticut; and Walter Carpenter Baldwin, who married Miss Lillian Kelsey, of Guilford, and is cultivating the old home place.

  In his political views Mr. Goldsmith was a stalwart democrat, always voting for the men and measures of the party, and he served as a selectman of the town of Guilford. He belonged also to the Baptist church and its teachings guided him in all of his life’s relations. At one time he was a member of Battery E of the Tenth Connecticut Field Artillery of the Connecticut National Guard when that battery was at Guilford. He was always interested in measures that had to do with general progress and improvement and his sterling worth was recognized by all. He stood as a high type of American manhood and chivalry and enjoyed the confidence and goodwill of those with whom he was associated.