Bio: Goldsworthy, Clifford R. (1923)

Contact: Ken Wood.

----Surnames: Goldsworthy, Russell, Flipse, Hardy, Murdock, Callender, Bailey

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 556-557

Clifford R. Goldsworthy, who has been an active factor in the upbuilding of the village of Vesper, where for a number of years he has been engaged in the real estate business and farming, and formerly in other lines of industry, was born on a farm near Union Grove, Racine County, Wis., Sept. 30, 1865. His parents were Richard and Mary (Russell) Goldsworthy, the father a native of Yorkshire, England, and the mother American born. The former, Richard, came to the United States at the age of 14 with his parents, who settled first at Kenosha, Wis., and later on a farm near Union Grove, Racine County, this state, and there he was married and spent the rest of his life. His wife Mary died in October, 1865, when her son Clifford R. was two weeks old. Richard Goldsworthy died some 20 years later at Union Grove, where he was living retired. He had married for his second wife Jane Flipse, but by her had no children. His children by his first wife, Mary Russell Goldsworthy, were: Amy, now Mrs. William Hardy, of Union Grove, Wis.; Carrie, who died in infancy; Evaline, who married William Murdock of Union Grove, Wis., and who died June 6, 1919, when within three days of her fifty-eighth birthday; Jennie, now Mrs. William Callender of Union Grove; and Clifford R., of Vesper, Wood County. Clifford R. Goldsworthy in his boyhood attended common school and worked on his parents' farm. At the age of 21 he went to Milwaukee, where he took a course in the Spencerian Business College. He then returned to the farm, which soon after he purchased, and he continued its operation, residing on it until about 1893, when he took up his residence in Union Grove village and engaged in the real estate business. He still continued the operation of' the farm, however, until 1896, when he came to Wood County and settled in Vesper village. Here he engaged in the land business with special reference to the immigration of new settlers and furnishing them with suitable locations. He also built a small sawmill and opened a general merchandise store in company with. E. G. Bailey, now of Marshfield, which they operated together for two years, at the end of that time selling out. Since then Mr. Goldsworthy has been engaged in the real estate business and in farming. He built and owns the Monogram Hotel, a substantial and well equipped house operated by a lessee, and in various other ways he has been active in the upbuilding and development of the village. Though not a member of any church, he was instrumental in the founding of the First Congregational Church of Vesper, of which he is a liberal supporter. Mr. Goldsworthy has always been a staunch Republican in politics and has seen some public service. He was a member of the town board of Hansen for several terms,. and also its chairman, and in the legislative sessions of 1905-07 he represented' Wood County in the.state assembly, his election giving proof of the fact that he had impressed his fellow citizens throughout the county with his honesty and capability as a man of affairs. Well acquainted with local needs and conditions,. he is always ready to lend a helping hand to any movement calculated to benefit. the community along either moral or material lines and is respected and relied on: accordingly.