December 22, 1845 - November 24, 1890

Charles was born in Rochester, New York. At the early age of thirteen he entered the provincial seminary of St. Francis near Milwaukee. He graduated in 1864 and then entered the American College at Louvain, Belgium. There he earned two divinity degrees and was ordained a priest on July 25, 1868. After returning to the United States, he spent the winter as assistant to St. Mary's in Milwaukee.

The "Boy Priest" as he was called, arrived in Chippewa Falls on May 25, 1869 and two days later said mass at the old St. Mary's of the Falls Church.

His first big work was the construction of Notre Dame Church. He began collecting money by visiting lumber camps and pioneer farms throughout the Chippewa Valley. Construction of the church began in the spring of 1870 and was completed in August of 1872.

In 1884 he helped build St. Charles Church and plan a permanent hospital, which was staffed by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. In 1886 he helped build Holy Ghost Church. He also established a newspaper called "The Catholic Sentinal".

According to his doctors, Father Goldsmith died in 1890 at the age of 44 due to a stomach hemorrhage. He was buried near Notre Dame Church. After this, Goldsmith Chapel was built in his honor in 1894; later his body was exhumed and placed in a crypt under the altar. The four smaller stained glass windows, each represent one of the four local Catholic organizations he founded: Saint Jean Baptiste Society, the Catholic Knights - now called the Knights of Columbus, the Rosary Society, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Goldsmith Street on the northside of the city is named after him.

Chippewa County Historical Society
Marker Sign #29

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Show me all markers in:  Chippewa Falls, WI  |  Chippewa County  |  54729  |  Wisconsin  |  United States of America

Notre Dame Church
Old McDonell High School
Hiram Stores Allen
The Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge
Oldest Commercial Building in Chippewa Falls
Site of the Mason Shoe Factory
Site of the Hiram S. Allen Home
The Norway House & the Birthplace of Alexander Wiley
The Federal Building & Early Mail Service
Edward Rutledge Charity

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