George J. Goldcamp
One of the native sons of Ironton, Lawrence County, whose career has been marked by consecutive industry and definite advancement is he whose name initiates this review and who is numbered among the representative and popular merchants of Ironton, where he is associated with his brother Robert S. in the ownership and conducting of the substantial furniture and general house-furnishing establishment of the Goldcamp Furniture Company.
Mr. Goldcamp was born in Ironton on the 5th of October, 1877, and is a son of Isadore X. and Julia Ann (Kruse) Goldcamp, the former of whom was born at Lawrence Furnace, Lawrence County, in 1852. and the latter of whom was born at Pine Grove, this county, in 1852, both families having been represented in the pioneer settlement of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio. Isadore X. Goldcamp held for a long period the position of salesman for the W. A. Murdock Wholesale Grocery Company, of Ironton, and since 1901 he has lived virtually retired in this city, both he and his wife being earnest communicants of St. Joseph 's Catholic church and his political allegiance being given to the democratic party. Of the five children all are living except the youngest, Edward, the names of the others being here given in respective order of birth: William J., George J., Robert S., and Martha M.
George J. Goldcamp attended the parochial school of St. Joseph's church until he was fifteen years old, and for four months thereafter he held a position as salesman in the retail grocery of J. T. Clark. For the ensuing year he was employed in connection with a local lumber business and he then assumed a position in the hardwood finishing department of the Ironton Wood Mantel Company, with which industrial corporation he continued to be thus identified for five years. Then, to fortify himself more thoroughly along educational lines of practical order, he completed a six months' course in the commercial or business department of the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Hardin county. A few months later he entered the employ of the United States Steel Corporation, in its mills at Mingo Junction, Jefferson County, Ohio, where he had charge of the electric motor utilized in transferring ore to the furnace. After six months' incumbency of this position Mr. Goldcamp returned to Ironton, in 1903, and became associated with the late Frank Mechling in establishing a retail furniture business in eligible quarters at the corner of Second Street and Park Avenue. Mr. Mechling retired from the business about eighteen months later and Mr. Goldcamp then admitted to partnership in the business his younger brother, Robert S., who has since continued as his valued coadjutor in the management of the splendid business enterprise which they have built up through effective service and those honorable policies that ever beget popular confidence and support. The large and well appointed establishment of the Goldcamp Furniture Company is maintained at the original location mentioned above, and the stock includes select and complete lines of furniture and household furnishings, such as rugs, draperies, carpets, etc.
Mr. Goldcamp is essentially an enterprising business man, but has not become self-centered to the avoidance of proper and loyal interest in the general welfare of his home city, his attitude being that of a liberal and progressive citizen. He is a bachelor, is a member of the Ironton Chamber of Commerce, is a democrat in politics, is a communicant of the Catholic Church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Society of St. George.
From "A Standing History of the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio" by Eugene B. Willard, Daniel W. Williams, George O. Newman and Charles B. Taylor. Published by Lewis Publishing Company, 1916