Michael Mike Goldwater

Michael Goldwater, one of the pioneer citizens of the Territory, died Monday in San Francisco. Mr Goldwater was the father of the Goldwater brothers of Phoenix and Prescott and established the two big stores now being conducted by his sons. Mr Goldwater came to Arizona early in the 60's and first engaged in the mercantile business at Ehrenberg and was prominent in territorial business circles until recent years.

Barry Goldwater of this city received the painful news yesterday morning that his father, Michael Goldwater, died in San Francisco Sunday evening at 10:15 o'clock. He was also informed that arrangements had been made for the holding of the funeral on Wednesday, so he left on last night's M&P train to be in attendance. Morris Goldwater of Prescott left on the S.F.P. & P. train that passed through here yesterday. Michael Goldwater was one of the earliest pioneers of Arizona and one of her best known citizens. He came to the territory in the 60's, shortly after the war, first engaging in business in Ehrenburg, on the Colorado River, with his brother, Joseph, now dead. When he arrived the only town of any moment in the western part of the territory was La Paz, some distance south of Ehrenburg and near the Colorado. Today it is a deserted ruin though there are many houses still standing and some rich mines in that vicinity. Mr Goldwater was intrumental in the making of a better ferry at Ehrenburg than the old one at La Paz and the settlement naturally grew up at the new crossing. Mt Goldwater, beside keeping a store at Ehrenburg for many years, secured contracts from the government for supplying the military posts in central and northern Arizona with provisions for man and beast and in carrying out these contracts did an immense freighting business west from New Mexico supply points as well as importing a great many things from California.

About 1874 he opened a store in Phoenix, still maintaining his Ehrenburg house. He occupied the corner opposite site the present fire engine house that was later the site of J.Y.T. Smith's flouring mill and is now occupied by the Hay & Grain Co. After continuing his business here several years he finally closed it up and a short time afterward opened a store in Prescott and also closing up the Ehrenburg store. The Prescott store was managed continuously until about fourteen years ago when he retired from business, turning the store over to his sons and himself returning to San Francisco which was the family home during Mr Goldwater's entire mercantile life. The Prescott store and a similar one in this city have been conducted since then by Morris Goldwater and brothers. Mr Goldwater had reached the advanced age of 83 years and in view of the fact that about three years ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis, his death was not especially surprising though he was until recently enjoying a fair measure of health. He leaves a wife and an unmarried daughter, Miss Lizzie Goldwater in San Francisco, beside a son, Henry, who till within a couple of years, was engaged in business with his brothers, Morris and Barry, here and in Prescott. There are also two married daughters. Mr Goldwater is most highly spoke of by those who knew him best, the most fitting testimonial to the character of a good man.

A patriotic, Polish-Jewish merchant who emigrated to the United States after the unsuccessful Polish Insurrection of 1848.

He emigrated first to London. Soon after arriving in London, Michel anglicized his name to Michael Goldwater. Michel married Sarah Nathan, a member of an English-Jewish family, in the Great Synagogue of London.

The Goldwaters later emigrated to the United States, first arriving in San Francisco, California before finally settling in the Arizona Territory, where Michael Goldwater opened a small department store that was later taken over and expanded by his three sons, Henry, Baron and Morris. They founded Goldwater's Department Store, a leading upscale department store in Phoenix.

Two generations later, his grandson, United States Senator Barry Goldwater ran unsuccessfully for the President of the United States.