Gould family


The Gould family is a wealthy American family that came to prominence in the late 19th century. The family's fortune was primarily earned through a railroad empire built by Jason "Jay" Gould, a notorious "robber baron" during the Gilded Age. At its height, this network comprised the Denver & Rio Grande, Missouri Pacific, Wheeling & Lake Erie, Wabash, Texas Pacific, Western Maryland and International-Great Northern railroads among others. By the early 20th century, the Goulds lost control over virtually all these railroads largely due to mismanagement by Jay's son, George Jay Gould. Despite losing the source of much of their wealth, subsequent generations of the family continued to be involved in business, philanthropy, and politics.

History

The Gould family originally settled in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1648-9 under Major Nathan Gold. He was a named petitioner of the Charter of Connecticut of 1662, and raised Gold's Dragoons of the Fairfield Militia.
His son, Nathan Gold Jr., served as Lt. Governor of the Colony, and Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Nathan Gold Jr.'s grandson, Lt. Col. Abraham Gould, the Patriot, was killed in action at the battle of Ridgefield, 1777. His home was burned by the British the following year. He was the first to spell his name "Gould". His son, Abraham Gould Jr. moved from Fairfield, Connecticut, West across the Hudson river to Roxbury, NY. It was in Roxbury where his grandson, Jay Gould, was born.

Family tree

Network

Associates

The following is a list of figures closely aligned with or subordinate to the Gould family.

Businesses

The following is a list of businesses in which the Gould family have held a controlling or otherwise significant interest.

Philanthropy & Miscellaneous Nonprofit Organizations

The following is a list of philanthropies and nonprofit institutions which were made by or otherwise have been closely tied to the Gould family.