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     Zilla von Wunderlich was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1874. She married Cassius Goldstein in 1896. Zilla and her daughter Gertrude moved to Petoskey in 1911 where she resided as a businesswoman, Suffrage leader, and member of several local women’s clubs. Zilla’s older sister was Suffragist Minnie Rosenthal. 

     Zilla worked for her brother-in-law Alick Rosenthal and served as vice-president of S. Rosenthal & Sons for 17 years.  Years later after studying for two months in Chicago to learn “the latest in knitting, needle point, and fancy work,” Zilla returned to Petoskey and opened “The Knitting Shop” in the Rosenthal’s store. The Knitting Shop operated for 20 years. During that same time, Zilla demonstrated her writing skills as she worked as “fashion and feature writer for the Northern Michigan Review.” (Northern Michigan Review, Nov. 21, 1946.)

     Her volunteer work in the community included recruiting area boys and men for service in World War I.  On August 8, 1918, The Petoskey Evening News reported a story titled “GIRL RECRUITERS OBTAIN 30 NAMES.” An all-women recruiting Corps accompanied by Zilla Goldstein and several other women from the community including her daughter, Irene Goldstein, recruited 30 men in Harbor Springs for service in World War I. The article also stated that the all-women Recruiting Corps would be holding a first-time rally in Petoskey for the same purpose the following Saturday. 

     Like her older sister Minnie, Zilla was involved in the Temple B’Nai Israel in Petoskey.  She was chairman of the Memorial and Happy Day Fund for the B’Nai Israel congregation and an active member of the Petoskey Temple  Sisterhood.  Zilla and Minnie traveled to state and national conventions for the Jewish Temple Sisterhood organization. 

     Zilla’s efforts in supporting the Woman’s Suffrage Campaign are significant. The headlines of The Petoskey Evening News, February 21, 1917, read WOMEN WHO LEAD NATION-WIDE FIGHT FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE.  The article includes photos of the national and state leaders and two columns are devoted to Zilla Goldstein’s “MICHIGAN WOMAN’S UP TO DATE” report. Also, included in her column are letters addressed to her from men in the local community supporting the local Suffrage movement including one from Henry S. Sweeny, husband of local suffragist Lulu Sweeny. In yet another article titled NAME CHAIRMEN FOR SUFFRAGE in the Evening News, May 17, 1918 edition, Zilla is named 11th Congressional District Chairman for the Suffrage Association and Grace Jessop is named Emmet County Chairman.  The article announces the affiliation of the local group with the state organization. In the June 6, 1916 edition on page 2, “Tea Table Talk,” Zilla and her sister Minnie are mentioned as having traveled to the Suffrage National Convention in Chicago. Both women become active members of the Emmet County Suffrage Association.

     Zilla lived in the Rosenthal home on Michigan Street in Petoskey with Minnie and Alick Rosenthal and other family members.