Silas B. Gaskill Biography, Lapeer County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1036

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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JUDGE SILAS B. GASKILL, attorney-at-law in Lapeer, was born April 18, 
1828. in Gainesville, Genesee County, (now Wyoming County) N. Y. His 
parents were Silas and Jane (Brown) Gaskill, natives of New York and 
New .Jersey, respectively. The father was a farmer, and the boyhood 
days of our subject were passed upon a farm until he was about fourteen 
years old, when he entered the Genesee Wesleyan College, at Lima, N. Y. 
He was compelled to leave college before graduating and for four 
succeeding years found employment as a teacher in village schools. He 
commenced to read law under Judge Hiram Gardner, and in 1858 was 
admitted to practice at the bar of the State of Michigan.

   In 1861 Mr. Gaskill located in Lapeer. About that time he offered 
his services to his country but was rejected on account.of poor health, 
He became influential in Lapeer County very soon after he settled in 
the city of Lapeer for the practice of his profession, and between the 
years 1861 and 1869 he was Prosecuting Attorney for the county. In 
April, 1880, he was appointed by Gov. Crosswell as Circuit Judge for 
the Sixth Judicial District and was the first resident of Lapeer County 
who ever served as Circuit Judge. During his occupancy of this 
position, the famous Dr. Hall case was tried before him in Oakland 
County. He served about two years as Judge and his decisions were 
marked by deep knowledge of the law and unbiased opinions. In his 
political affiliations he was a Republican until his personal friend 
Grover Cleveland was nominated for the Presidency, and he worked for 
him with great energy and enthusiasm. His practice is extensive in 
various portions of this State and he also practices before the Supreme 
Court. He is the father of two children-Nettie and Eddie.



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