George P. Waldron Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1440-1441 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	An etching and the autograph of Geo. P. Waldron face page 1440.


	GEORGE P. WALDRON.—An enumeration of those sterling pioneers of 
the territory of Dakota and state of South Dakota who won honor and 
public distinction for themselves and honored the state to which they 
belonged, would be signally incomplete were there failure to make 
prominent reference to George Prentiss Waldron, who identified himself 
with the history of what is now South Dakota nearly a half century ago, 
when it was on the very border of civilization, and who became a most 
conspicuous figure in its early history. He held distinctive precedence 
as an able lawyer, was distinctively a man of affairs and one who 
wielded a wide influence. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a 
most determined individuality so entered into his makeup as to render 
him a natural leader of men and director of opinion, and his name merits 
a place high on the roll of those who have figured as founders and 
builders of the commonwealth of South Dakota. 

	George P. Waldron, the son of Jeremiah and Mary (Scott) Waldron, 
was born in the historic old town of Farmington, New Hampshire, on the 
21st of September, 1821, and in its schools received his early 
educational training, while later he completed a course of study in the 
law department of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, w here he was 
graduated as a member of the class of 1843. Shortly afterward he located 
in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he engaged in the practice of his 
profession and where he remained until 1854, having in the meanwhile 
become interested in the shipping of lumber to California, by way of 
Cape Horn. He was a personal friend of General Benjamin F. Butler, 
General Wilson, Charles Sumner and other eminent men of New England. In 
1857 he came to the west and numbered himself among the pioneers of 
Dubuque, Iowa, where he engaged in the practice of his profession and 
also became secretary and treasurer of the Western Land and Townsite 
Company, whose headquarters were in that city, while Senator William B. 
Allison and other prominent men of the state were associated with him in 
this company, which had important influence for a number of years in 
forwarding the development of the industries of the state. In 1859 he 
came with his family to South Dakota and located in a diminutive 
settlement which had been established on the site of the present 
beautiful city of Sioux Falls. During the Indian troubles of 1862 the 
family sought safety by fleeing to Yankton, and there established a 
home, Mr. Waldron having been appointed provost marshal by President 
Lincoln and having served as such during the Civil war. He was a member 
of the first territorial legislature and in the same was the framer of 
the exemption law, while he was otherwise a prominent figure in public 
affairs in the territory. After the war he devoted his attention to 
farming until his removal to Fort Pierre in 1877, where he held the 
position of United States court commissioner until Stanley county was 
organized, when he was elected probate judge. He remained a resident of 
Fort Pierre until his death, which occurred August 26, 1896, while his 
devoted wife passed away in 1884. Their three children are all yet 
living, and one still resides in South Dakota. 

	In the year 1849 Judge Waldron was united in marriage to Miss 
Lydia E. Jones, daughter of Elijah and Alary (Roberts) Jones, of his 
native town of Farmington, New Hampshire, where she was born and reared, 
and she preceded him into eternal rest, her death occurring at Fort 
Pierre on the 8th of May, 1884. Of their children we enter the following 
brief record: Charles W. is one of the substantial farmers and stock 
growers of Stanley county and one of its honored pioneers: Lulu P. is 
the wife of George R. Pearsons, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Augusta is the 
wife of G. A. Bickle, of Humboldt, Iowa.