George W. Gaylord Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1109-1110 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. GEORGE W. GAYLORD. 

	Hon. George W. Gaylord, judge of the county court of Custer 
county and a resident of the city of Custer, was born November 29, 
1844, in Lee county, Illinois, a son of Lucian and Olive (Moore) 
Gaylord. The father, who was born in New York state, became a pioneer 
of Illinois, whence he removed to St. Louis and afterward to Minnesota. 

	Judge Gaylord pursued his education in the common schools of 
Illinois, of St. Louis and of Minnesota and remained upon his father's 
farm near Anoka, Minnesota, until October, 1861, when, with patriotic 
spirit aroused, he enlisted for service in the Second Minnesota Battery 
of Light Artillery, with which he served throughout the war, receiving 
his discharge on the 17th of August, 1865, at St. Paul. He entered the 
service as a private and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. In 
various important battles he participated, including the engagements at 
Perryville, Murfreesboro, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge 
and was also with Sherman on his campaign to Atlanta. At Perryville he 
was wounded in the left hip. He made an excellent record as a soldier 
and officer, never faltering in the performance of duty and inspiring 
the men who served under him with much of his own zeal and valor. 

	After the war Judge Gaylord assisted his father in conducting a 
hotel in St. Cloud, Minnesota, until 1867 and later returned to 
Belleville, Illinois, where he became proprietor of a foundry. After 
conducting that business for a number of years he sold out in 1883 and 
for some time was in Minnesota and Kansas City, Missouri He then 
removed to Custer, South Dakota, on the 9th of April, 1886, and for 
many years has been prominent in mining affairs in his section of the 
state, being principally interested in tin mines, in which he is still 
a large stockholder. His ability has led to his selection for various 
important and responsible positions. For six terms he served as justice 
of the peace and his fair and impartial decisions "won him golden 
opinions from all sorts of people." He is now serving for the fifth 
term, or tenth year, as county judge and upon the bench has made a 
splendid record. 

	In 1876 Judge Gaylord was married at Belleville, Illinois, to 
Miss Mary Badgley, a daughter of David Badgley, a merchant. Mrs. 
Gaylord passed away March 15, 1913, leaving three children: Mrs. Olive 
Geisel, who has two children; Benjamin Ogle, living in East St. Louis; 
and David, of St. Louis, who has five children. 

	In his political views Judge Gaylord is a stalwart republican and 
fraternally he is connected with General Steele Post, No. 94, G. A. R., 
of Custer, of which he is serving as commander. He is ever a courteous, 
dignified gentleman, recognized as a friend to those in need. It is 
said that he has more friends than any other resident of his county 
owing to his upright life and his fidelity to principle in public 
office and in private connections.