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http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/biography/doane2/waldron.txt
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. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. 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.
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The H600 Project Genealogy DB
1821 - 