Girton, William Wallace (1850-19-?)

Dates

• Existence: 1850 - 19-?

Biography

William Girton was born in Lincolnshire, England, on April 10, 1850. He was the son of John and Mary (Hubbard) Girton. His father farmed until 1850 when he immigrated to Florence, Michigan, where he continued to farm until his death in 1951. His wife moved with their two boys to Wisconsin. Mary died at the home of her eldest son in Winchester, Tennessee, on November 3, 1893.

Girton received his education in public schools of Sauk County, Wisconsin. In 1868, he entered an academy at Spring Green for two years. In 1870, he started teaching career at a school district near Reedsburg, Sauk County. In April 1871, he entered State Normal School at Platteville, Wisconsin, graduating in 1874. From 1875 to 1876, Girton was principal of the graded schools at Muscoda, Wisconsin, and from there went to Vinton, Iowa, where he held the office of assistant superintendent of State School for the Blind for one year.

On August 1, 1877, Girton married Frances Richmond of Green County, Wisconsin. Richmond was a native of Belturbel, Ireland. Their family consisted of six children: Lee R., Daisy M., Susan M., Edith A., William T., and John F.

Girton was the principal of schools in Harlan, Iowa, until November 1880. He became superintendent of schools of Shelby County, Iowa in 1883. He founded the newspaper Shelby County Republican in Harlan, Iowa, and continued as editor and publisher until 1886 when he sold it.

In 1886 Girton went to the Dakota Territory. In December 1886, he organized the Vilas Banking Company, at Vilas in Miner County, South Dakota, and was president of it for 3 years. He established the Miner County Farmer.

In 1889, Girton was appointed Deputy Territorial Auditor of the last Territorial Legislature. He served as the Chief Enrollment Clerk of the joint commission which was in charge of the settlement of accounts between North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1892, he was elected county Superintendent of schools for Miner County.

In 1896, he became a member of the faculty and chair of geography and civics of State Normal School in Madison, South Dakota. He was the first secretary of the Normal School, and also served as Registrar. Between 1901 and 1902, in the absence of President Beadle, Girton was appointed acting president of the State Normal School.

The Girton House, which was first an emergency hospital and later made into a home for the President of the college, was named after William Girton.

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