George Clay Ginty


George Clay Ginty was a politician, military officer, newspaperman, and U.S. Marshal.

Biography

Ginty was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1840. He moved with his parents to Racine, Wisconsin in 1853. In 1859, he moved to Oconto, Wisconsin. Ginty later moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. He died in Madison, Wisconsin on December 9, 1890. At the time of his death, he was a member of the United States Marshals Service, acting as Marshal of the Western District of Wisconsin.

Newspaper career

Ginty founded the Oconto Pioneer in 1859 and served as editor and publisher of the paper until 1865. In 1866, he founded the Green Bay Gazette and in 1868, he founded the Chippewa Falls Herald. He later served as editor and publisher of the Herald from 1870 to 1890. From 1875 to 1878, Ginty was president of the Wisconsin Editorial Association.

Military career

Ginty joined the Union Army in 1864 during the American Civil War as major of the 39th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment on June 3, 1864. He was mustered out of the volunteers on September 22, 1864. He rejoined the army on February 23, 1865 as colonel of the 47th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out of the volunteers after this service on September 4, 1865. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Ginty for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from September 28, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.

Political career

Ginty was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1863 and the Wisconsin State Senate from 1884 to 1888. He was a Republican.