George Gale (Wisconsin politician)
George W. Gale was an American lawyer, judge, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served as a Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge and as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate. He was the founder of Galesville, Wisconsin, and Gale College, and was one of the creators of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin.Biography
Born in Burlington, Vermont, Gale was admitted to the Vermont bar. He then moved to Wisconsin Territory, where he practiced law in Walworth County. In 1847 he was elected District Attorney and as a delegate to the second Wisconsin Constitutional Convention.
Gale was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate as a member of the Free Soil Party, representing the 14th senate district—Walworth County. Gale moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he became a Wisconsin county judge and then was elected Wisconsin Circuit Court judge for the 6th circuit. Gale bought land north of La Crosse and helped plat the city of Galesville, Wisconsin, in order to found Gale College; he is responsible for the creation of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. During the American Civil War, Judge Gale served with the United States Sanitary Commission. He died in Galesville.
