Biographical Sketch of

Hon. George Dwight Waring

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 739 - 740 


Hon. George Dwight Waring, an eminent lawyer of Wisconsin, who, since 1855, has resided in Berlin, was born in Masonville, 
Delaware Co., N. Y., on the 14th of October, 1819.  His parents were Ephraim and Sally (Brown) Waring.  His father was a 
native of Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn., and was of English descent.  The family name is said to have been originally spelled 
Warren, and that Gen. Warren, who became famous at the battle of Bunker Hill, is one of its members.  The paternal grandfather 
of our subject participated in the War of the Revolution, and established the family in New York about the beginning of the 
nineteenth century.
 
Ephraim Waring was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was married in Masonville, N. Y., to Miss Sarah Brown.  They removed 
to Bainbridge, Chenango County, of the same State, when George D. was an infant, and there the home circle was broken by 
the loss of the wife and mother, who died when our subject was but five years of age.  From that time until his tenth year 
he was cared for by friends of the family.  He then arranged with Avery Farnham, a farmer and lumberman of Masonville, to 
remain with him until he was of age.  In 1836 Mr. Waring removed with the Farnham family to Angola, Steuben Co., Ind., and 
remained in their home until attaining his majority.  His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, with 
the exception of a short time spent in a select school; but he was ambitious to learn, and studied diligently in his leisure 
hours until, at the age of twenty years, he had made sufficient preparation to become a teacher, and secured a position in 
Branch County, Mich.  After teaching one winter he went to Kentucky, where he taught both summer and winter for the next two 
years.  In the meantime he had formed the idea of making the legal profession his life work, and returning to Angola, Ind., 
he entered upon the study of law in the office of R. L. Douglas and Daniel L. Palmer, and was admitted to the bar in Steuben 
County in 1842.
 
Mr. Waring celebrated Independence Day of that year by his marriage with Miss Harriet A. Hopkins, daughter of Stephen and 
Betsy Hopkins.  The lady was a native of Hamilton County, N. Y., and two children were born of their union, but both died 
in infancy.
 
In the fall of 1855 Judge Waring came to Wisconsin and settled in Berlin, where he engaged in merchandising for two years.  
He then again entered upon the practice of law, which he has since pursued with marked success.  At first he formed a law 
partnership with Mr. Caruth, who was killed in Vineland, N. J., after which he became associated with John C. Truesdale in 
business, and later was a partner of Judge Ezra Wheeler, who was the representative in Congress from this district.  Death 
severed that relation, and Mr. Waring then formed a partnership with T. C. Ryan, now of the firm of Silverthorn, Ryan, Hurley 
& Jones, of Wausau, Wis.  About 1888 he became associated in business with L. Eichstadt, under the firm name of Waring & 
Eichstadt, lawyers.  That connection continued uninterruptedly until the death of Mr. Eichstadt, which occurred in Germany 
in the winter of 1888-89.  In 1886 P. Niskern became a member of the firm, and has since continued his connection with Judge 
Waring, the style, being now Waring & Niskern, which firm is one of the leading law firms of the Third Judicial District.  
In addition to his law practice Judge Waring has operated quite extensively in real estate, and has served in many official 
positions.  While a resident of Indiana he was elected and served two years as Sheriff of Steuben County, and on the 
organization of Berlin as a city, in 1857, he was chosen its first Mayor, and held the office from 1857 to 1860, inclusive.  
He served two years on the County Board of Supervisors in an early day, and during the past two years has represented his 
ward in that body.  He has served two years on the County Board of Supervisors in an early day, and during the past two 
years has represented his ward in that body.  He has served three terms as District Attorney, at one time holding the office 
for four consecutive years, and afterward for two years.  He was Deputy Provost Marshal during the late war, and in 1868 was 
elected to the State Senate, serving as a member of that body in the sessions of 1869 and 1870, during which time he was 
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee on Town and County Organizations.
 
Judge Waring was a Whig in political sentiment in early life, and has been an active Republican since the existence of that 
party.  In religious opinion he is a Congregationalist, and for twenty years has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of 
Union Church.  He has taken an active part in promoting the cause of religion, and has aided liberally in support of the 
churches of the city.
 
In 1873 the Judge was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in Berlin on the 15th of February, of that year.  
He was again married on the 11th of June, 1874, to Miss Luzelia, daughter of Thomas and Jane White, and a native of Hammondsport, 
Steuben Co., N. Y.  One child, a son, George T., was born to then Aug. 15, 1875.
 
Judge Waring, while an earnest Republican, has ever been in sympathy with all reasonable efforts in behalf of the cause of 
temperance, and when he was elected Mayor of Berlin it was on a temperance issue.  He is a Royal Arch Mason, now demitted from
both Blue Lodge and Chapter.  For two years prior to Cleveland's administration he served as Attorney for the Government for 
the Board of Commissioners of the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement, and is now local Attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railroad Company, a position he has held several years with entire satisfaction to the company.
 
Left at the tender age to fight the battle of life, unaided by the influence of money or friends, he made the most of his 
opportunities and studied hard, both in and out of school, to fit himself for the intellectual profession of the law.  Always 
a student and an indefatigable worker, he is well versed in the law and ripe in experience of court practice.  In argument he 
is strong, clear and logical.  Positive in his convictions, and tenacious in maintaining his ground, step by step he has won 
his way to prominence in his chosen profession until he is the acknowledged leader of the bar of his own county, and takes 
rank among the foremost lawyers of the State.  Temperate in his habits, Judge Waring has led a very active and useful life.  
He is of medium height, but strongly built.  Physically and mentally, he is vigorous and well preserved, and is still ready 
and able to pursue the arduous career of a successful lawyer with a large practice.






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