Lyon County
Gilbert B. Waldo
Biography
(Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney)
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Nevada Genealogy Trails Lyon County Gilbert B. Waldo Biography (Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney) |
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GILBERT B. WALDO, a retired farmer of Mason valley, Nevada, now residing in Yerington, has lived in Nevada since 1867. He is a native of Illinois, having been born in Chicago, January 15, 1842, coming of Scotch ancestry, his forebears having settled in Canada many years ago. His father, William Waldo, was born in Scotland, there married Mrs. Margaret Mcintosh, of Edinburg, Scotland, and they emigrated to Canada, but later came to the United States, in 1836 and settled in the then young city of Chicago. He was a draughtsman, architect and builder, and remained in Chicago the rest of his life, and died there when about sixty years of age. His wife died a few years later, when sixty-five years of age. They had seven children, two by her first husband and five by the father of our subject. Of these, four are now living. Gilbert B. Waldo was educated in Chicago and in Dupage county, Illinois, and when twelve years of age began to earn his own living, being given his food and clothing and permitted to attend school four months in winter in return for his services upon a farm. Later he was paid twelve dollars per month. When in his nineteenth year, in 1860, he went to Arkansas and worked on a plantation, and was there when the war broke out. Although against his principles, as there was no way of escaping, he enlisted in the Jeff Davis Invincibles and was in the battle at Belmont, at Shiloh, Russell House and Corinth. His term of enlistment was for a year, and when that expired he desired his discharge, but was compelled to remain in the service. When an opportunity arrived he escaped to General Halleck's command, and, explaining his situation and his desire to fight under the old flag, on June 15, 1862, he was enrolled in Company C, Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He participated in the second battle of Corinth, and was with General Grant in his campaign at Memphis and Vicksburg. While in the Confederate army he received a gunshot wound in the leg which laid him up in the hospital at Memphis, and at Vicksburg he was wounded in the hip and on top of the head. Mr. Waldo was in the Red River expedition with Banks; then returned to Memphis, and throughout the remainder of the struggle participated in all the battles of his regiment, serving with gallantry and true courage. After he was honorably discharged he returned to Chicago, and for some time was engaged in running a horse-power wood-sawing machine, sawing wood for a railroad. In 1867 he came west to Nevada, crossing the plains on horseback, and stopped to work for Sam Bucklin in Carson valley, but two months later was in Mason valley, where he took up three hundred and twenty acres. He has made many improvements upon his property, now having one of the best farms in the entire vicinity. In 1879 Mr. Waldo was happily married to Serapta Ann Ames, a native of Michigan, born near the city of Pontiac. Although a stanch Republican, Mr. Waldo now votes in local matters as he believes best, regardless of party lines. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs, and is a member of the grand lodge of the state. While never desiring office, he consented, to act as a member of the school board, and through his efforts the district received the present fine edifice. He has leased his fine farm, and, building a commodious house in Yerington, proceeded to beautify the grounds by planting trees and shrubbery, which will soon make his town residence one of the most desirable in the place. Both he and his most excellent wife are among the most highly respected people of the city, and they are enjoying the prosperity their industry and thrift have procured.
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