GEORGE F. GAY, physician and surgeon; was born in Clayton Co., Iowa, May 12, 1848; is a son of John M. Gay, deceased, who first saw the light in the Shenandoah Valley, in Rockbridge Co., Va. He was by profession a civil engineer, and finished his education in Richmond, Va., during the years 1816, 1817 and 1818, and was employed by the Government twenty-five years, during that time surveying nearly all of the Northwestern country. His ancestors were natives of the North of Ireland, and three brothers - John, James and Robert - emigrated to America in the year 1730; they landed in Philadelphia, and settled as farmers in the interior of Pennsylvania, where they remained until the year 1740, when they moved to Virginia and settled on the north bank of the James River. The descendants took an active part in the Revolutionary war, and the father of John Gay was commissioned a Lieutenant at the commencement of the war, and served until its close. John Gay, although he was born, lived and educated in a slave State, was a decided Abolitionist, and strongly advocated those principles. He was an exemplary Christian, and for fifty years was a Ruling Elder in the Congregational Church; he died in February, 1878, at the ripe age of 81. He served in the Black Hawk war with the rank of Major, and fought by the side of Abraham Lincoln (who held the rank of Captain), at the battle of Bad Ax. He and Mr. Lincoln were warm personal friends for many years. His wife's maiden namem was Sarah Thomas; her ancestors had lived in Virginia for several generations; she also was born in Rockbridge Co., Va. Dr. George F. Gay, at the age of 10, came with his parents to Crawford Co., Wis., where he remained for ten years, when he commenced the study of medicine. He graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., with the class of 1875 and 1876; after graduation he located at Bloomington, where he practiced his profession for three years, and married Miss Minerva Woodhouse. He came to Muscoda in March, 1880, where he has since practiced his profession.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.