History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/George W. Wakefield
GEORGE W. WAKEFIELD was born November 22, 1839, at De Witt, Illinois, and was educated in the common schools and at Lombard College. When the Civil War began he enlisted in Company F, Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. After the close of the war Mr. Wakefield was engaged in farming and teaching. Finally studying law he was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1868. The same year he came to Iowa, locating at Sioux City, where he entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1870 he was elected auditor of Woodbury County, which position he held four years. In 1885 he was elected judge of the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial District, serving two years, and in 1887 was chosen Judge of the District Court which position he has held up to the year 1903. Judge Wakefield has been one of the promoters of the Sioux City public library, serving as president of the board of trustees from 1892 to 1903.