Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy

Valentine McGillycuddy
McGillycuddy on General George Crook's Black Hills expedition
Mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota
In office 1896–1898
Preceded by	Chauncey Lynch Wood
Succeeded by	George B. Mansfield
Personal details
Born	Valentine Trant McGillycuddy 1849
Died	1939 (aged 89–90) Berkeley, California

Valentine Trant McGillycuddy (1849–1939) was a surgeon who served with expeditions and United States military forces in the West. He was considered controversial for his efforts to build a sustainable relationship between the United States and Native American peoples.

Valentine Trant O'Connell McGillycuddy was born on February 14, 1849 in Racine, Wisconsin. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit.

He graduated from the Detroit Medical School at 20 years of age. He began working as a doctor at the Wayne Country Insane Asylum and practiced medicine for one year. Next he began teaching at the medical college. McGillycuddy's longstanding love for the outdoors led him to leave the city medical field.

From 1871 to 1874, McGillycuddy worked for the United States Boundary Survey Commission. He became a topographer and surgeon for the International Expedition. This group headed an expedition to define the border between the United States and Canada along the 49th parallel. They began their expedition in North Dakota, where the ground had frozen due to a wet season. In order to keep their feet warm, the men wore several pairs of socks, wrapped their feet in a square blanket, and last wore a pair of over-sized moccasins. After the expedition ended, McGilldycuddy returned to Washington, DC. He was soon sent out to Wyoming to continue his career as a topographer.

The following year, in 1875, he was invited on the Newton-Jenney Party. As the surveyor for the expedition, McGillycuddy was the first person to record their climb of Harney Peak (now Black Elk Peak) in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He was responsible for mapping the topography and geology of the region, while the expedition assessed the area for major gold deposits.

Upon returning from the expedition, McGillycuddy married Fanny Hoyt. He was recruited as the Contract Surgeon with General George Crook during the Battle of the Rosebud (June 17, 1876), the Battle of Slim Buttes (September 9 and 10, 1876), and the Horsemeat March (1876).