George E. Gard
| George E. Gard | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 16, 1843 Lebanon, Ohio |
| Died | March 10, 1904 (aged 61) |
| Police career | |
| Department | Chief of LAPD |
| Years of service | 1880–1881 |
George Edwin Gard (January 16, 1843 – March 10, 1904) is one of only two men to have served as both police chief in Los Angeles, California, and sheriff of Los Angeles County, the other being William A. Hammel. He was the city's fourth chief (December 12, 1880 – December 10, 1881), succeeding Henry King, and the county's 16th sheriff (1884–1886), succeeding Alvan T. Currier. [3]
Except where otherwise noted, the following information comes from An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California, Chicago, the Lewis Publishing Company, 1889, p. 487, quoted at http://www.calarchives4u.com/Biographies/losangeles/la-gues.htm:
Gard, the son of Dr. William V. H. Gard and Lucretia Williamson, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1843. His mother died when he was 3 years old and his father when George was 6, after which he was cared for by his grandfather, Garret Williamson, in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio.
At the age of 16, the Lewis book states, "he came overland to California, accompanying his uncle, Henry Williamson, who brought with him a band of thoroughbred horses and cattle." The biography continues:
He remained with his uncle until the next year; resided in San Jose two years and then located in Mariposa County; there engaged in mining, and was soon afterward the superintendent of Lovejoy & Gard's saw-mills, and later assistant superintendent of the Mariposa Mining Company's Mills. In 1864 Mr. Gard entered the United States military service as First Sergeant of Company H, Seventh California Volunteer Infantry, and was with that command in Arizona and New Mexico until March, 1866, at which time his company was mustered out of service.
After leaving the service, Gard settled in Wilmington for two years, then moved to Los Angeles, where he established the Los Angeles Ice Company, "the first to enter into that business in Southern California." In 1869 he married Kate A. Hammel. Of their children, two were surviving in 1889 — William Brant and Georgetta Miles. In 1871 Gard was appointed deputy county clerk for one year, then joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a detective for three years. In 1874 he became deputy county recorder and from 1875 to 1879 was chief recorder of the county.
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