It is a maxim more true even than it is old that in civil society either law or force must prevail. And as it has been agreed by universal consent that law shall reign it is needful that the officers who enforce it and especially those who have to do with the administration of its punitive features shall be men of integrity capacity and discriminating judgement able to make the lawless fear them and the rest of mankind respect and have confidence in them as the guardians of the peace and the conservators of order. Deputy Sheriff George S. Mead of Basin, Bighorn County is an official of this charter and stands high as such in the confidence and esteem of the public whose interests he has in charge. He has long been identified with the history of the state, being a pioneer of 1877 in Wyoming. He was born at Racine, Wisconsin, October 9, 1861, a son of G. G. and Katie (Karrigan) Mead, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Ireland. From Wisconsin they removed to Chicago and there the father was in business three years until the great fire destroyed all his possessions. They then returned to Wisconsin and from there soon after to Taylor County, Iowa where he lived until 1877. In that year he came to Wyoming and settled at Rawlins. He passed three years in rangeriding and freighting with that city as his headquarters and in 1879 when the Ute Indian outbreak occurred he went to work for the U. S. Government as a teamster and rendered good service in that capacity until 1883. He then returned to Rawlins and was engaged in various occupations until 1887 when he went to ranching at which he continued until 1894 when he sold out. The next year he came to Bighorn County and locating land on the Bighorn River went to stock growing and farming. His ranch comprises 400 acres of good land, which is well improved and he has a fine herd of cattle and a large number of horses. He conducts the ranch under his personal supervision and management but has his residence in Basin where he owns a home. He is interested in public improvements of all kinds and is a stockholder in the Water Company of the city. His official experience has been extended and varied he was four years constable and deputy sheriff serving at the same time as tax collector and in 1903 he was appointed deputy sheriff and jailer of the county, his fitness for the position being universally recognized. In fraternal relations he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is recognized as a serviceable member of the fraternity. In 1877, at Ferris, Wyoming, he married to Miss Carrie M. Hill, a native of Wisconsin. They have five children, Lulu M., Minnie A., George H., Nellie and Ethel E. George Mead was living in Browns Canon, Carbon County, Wyoming in 1880
