Gilbert L. Laws

Gilbert Lafayette Laws (1838-1907) was a Nebraska Republican politician.

Born near Olney, Illinois, he moved to Iowa County, Wisconsin in 1845 with his parents. He attended Haskell University and Milton College and afterwards taught school. During the American Civil War he enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. After the war he returned to Wisconsin and settled in Richland County, Wisconsin.

He was elected as the Richland County Clerk in 1862 and twice reelected also publishing a newspaper. He became a member of the Richland Center, Wisconsin city council in 1868 and 1869 and then the city's mayor in 1869. In 1869 and 1870 he was the chairman of the county board of supervisors, and the postmaster from 1866 to 1876. He resigned his posts in 1876 and moved to Orleans, Nebraska.

In 1883 he was appointed register of the United States land office in McCook, Nebraska until November 1, 1886 when he was elected Secretary of State of Nebraska. He served in that position from 1886 to 1888 when he was elected to the 51st United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Laird. He did not run for reelection, instead moving to Enid, Oklahoma and sold houses. He returned to Nebraska in 1895 to Lincoln. He became secretary of the State board of transportation from 1896 to 1900. He died in Lincoln on April 25, 1907 and is buried in Wyuka Cemetery.

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