Born on November 14, 1829 in St. Louis, Missouri to Francois Girard (Canadian) and Catherine Trotier Girard and joined the US Army's 7th Calvary on May 12, 1876 at Mandan just two months before the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Girard is also referred to in historical documents with the surname "Gerard."
He died on January 30, 1913 in St. Cloud, Minnesota and is buried in the graveyard at the College of St. Benedicts Convent in Saint Joseph Minnesota.
