Biography of Charles S. Wilder - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 124

Charles S. Wilder, an experienced farmer and stock raiser of Union
Township, was born in 1828, probably in Pennsylvania, but from his
infancy was reared in Ohio, in Meigs County, of that State, from his
boyhood. His parents, Lemuel L. and Miranda (Archer) Wilder, both died
in Ohio after Charles left that State, Mrs. Wilder was a consistent
member of the Christian Church. Mr. Wilder was a mechanic and a farmer
by occupation and was the father of thirteen children. Charles S.
Wilder received a common school education, and in 1849 came west,
locating in Conway County, where he was married in 1852 to Mary Jones,
who died a few months after marriage. Mrs. Wilder's second marriage
was to Mrs. Frauces Nash (nee Willbanks). By this union there are two
children, James A. and Dovey N.  His third wife was Miss Mollie Bolton
(see sketch of J. D. Bolton). The present Mrs. Wilder was Lizzie
Cantrell. Mr. Wilder lived a few years in what is now Faulkner County,
but since before the war has been a resident of the present farm, one
of the best in Union Township. It lies three miles from Springfield,
on the Morrilton road, and contains 200 acres, with eighty acres under
a high state of cultivation and improvement, which is evidence that
the owner has the true conception and the practical method of farming.
During the early part of the war Mr. Wilder was Captain of a militia
company, but afterward served in different commands in the Confederate
army, being with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, etc. Mr. and
Mrs. Wilder are members of the M. E. Church, South. Politically Mr.
Wilder is a Democrat. George Wilder, an elder brother, who died
during the war, was the first of the family who came to Arkansas.
Horace, another brother, who lived in Arkansas, was killed while in
the army, leaving our subject the only one of the family now residing
in Arkansas.