Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-05
cor. s.v..w Ilues.
Few GIimpses Of the Useful Lie that Went
Out 50 Suddenly.

Coi. a. w. w lides or the board were draped
IN mourning, yesterday, aswas also hi chair
Bouquets Of white flowers were also placed
upon the desk and chair. Upon the desk
was the last document which Col. Wildes
si2ne!, that of the petition anil articles of
the Rumford Falls & RangeIey Lakes
Hallway Co. The pen he used was tied
with crepe and by its side was clean pink
blotter, bearing the marks of his signature
where he had blotted the paper after signing
it.
Col. Wildes was elected member of the
State board of railroad commissioners iu
1862 and had continuously served since
In the report of the board, rendered in 1868,
mention is made in the preface of the board,
he then being member, travelling from
the State line in Gilead to Portland, by foot
and hand car over the inspection of line
of railway. The first official document
signed BY the colonel in the report was q
letter to S.. T. Corser, superintendent of
the Grand Trunk Railway in Msile. This
report was signed by the commissioners as
fellows: G. P. Sewall, A. w. Wildes and
Allen Haines. 1t was dated at Portland,
June 4 1868.
From the Biographical and Obituary No
tices," in Adjutant General J. l.. Hodsdon' s
report for lSG45 the following abstract is
taken: Col. A. w. Wildes was born
in Newburyport, Mass, in 1922. At
the age of l6 he began the study of and
practice of civil engineering in the office of
Col. j. M. Fessenden, then chief engineer
of the Eastern Railroad. Col. Wildes was
engaged in the construction of the Eastern
road until its completion, when he was
transferred to the Portsn outh, Saco &
Portland Railroad, having been engaged in
the engineering department. He was en-
gagged in engineering in several of the New
England railroads and became we'll ac-
1850 he was appointed resident engineer of
the Maysville & Lexington Railroad in
Kentucky, where he remained until 1865,
when he returned to Maine, and took charge
of the incomplete portion of the Somerset
& Kennebec road. In 1857 he was appointed
chief engineer of the Marquette &
Ontonagon road, Michigan, where he
encamped two seasons with draft men
and Indians in the dense wilderness. In
1859 he became chief engineer of the Grand
Rapids & Indiana road, extending from
Fort Wayne $50 miles to the straits of
Mackinaw. In 1860 he returned to Maine
and shortly afterward was appointed an
aide, with the rank of lieutenant colonel
on the staff of Gov. Washburn. Col
Wildes took an important part in the
transportation of Maine troops to Wash
ington, and was at the front at the first
battle of Bull Run. He was appointed
colonel of the 10th Maine in May, 1862.
The regiment was mustered into the U.
S. service in August, 1862, Col. A. w.
Wilde, IN the meantime serving without
pay, and by the liberal expenditure of his
own means furthering the interests of the
regiment. He had most brilliant war
record.
Monday afternoon he was in cheerful
mood, genial as was his wont. He and
Hon. B. f. Chadbourne, of the board of
State railroad commissioners, looked over
the petition and articles of association of
the railroad mentioned and affixed their sig
natures. They enjoyed their usual chat to-
gether and Mr.. Wildes seemed in excellent
health and happiness. Hehad recently re-
turned from a visit to his sister, Mrs. Brown
of Melrose, Mass. and visit to his daughter,
Mrs. w. G. Davis of Portland, who was at
Grand Beach, near Old Orchard. He re-
lated to Mr.. Chadbourne the pleasure of the
trip. He went to the Augusta House where
he passed the evening with his daughter,
Mrs. C. d. Whitehouse. The circumstances
in connection with his death the JOURNAL
mentioned yesterday.
Mr.. Chadbourne was sending out letters
Yesterday, to railroad officials and promi-
npnt men and Also TeCeiNeu 'eNsi""0 VI
coincidence. To Journal man he said,
..Mr. Wildes and had always been warm
friends and during our trips inspect
ing railroads, I always found him to
he a most cheerful companion. lie
was always prompt, ready to give
any information he could from his al
most exhaustless knowledge of railroad
matters. He was conscientious man,
kind, and always ready and desired to do
his mart of the work, had many friends and
warm ones at that. His last days were
II ,nnv. and many railroad Officials and
nrominent men of the State had assured
him that his re-appointment would come
easily. The colonel was valuable mem
Der of the board"
CJ. Wildes' first wife was Miss Jane
p,tten of Kennebunkport, and by this mar
rage five children were born Frank, who
d;sd when about years OF age, and re-
u.rd;np whom poem, written by Col.
w;Iaes. is given in another article; George