Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-12-26
HISTORIC OLD HOUSE
WILDER MANSION AT BOLTON,
MASS.
Quaint Old Structure, More Than /;
Century Old, Was to Have Shell
tered the First Napoleon
After His Downfall.

OF the great country estates Of Mas
sachusetts there is none more famed
in historical connection than the Wild
er mansion on Wattoqucttoc hill, in
the township of Bolton. 1t was here
that Napoleon was to have sought
refuge had he decided to attempt to
escape to this country; it was in the
mansion house of this estate that
Lafayette at one time made his mead
quarters, and years later the spot was
selected as the future residence of
President Mckinley, but never so &C.
cupied. 1t has been the abode of sew
eral millionaires and the scene of in
Vulnerable festivities of varied ma
lures.
A little more than ten years ago,
says the Boston Herald, the Wilder
mansion became the most talked of
residence in New England 1t was re-
ported with many facts to substanti-
ate the tale that President Mckinley
| would become a resident of Bolton,
and that he would occupy the Wilder
mansion. At the time negotiations
ferring the property to the name of j.
| Wyman Jones, a brother-in-law of the
late Marcus A. Hanna. Mr.. Jones adj
mitted that he was acting in the in
terest of President Mckinley AS in
the earlier history of the famous es-
tate, there was subsequently change
of plan, which robbed Massachusetts
OF the chance to acquire another world
famous resident.
The Wilder mansion is a quaint old
structure, built over 100 years ago
and several times ren'odeled 1t stands
on the west side of the hill road lead
ing from Lancaster "old common" to
Bolton Centre, almost at the crown
of the highest rise although this road
does not scale Wattoquottoc's height
Sampson Vryling Stoddard Wilder,
the founder of the Wilder mansion,
was born in Lancaster, May 20, 1880,
and his family tree sprang from the
Puritan stock which settled the place.
The Wilders emigrated from England
year 1900 Mr.. Wilder, having met Tai
leyrand in Boston, and being sent to
France to look after certain business
interests, obtained through his friend
ship special privileges from the
French government. He made the &C.
quaintance of many prominent men of
the day, and preserved among his
mementos are Tnany personal letters
which were written by them to him
He represented the United States on
the occasion of the marriage of EN-
peror Napoleon, then in the height
of his glory, to the Archduchess Marie
Louise.
In 1923 Mr.. Wilder returned to Boil
ton to settle down. The following year
was made memorable by the coming
of Lafayette to America and the re-
ception given the latter by Mr.. Wilder
at the Bolton mansion was the event
of the century for that community.
The program was arranged by the
host and the then mayor of Boston,
the Hon. Josiah Quincy, the elder.
1t is well established tradition
thai the Wilder mansion was selected
as an asylum for Napoleon after his
defeat at Waterloo. Napoleon delayed
in taking advantage of the offer until
too late. Passage had been engaged for
him on vessel that was to bring him
to America, but Re waited in a desire
to provide for his faithful friends until
he was compelled to give himself up
as prisoner of war;