The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-18
MANY PIONEERS
PASSING AWAY
Mrs. Mary Wilder q Resident of
WdtertOWn Since 1912 Is
Called by Death.

With the death Of Mrs Mary Sophia
Wilder, who passed away at her Fifth
street home last Thursday afternoon,
Watertown loses .one Of the last, if not
the last, of representatives OF those stur
dy pioneers who built village on the
banks Of the Rock river Mrs. Wilder,
then Miss Sophia Breckenridge, came to
Watertown with her parents, the late
Mr.. and Mrs. George Breckenridge, in
the fall of 1912.
Luther and John w Cole had built
WatertOwD's first store only the preced-
ing year. The village was but five years
of age and had grown but slowly after
the first influx Of families in 1887. 1t
WAS not until the year that Mrs. Wilder
came here that Milo Jones, a Fort At
kinsOn surveyor, had laid a small plat
Of lots and blocks that WatertOwn might
grow in orderly fashion.
Mrs Wilder was born near Beverly,
Ontario, Canada. May 18, 1921. Had she
lived until today, she would have been
overland by wagon, from their Cana
dian home, which was not far from
Kingston, arriving in Fort Atkinson in
the spring of 1912. WatertOwn was their
destination, but there was no broken
thorOughfare between the places, and
the family remained in Fort Atkinson
until the fall, the husband and father
coming on TO WatertOwn on horseback.
Dr. Breckenridge will be remembered
only by the older residents, for he died
more than half century ago, on April
9, 1860. He was power for good in the
community while he lived. He was one
of the charter members and founders of
the Congregational church, and one Of
its first deacOns. The lives OF father
and daughter crossed a span of years
which usually takes at least three gen
eratlOns. For DR.. Breckenridge was
born in Massachusetts in 1856, and from
the time of his birth to the time of his
daughters death was 129 years. So Mrs.
Wilder was not only member of an old
WatertOwn family, but an immediate
relative of an old Colonialfamily as we'll.
Miss Breckenridge had been a resi-
dent of Watertown but three years when
she was welded to the late Otis M. Will
der She was therefore not only the
daughter of a pioneer, but the bride and
the wife of pioneer. The marriage
took place November 80, 1845, at the
home of the brides parents, which was
located at the corner of Fourth and
Main streets.
Following her marriage, Mrs. Wilder,
with her husband, went to live on
farm short distance east of the city.
But only few years later she again be-
came a resident of the city In 1853,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilder removed to this
city and took up their residence in the
home where she died.
Mrs. Wilder was widowed by the death
of her husband, which occurred Decem-
ber "a, 1871. OF the five children born
to them, one son and two daughters sur
yive They are: Mr. George F. Wilder,
Seattle, Wash; Mrs D. A. Hadley. Ocon-
omow0c. and Miss Ella Wilder, at home
Three grandchildren and one great
grandchild also survive.
During practically all of her long life,
Mrs. Wilder enjoyed excellent health
Seldom had she required the services Of
physician. Recently she had been
trnnhlad with tia
ter six weeks, she received relief, but did
not gain strength, but failed slowly. She
retained her mental faculties until the
last, her passing away being peaceful.
Mrs. Wilder's interests centered about
her home. Interested in the affairs of
the world and the welfare and happiness
of her nelghbOrs it was nevertheless a
we'll known Characteristic that she nev-
er criticised the actions of another per-
son. Even in the last weeks of her life
she had most intimate knowledge of
the affairs of her own household. and
while she no longer took an active part
in the work, hers was the guiding hand
which directed the affairs of the home.
Mrs Wilder made friends with each
succeeding generation. A great many
of the Younger people of the city held
her in high esteem, and showed her
many evidences of respect anu affection
The many little visits from those who
dropped in when passing for few min
ute's chat seemed to be mutually en-
l0yed.
The funeral took place Saturday after
noon, services being conducted at the
home at o'clock. Interment was in
Oak Hill cemetery.
Visited G. A. r. Post.