Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-30
WILLIAM WILDER Is
LAID TO REST


LAID TO REST
"Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me
And may there be no moaning OF the
When / put out to sea.
For though from out our bourne OF
time and place
The flood may bear me far;
hope to see my pilot face to face
When | have crossed the bar.
The funeral service for William
Austin Wilder was held at the resi-
dence on East Ann-st., Belding, Mich,
Saturday, January 26th, at three
O'Clock d. m, in charge of Rev. w. A:
Bliss. pastor of the Baptist church, OF
which Mr.. Wilder was a regular and
faithful attendant, and also a MEM
ber of the choir For several years
he had served the church as collector:
Mrs. L. M. Berry and Fred Cornell
rendered most beautifully the musical
numbers, Memories of Earth,
"Crossing the Bar" and 'In the Sweet
By and By" Many beautiful floral
pieces and flowers were tastefuliy ar
ranged in the home. The remains OF
the deceased were laid at rest in Rlv-
er Ridge cemetery, tenderiy borne pg
Deacons w. ID. Pond, and Eli Kendall
of the BAPTIST church. w. l.. Cusser,
brother Elk, w. b. Reed, of the
Knights of Pythias, Elmer f. Fales OF
the Masonic order, and Merton Eaves
of the Maccabees.
Rev. Bliss took for his text: "Be we
also ready for in such an hour when
we know not the Son of Man cometh.
He referred to the loss the society,
the city and county had sustained IN
the death of Mr.. Wilder and spoke
comforting words to the bereaved
family and relatives and drew from
the text the thought of how necessary
it is for the living to be ready at all
times to meet the call.
Mr.. Wilder was well known in the
social life of the city. He was a
member of the Maccabees, and the
Elks, also held the Office of treasurer
of the Masonic lodge, and was past
chancellor of the Knights OF Pythias,
also a member of the Washington
club He will be missed in all these
circles and the church recognizes the
loss of willing helper. He was a
devoted husband and father and his
loss is very keenly felt by his inn
mediate family, relatives and friends.
Beside his wife, who is a well known
church and w. c. t. u. worker, he
leaves two sons, E. l.. Wilder of
Yonkers, N. Y, and Vann ID. Wilder
of Bloomington, Ill. Mrs. Nellie M.
Ireland, r. A. Wilder Ga former well
known resident of Belding, now OF
Boone, Iowa), and Geo. F. Hewett of
Boone, Iowa, are the sister and broth
ers surviving.
His death, resulting from neuralgia
of the heart, is one that the entire
community regrets, and in his pass
ing the city loses an excellent citizen:
Mr.. Wilder has been resident OF
Belding for the past twenty-nlne
wears. He was born in Sublette, H.,
January 9Th. 1856. and after finishing
his studies in the high shool and llli-
nois State Normal, he engaged in
business with his father, under the
firm name of A. L. Wilder q Son. He
moved with his family to Belding In
1889 to enter the Office of the Miller
Casket company, as secretary. In
1894 he engaged in the mercantile
business in Belding, operating book
and stationery and wall paper store.
For thirteen years, while conducting
thil business, he was serving the
county Of Ionia as supervisor of the
third ward of the city of Belding, and
for several years was chairman of the
board of supervisors. His service to
the county, as well as the city of Beld-
ing, was always performed with hon
or and efficiency.
In the campaign of 1906 he announc-
ed his candidacy for the Office of reg
ister of deeds. He was the choice of
his party in the primary election and
was gnally elected by substantial
plurality of 1905 votes. He entered
the contest for reelection in the sum-
mer of 1908 and he was elected again
by even a greater majority than in
1906. The people expressed splendid
confidence in him as he served them to
the best Of his ability.
On the completion Of his second
term as register Of deeds he returned
to his former residence, city of Beld-
ing, and up until the time Of his
death, he was cashier of the Com
mercial Bank of this city.