Col. V.A. Wilder

Col. Wilder is not a native of Warwick. He was born in Maine in 1844 and came here in the late 1880's. He bought the 200 acre farm of the late John M. Burt and enlarged and remodelled the house. This is currently the Chateau Hathorn on Route 94. Donald Clark, County Historian, in 1976, puts Col Wilder as the original owner, but I think it goes back beyond the 1880 date that he cites. I think this is the date of the enlarging and remodelling. Mr. Clark also cites E.G.W. Dietrich as the architect, who also did the Reformed Church and many other homes in this style and date in Warwick.

This is a transcription of an article published in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, dated March 30, 1927. Used with permission.

COL. V. A. WILDER LAID AT REST

Col. Victor A. Wilder, gentleman, scholar, died at Suffern, N.Y. Thursday, aged 83 years. Col. Wilder was living with his only son, Donald, at Suffern, moving there last fall.

Col. Wilder was the son of M.A. Wilder and Mary Stevens Wilder, and was born at Dennisville, Maine, July 1st, 1844.

He came to Warwick in the late eighties and leased the Wisner estate known as "Robin Brae" for a year, the Campbell residence in the village for a year, and then bought of the late John M. Burt his 200 acre farm on the New Milford road; remodelling and enlarging the house and making a beautiful estate there. For about five years Col. Wilder held title to the 5000 acre tract including Wawayanda Lake. Several years later Mr. Wilder sold his residence and some 12 acres to Mr. Howe, retiring to the farm house nearby. Following adverse decisions in several expensive litigations for coal lands in West Virginia, Col. Wilder sold his Warwick farm home and moved to California and later to Arizona, where he was interested in silver mines. But owing to the increased infirmities of age and the delicate health of Mrs. Wilder, both longed to return to Warwick, and about two years ago "coming home again."

Col. Wilder's wife, Lilian, daughter of Runsom Macdonald and Marcin A. Evans died last June. He is survived by one son, Donald, of Suffern, and one sister, Miss Agnes, of Nantucket, Mass.

Col. Wilder's life was rich in experience. He serverd with the 44th Massachusetts Infantrly during the Civil War, and was an honered and beloved veteran. He was a man of intense nature, warm in his friendships and dislikes, valiant and fearless in his faith. Politically a Republican, he served that party in town politics with all the ardor of his personality. He was a fine public speaker, and for many years no public gathering was quite complete unless Col. Wilder made an address. He was a deep student of religion, and at one time gave a series of addresses at the Warwick Refromed Church on "Why I am a Christian." These were keenly followed.

In his early youth Col. Wilder travelled alone on horseback to the coast, a trip which in itself must have brought much joy to him.

The body was brought to Warwick for burial and on Saturday at one thirty o'clcok furneral services were held at the Reformed Church, of which he was a member. The Rev. Taber Knox, his pastor and friend, officiated.

Mr. Knox selected as his text, 2d Samuel, 3rd - 38: "Know ye not that a prince and a great man is fallen this day in Israel."

Mr. Knox said Co. Wilder was his beloved friend, one who had been closer to him than any other man, and having thur revealed unto his pastor the intermost thoughts, hopes, and aspirations of his soul, Mr. Knox had loved him for his sincerity, his honestly, his zealous devotion to what he believed to be right, and withal for gentleness and courtesty and innate chivalry. Mr. Knox related how, some 30 years ago, Col. Wilder came to accept and devote himself to the Christian faith, to which he had adhered steadfastly.