George Wilde 1821-1876

WARMOUTH, WILDE, BROWNLEE

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 1/1/2020 at 21:54:22

The third son of John and Mary (Mathews) Wilde; the family immigrated from England in 1829, settling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. They moved west to Galena, Illinois in 1834, then in 1835 they moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin. In March of 1836, the family moved to Dubuque, Iowa. George's father was a carpenter by trade.

George engaged in smelting and continued to do so until 1864. In 1850 George traveled to California, then returned to Dubuque, where he built a store on the corner of Main and Second St. and engaged in the mercantile business under the name of Coates and Wilde. He married Mary Warmouth on December 6, 1854 at Dubuque; she was a native of England and she had lived in Dubuque since the age of ten. They were the parents of ten children: John T., Fred M., George Jr., Sarah, Mary, Frank W., Mary, Grace, Kennie, and Albert. They lived on the corner of Dodge and Wilde Streets.

George later started up a livery business on Seventh Street, between Main and Locust; buggies, carriages, and sleighs were available. (Information taken from a business sign in Encyclopedia Dubuque - 1859 - GEO. WILDE & CO. Proprietors of the Washington Livery Stable).
The business was listed in the Dubuque City Directory for 1874-1875 - at 129 & 141 E. 7th., and for 1875-1876 - at 129 7th.

Civil War Draft Registration Records show George Wilde, 42 years old, living at Dublin, Dubuque, Iowa; listed as a miner.

George was listed in the 1853 Roster of Town officials; he was the first Alderman elected in the Third Ward of the city. He was actively involved in city interests; a man of strict integrity and kindhearted and beloved by all who knew him.
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Information from Dubuque Herald, Dec. 1, 1900:
His youngest daughter, Mary E. was engaged to marry Emory D. Brownlee at Kingfisher, Oklahoma on Dec. 5...George Wilde was one of Dubuque's pioneer settlers and most substantial business men....prominent in mining enterprises...was successful in mining and accumulated a comfortable fortune. After retiring from mining he conducted a livery business and was connected with other business institutions. He is remembered as a man of push and energy and was held in high esteem.