WILDER, Andrew Jackson

WILDER, BARBOUT, PHELPS, WILBUR

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 8/30/2010 at 23:04:27

Pioneer of Mitchell County

Andrew Jackson Wilder was born April 23, 1815 in Vermont, the son of Amosa and Charlotte (Barbout) Wilder. He was married on April 26, 1835 to Caroline E. Phelps, born April 14, 1815 and to this union five children were born. Nelson M. was born march 15, 1837 and Frank R. April 18, 1841, both in Chautauqua County, New York.

In 1843, the family moved to Saginaw, Michigan. Here their daughter, Laura E., was born June 24, 1944. The family moved to Rock County, Wisconsin in 1845. Here their second daughter, Adelaide L., was born January 20, 1846. On February 8, 1850 Orlando was born, but tragedy struck with the death of the mother, Caroline, on February 18, 1850.

Andrew was remarried on September 20, 1850 to Abigail C. Wilbur, born December 13, 1819. Miss Wilbur had been helping with the five motherless children. Tragedy struck again with the death of Orlando before his first birthday. On July 9, 1851 Charles W. was born. In 1853, Andrew made a trip to the Iowa/Minnesota border and took up a claim about four miles south of where Austin, Minnesota is now. He returned to Wisconsin early the next year, with twelve yoke of oxen, he went back to prove his claim, but decided to settle on the Iowa side in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, claiming all of section seven. While he was in Iowa preparing for his family to join him, Abby gave birth to another son, George B., on May 5, 1854. Again death came to mar this home and George died May 29, 1854.

In September of that year Abby joined her husband in Iowa and settled atop a knoll overlooking the rich prairie. Their log house had a timber roof covered with strips of basswood and sod. The original dirt floor was later replaced with puncheon flooring. Their home was known as Log Cabin Hill and at this site the neighboring families gathered during Indian uprisings. Upon Andrew's land was platted the town of Otranto, which grew until the railroad laid tracks three miles south. At this time the town of Otranto died out. The first religious services were conducted by Reverend W. P. Holbrook in Andrew's home in 1855.

On April 22, 1855 Andrew and Abby had a daughter, Eloise C. The following August, Andrew became the second sheriff of Mitchell County serving until October 1857.

On December 16, 1857 Willy W. was born. Eloise, not yet three years old, died on March 4, 1858. In January of 1861 Nelson, Andrew's oldest son, was married to Maria H. Vaughan, daughter of Alanson B. Vaughan. On February 12, 1861 twins, Mary A. and Marie I., were born to Andrew and Abby. The following day Andrew's son, Frank, was married to Mary Catherine VanCamp, daughter of John C. and Catherine (Zoller) VanCamp. Andrew's daughter, Adelaide, was married April 8, 1867 to Angus Campbell. His daughter, Laura E., married Marion R. Lyle. In the early 1870's, the family moved to Butler County, Missouri. Laura and Adelaide and their husbands also moved to Missouri where they remained. While in Missouri, Andrew and Abby's son, Charles, married Anna Nutting Requa, daughter of Dr. William C. and Sarah Ann (Nutting) Requa, in 1874. Marie died February 8, 1875 and was buried in Missouri. Andrew and Abby stayed only a few years in Missouri, then moved back to Mitchell County, Iowa.

On August 5, 1877 Andrew and Abby's son, Willie, died. Andrew's son, Nelson, passed away October 28, 1878, and his daughter, Adelaide, died February 13, 1881 in Missouri. On April 15, 1881 Andrew and Abby's daughter Mary, died.

On October 12, 1884 Andrew passed away. He is buried along with most of his children at Woodbury Cemetery near Lyle, Minnesota.

After Andrew's death, Abby went to Missouri where she made her home between her step-daughter, Laura and her son, Charles. Abby died November 24, 1894. She is buried in Elliott Cemetery near Butler, Missouri.

By Joan (Wilder) Braun

From MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, 1989.

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Below is a photo of Andrew and his second wife, Abby (Wilbur) Wilder.

Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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