Wilding, David

WILDING

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/21/2019 at 16:40:33

David Wilding

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, P.639)
DAVID WILDING, M.D., Crescent City, was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, November 24, 1804, a son of Henry and Jane (BAMBER) WILDING, also natives of the Albion Isle, who had eleven children and remained in the land of their nativity to the end of their days.

Dr. WILDING, the ninth in the above family, was reared in mercantile business, which was that of his father, but engaged also in other pursuits to some extent. At the age of 23 yars, he entered business for himself. He became a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints in 1833, and is still loyal to the creed, being an Elder ever since the year 1837. In 1841 he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, and came direct to Nauvoo, joining the colony established there by the celebrated Joseph SMITH, and he assisted in erecting the temple at that place, beginning with the foundation and building one corner as high as the stone work; and he also aided in building the Nauvoo House from its foundation. When the Mormons left Nauvoo in 1847, he came with them as far as Pottawattamie County, landing opposite Florence, Nebraska, and soon afterward located where he has ever since resided excepting the one year he was in Utah. The first engagement he made here was that of clerk in a store in Council Bluffs, where he remained until late in 1853. He owned a farm in Boomer Township, where he broke and cultivated 50 acres. He afterward sold this and purchased a section in Hazel Dell Township, made many valuable improvements upon it, and held it for a number of years. In 1870 he disposed of this also.

He commenced the practice of midwifery when a young man and has won for himself a wide reputation for skill, conducting successfully some remarkable cases where other physicians had failed; and he has never used an instrument. At the age of 24 years, his back was broken in two places by a bale of cotton falling from a cart-load, and his back was injured in another place about 20 years ago by a horse falling with him. He has also suffered other serious accidents. He is an active worker in the cause of Christianity and morality. Two of his sons served in the late war, in Company A, 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. James continued in the army until the War ended, but Herbert was discharged on account of ill health. The father and sons are all solid Republicans. The Doctor was Postmaster for ten years, giving satisfaction to the community.

He was married in 1828 to Alice, daughter of George and Elizabeth ADKINSON, born April 8, 1810, and died August 9, 1876, leaving eleven children of whom the following is a record: George, born November 9, 1829; Elizabeth A., May 28, 1832; James, July 3, 1835; Heber, April 30, 1838; David, July 16, 1840; Joe, April 12, 1843; Jennett, September 8, 1845; Henry and Alice, twins, July 1, 1848; Thomas, March 18, 1851, and Sarah, July 14, 1853.