Eli Almond Wilder was married to Julia Almeda Harkness in Mackean, Wisconsin.  They came with their four sons to Iowa in the late 1860's or early 1870's by train on the Illinois Central to "the end of the Road," which was Iowa Falls.  Here Eli procured a team and covered wagon and followed sparsely marked trails to Humboldt.  Here he and his oldest son, Alfonso who was about twenty years of age, opened and operated a General Mercantile Store in a two story stone building on the south side at the west end of Main Street.

A few years later he disposed of this business and moved to a farm near Rutland from whence he emigrated to California.  Ernest Adelbert, was the third son of E. A. Wilder and in his youth left the parental home and went to South Dakota.  There he opened the first general store in Running Water, South Dakota which was, at that time, a part of the Northwest Territory.  He he dealt a great deal with the Indians and learned to trade with them both orally and by the sign language.  He also became interested in shipping Mustang ponies to Rutland, Iowa for resale.

Rutland was a typical frontier small town. All of the buildings were erected of wood with board walks in front as the streets were extremely muddy at certain seasons of the year.  The Chicago and Northwestern Railway was built at this time (about 1880) and was a source of great interest, as the freight and passenger trains stopped here for water, and while this was being done the crew ate their meals at a small hotel operated by Mr. and Mrs. William Swiers.  The Swiers had two daughters, Ada and Eva, and it was at Swiers Hotel where Ernest Wilder boarded and became interested in the younger daughter.  Ada, the oldest daughter, married Fred McClure who was the station agent and the director of the town band.

It was at this time in the 80's that a famous baseball team was organized in the town of Humboldt on which my father played.  This team was known as "The Modocs,"  Some of the players besides Ernest were a younger brother, Latis Wilder, Charlie Ward, George Welch, George Shellenberger, Charles Simmons of Dakota City, two brothers Fred and Will Taft and others.  This ball team became famous throughout the state and because of their success were awarded a silver baseball and a rosewood bat which are now preserved in the Museum in the basement of the Humboldt Library together with the two balls with which they won their game.

In the Nineties Ernest and Eva moved to Humboldt so that their children could attend school there.

Ernest was a friend of Howard Sharp, the Humboldt County Treasurer, who at the termination of this term of office helped to organize the Safety Savings Bank, which opened in the Prouty building which is now occupied by the Jaqua Printing Co.  Ernest was one of the Directors and President of its Board.  Several years later this Bank decided to reorganize into the First National where Ernest held the same positions.

In the late nineties Mr. D. A. Ray offered his General Mercantile store for sale, because he had been appointed postmaster.  Ernest Wilder purchased his stock and building.  This building was built by B. H. Harkness on the corner just east of the Russell House and is now occupied by the Harold DeGroote Clothing and Shoe Co.  It is con-incidental that Ernest should own this building which his Uncle Byron Howard Harkness built for he was  the brother of his mother.  Later Ernest formed the company of E. A. Wilder and Sons -- Archie Elmer and Byron Howard.  It was thus operated for some time until Ernest decided to retire.  His son Archie became interested in insurance, while Byron took up mortuary science.