George Wilding, 1844

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Tue, 13 Feb 2001

Surname: WILDING, HITCHCOCK, REHORST, WEST

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

GEORGE WILDING, an early settler, was born in England, the son of George Wilding, Sr. In 1844 the family, then consisting of the father and mother, and William, Martha and George, set out for the United States, and after a long and tedious voyage aboard a sailing vessel, landed and found their way to this state, where they purchased a partially improved a piece of land near Waukesha.

About 1867, or 1868, they moved to Clark County, and located in Section 17, Grant Township, where the father and mother spent the remainder of their days. George Wilding, Sr., became a prominent citizen, and served for some years as a justice of the peace. He helped to start the school in his district, and aided in the development of the community in various other ways.

He and his good wife helped to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the same section as their farm, though in England, the family had for generations been connected with the Episcopal Church. Upon arriving in this country George Wilding took up farming with the other members of the family.

In 1861 he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, and served in the Civil War three years and six months. Wounded and captured at the Battle of Chickamaugua, he lay in a Confederate prison for six weeks before being exchanged. At the close of the conflict he returned to the home farm.

He came to Clark County with the rest of the family, and secured a farm adjoining his parents' place. He and his father each put up log cabin, and started working their farms with the assistance of oxen, earning money in the interim by working in the woods. The nearest market was at Neillsville, and sometimes provisions had to be brought from an a greater distance.

George Wilding devoted the remainder of his life agriculture and died at the age of 48. He was a man highly respected in the community, and was especially popular in G. A. R. affairs.

By his marriage to Mary Rehorst, George Wilding had three children: William, deceased; Myron E. and George, Jr. By his marriage to Mariah Hitchcock he had two children: Jesse and Arthur. By his marriage to Minnie West, who still lives in Grant Township, he has one child-Martha.