By Spessard Stone
Edward G. Wilder, a pioneer settler of Socrum, Florida, was a Confederate soldier, farmer, fruit grower, and stockman.
Edward Gross Wilder was born February 17, 1847, Lowndes County, Georgia. He was listed with his parents, William Wilder, 43, and Sarah Wilder, 34, in household # 493 of the 1850 census of Lowndes County, Georgia. Enumerated with him were his siblings: Hopkins, 13; John W., 11; Jane M., 9; Bathsheba, 8; Andrew J., 6; Sarah E., 9 months; all were born in Georgia. In neighboring household # 494 was Elizabeth Wilder, 77. The Hopkins Wilder family was in household # 498. In 1851, the family moved to Hernando County, Florida and thence by 1855 to Hillsborough County where on June 25, 1855 William Wilder registered his mark & brand: swallowfork & poplar leaf in one, crop split & upper bit in other.During the Civil War, Edward G. Wilder enlisted March 1, 1863 at Tampa in Capt. John T. Lesley's Company, Munnerlyn's Battalion, CSA. He served as 4th sergeant and was with his company at Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida at the close of the war where he was paroled in May 1865.
In Polk County on August 10, 1865, he married Cornelia Alice Hendry, born August 10, 1849, Thomas County, Georgia, daughter of James Edward Hendry and Lydia (Carlton) Hendry. Rev. J. M. Hayman officiated. The Wilders first lived at Welcome near the Alafia River and later moved to Branchborough and then to Socrum in Polk County. The 1870 census of Polk County, post office Bartow, July 4, 1870, enumerated Edward G. Wilder, a farmer with a $500 personal estate, wife Cornelia, and their children, Ruby E. and Pauline, in household # 3/3. The 1880 census of Polk County, dated July 9, recorded the family on page 14 in household 123/123. Living with them was Sarah Wilder, Edward's 63-year-old mother. Edward "Dose" Wilder was a farmer, fruit grower, and stockman.The family were members of the Bethel Baptist Church at Socrum. Edward had been baptized by Rev. J. M. Hayman at Thonotosassa on March 20, 1864. Cornelia had been baptized by Rev. J. M. Hayman on October 2, 1864 at Bartow.
On July 27, 1907, Edward G. Wilder applied for a pension from his service in Capt. John T. Leslie's Company. (The surname was spelled various ways, but Lesley became the final.) He gave Socrum, Polk County, Fla. as his address. On July 29, 1907, J. W. Bryant and John Lanier Sr., both of Polk County, gave a joint affidavit that they had served in Munnerlyn's Battalion and that E. G. Wilder was a member of the battalion. On August 5, 1907, Urban H. Hane, Adjutant of Camp 1543 of Lakeland of the United Confederate Veterans, appeared before A. B. Ferguson, Clerk of the Circuit Court, to certify that Edward was a member in good standing. On August 5, 1907, the Board of County Commissioners of Polk County recommended a pension should be granted. On February 8, 1908, his claim was approved by the state of Florida under pension certificate no. 6366, with pay from August 8, 1907 at the rate of $100 per annum.
Reapplying under the Act of 1909 on August 16, 1909, Edward G. Wilder appeared before Joel E. Carter, Justice of the Peace, and declared he'd served in the company of J. T. Lesley in the service of the Confederate States. He listed his postoffice address as Socrum, Polk County, and property: real estate located at Socrum, Fla. 40 acres & improvements $1,000, and [?] in Lakeland $1,000; one horse & 10 cattle [no value given]; mortgage, notes and other securities, $1,000. Oliver P. Foster and William G. Platt attested to his application. As pensioner # 5242, his pension was approved February 15, 1910, with pay from July 1, 1909 at the rate of $100 per annum.
Edward G. Wilder died March 24, 1912, Polk County, Florida, with burial in Bethel Cemetery, Lakeland, Florida.
On April 15, 1912, Cornelia A. Wilder applied for a widow's pension as the widow of E. G. Wilder, who served in Capt. Lesley's Company. Interestingly she stated that she had "continuously resided in the State of Florida since the 10 day of August 1849." (Other sources cite 1851 for the family’s move to Florida.) Cornelia listed her property to consist of: real estate, located at Socrum, Fla. $454.00, and $275.00 [separate listing]; 10 head cattle, $200.00; one horse [no value given]; total $929.00. H. L. Lanier and H. J. Hancock attested to her application before Joel E. Carter, Justice of the Peace. She gave her postoffice address as Socrum, Polk County. Her claim, application no. 18921, was approved May 31, 1912 with pay from March 24, 1912 at the rate of $120 per annum, pensioner no. 6228. This pension was increased to $150 per year on July 1, 1913 "a/o husband enlisted in Florida."
Cornelia Wilder died October 22, 1938, Lakeland, Florida. She is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Lakeland, Florida.
Issue of Cornelia (Hendry) and Edward G. Wilder:
1. Ruby Estelle Wilder, born June 16, 1866; married in Polk Co. March 14, 1886 Daniel Henry Sloan, son of Orvil and Sarah M. (Frier) Sloan.
2. Pauline Wilder, born Nov. 2, 1868; married on May 24, 1883 Shadrack "Shade" Hancock.
3. Lillie Wilder, born Jan. 12, 1871; married on Jan. 27, 1889 Emmanuel Bryant, son of J. W. Bryant.
4. Cornelia Josephine Wilder, born March 7, 1873; married Oct. 1, 1899 at Wauchula, Fla. Henry Louis Swatts, son of Henry H. and Martha Washington (Jordan) Swatts.
5. Eddie Wilder, born Feb. 20, 1875; married Feb. 23, 1893 Aaron E. Sloan, son of Orvil Sloan.
6. Flossie Wilder, born Feb. 15, 1879; married in 1898 Felix Whitlock of Gainesville, Fla.
7. Leslie Wilder, born May 21, 1880; married Mittie Griffin.
8. Benjamin Wilder, born Jan. 31, 1884; married Eva Haynes.
9. Joseph Wilder, born April 18, 1886; married Eugenia Walker.
10. Earle Gross Wilder, born Aug. 28, 1893; married Ina Fletcher.
References: CSA pension applications of the Wilders; miscel. censuses.
This profile is adapted from the author's Lineage of John Carlton, 1998.
February 10, 2001, October 18, 2001, Junr 21, 2004