The History of Orange County New York

by Unknown

The son enlisted in the 44th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and served until the end of the war. During his absence, his parents moved to Brooklyn, N. Y., and on receiving his discharge from the service the son joined them there, where with the exception of about seven years, spent in the west engaged in mining operations, he lived until 1891, when he came to Warwick.

In 1875 he married Miss Lilian Macdonald. They have one child, Donald Wilder, born in 1888.

Mr. Wilder, in his early business experience, was engaged in New York in the foreign trade with South America and the West Indies, and later in railroad operations in Mexico and in the United States, and also in coal and timber lands in West Virginia.

In politics Mr. Wilder has always taken an active part. While a republican in his political convictions and affiliations, he has always been of an independent turn of mind. He was a candidate for state comptroller of New York on the Henry George ticket, and in 1904 for Congress on the Independence League ticket for the twentieth congressional district, being defeated by Colonel Thomas W. Bradley, of Walden.

He was the president of the McKinley Club of Warwick, and the Central Republican Club during the McKinley campaign. He was largely instrumental in electing a republican supervisor of the town, the first one in a generation. He is a member of the Reformed Church of Warwick.

SAMUEL WILKEN was born in Monahan, Ireland, February 4, 1844, and came to America with his mother and seven children, his father having died. They settled on Staten Island, and some of the family are still there. Samuel came to Chester, Orange County, May 11, 1866, and the next year married Anna S. Salisbury. Their children are Fred W., Albert E. and Melvin R. Mr. Wilken was a partner of Charles Christ sixteen years. When he disposed of his interest in the business he started a blacksmith shop, with a carriage repository and accessories. He has been a town officer several times, and is a member of Standard Lodge No. 711, of Chester, as are also his sons Fred and Albert, and Melvin R., the third son, is connected with the Standard Milling Company of New York.

JOSEPH M. WILKIN, who was elected special surrogate of Orange County in 1904 and re-elected in 1907, is a son of the late Joseph M. and Catherine (Copley) Wilkin. He was born in the town of Montgomery in 1878. After graduating from the Montgomery Academy he read law with his father for one year, and then entered the law office of Senator John C. R. Taylor, Middletown, N. Y., where he remained three years. He was admitted to the bar in 1899, and conducts his law office in Montgomery village. Detailed reference to his father appears in the chapter on the Bench and Bar in this history.

JONATHAN D. WILSON, JR., assistant district attorney of Orange County, is a son of ex-Mayor J. D. Wilson. He was born in Newburgh in 1875 and graduated from Columbia University with the degree of A.B., 1898. He attended the New York Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1900. Mr. Wilson has since practiced in Newburgh. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of the republican party and began the duties of his present office January, 1907. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and local social organizations, including the City Club. He married Miss Edith Van Buren, of this city

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WARD WINFIELD, editor and proprietor of the Walden Herald, was born in Montgomery in 1868 and educated at the Academy of his native place. He learned the printer's trade in the office of his father, Lester Winfield, who conducted the Montgomery Republican from 1864 to 1890. The paper then passed into the hands of Ward Winfield, who continued it until 1900, when he disposed of the plant and became manager of the Walden Herald for John F. Lousdale for a period of three years, purchasing the business January, 1904. He is a thorough newspaper man; his paper is widely read and exerts a wholesome influence in Walden and vicinity. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Knights of Pythias, the American Mechanics and the Patriotic Sons of America. During his residence in the village of Montgomery he served a term as town collector. He married Miss Catherine Condon, of Walden, and three children have been born to them. His son, Francis Lester, assists him in the publication of the Herald.