MAESHALL PIJSTOKNEY WILDER. 



[See Frontispiece.] 



On the morning of Thursday, December 16, 1886, the man of all others 

 whom the pomologists of America respected, admired and loved, passed 

 quietly away at his home in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He worked up to 

 the hour of his death, and was earnestly engaged in planning the next meet- 

 ing 'of his favorite organization, the American Pomological Society, during 

 the last few weeks of his life. 



Mr. Wilder was born at Rindge, New Hampshire, September 22, 1798. 

 His father, Samuel Locke Wilder, named for his uncle, the Rev. Samuel 

 Locke, D. D., president of Harvard College, was a merchant, and Marshall 

 was his eldest son. He attended the town schools, and then went to the 

 academy at New Ipswich for a brief period. When he became 16 years of 

 age Samuel Wilder, the father, called his son to him and told him to choose 

 between a college education, mercantile pursuits and a farmer's life. Young 

 Wilder at once chose to be a farmer, but at the age of 21 years, his father's 

 business having greatly increased in the meantime, he was admitted to the 

 firm. In 1825 he went to Boston, and, in company with Henry Payson, 

 commenced business as a retail dealer in West India goods and groceries, and 

 continued in successful business under various firm names until within a 

 few years of his death. 



Colonel Wilder at an early age took an interest in military affairs. At 16 

 he was enrolled in the New Hampshire militia, and at 21 he was commis- 

 sioned adjutant. He organized and equipped the Rindge Light Infantry, 

 and was chosen its captain. At 25 he was elected lieutenant-colonel, and at 

 26 was commissioned as colonel of the Twelfth Regiment. Soon after his 

 removal to Boston he joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. 

 In 1856 he was chosen commander of the corps, being the 155th in com- 

 mand. He had four times previously declined nominations. He entered 

 into correspondence with Prince Albert, commander of the Royal Artillery 



