Marshall Pinckney Wilder. 67 



without ever having failed to meet his business obligations. He passed 

 safely tlirough the commercial storms of 1837, 1847, 1857, and 1861. 



In connection with his business, he has been useful in several moneyed 

 institutions. He has been a director in the Hamilton Bank and the 

 National Insurance Company ever since their organization, or for more 

 than thirty years. For twenty years, he has been a director of the New- 

 England Life-insurance Company; and has also been chairman of the 

 Advisory Board of the London and Liverpool Insurance Company. 



Col. Wilder has held an intimate connection with military life, under a 

 conviction that the existence of military power is the surest safeguard of 

 civil authority. His last command was that of the Ancient and Honora- 

 ble Artillery Company, at its 219th anniversary. 



Col. Wilder was never specially fond of political life. Had he loved it 

 as well as he does horticulture, he might have occupied one of the highest 

 places in the gift of the nation. 



After his removal to his adopted State, he uniformly declined political 

 office until 1837, when he consented, at the solicitation of his neighbors, 

 to represent them in the Legislature of Massachusetts for one year. Ten 

 years from that date, he was again called to civil office, as a member of 

 the Governor's council. The next year, he was chosen a State senator 

 from the county of Norfolk; and, on the organization of the Senate, was 

 elected president of the body, — a place that he filled with eminent ability. 



The name of Col. Wilder was often mentioned, in 1852, as a suitable 

 candidate for the chief magistracy of the State, by members of the party 

 in power. His views in declining such a use of his name are expressed 

 by him in the following lines : " During the remainder of my days, I wish 

 to prosecute, without interruption, my commercial business; to enjoy, as 

 far as possible, the comforts of rural life and of domestic tranquillity; and 

 to devote such time as I may be able to command to agriculture, horticul- 

 ture, and kindred arts. These are far more congenial to my taste; and in 

 them I tmst I may be able to do more for the welfare of my fellow-citizens, 

 for the prosperity of my beloved country, and for the progress of society." * 



For a long course of years, Mr. Wilder has occupied conspicuous places 

 in societies that are devoted to the advancement of agriculture and horti- 

 culture. 



• Communication in Boston Daily Journal, Sept. 7, 1852. 



