Solon Wilder, former manager of the Crowner House, and for 20 years president of the board of charities of the city, died at 6:30 Sunday night at his apartments, in The Winthrop, corner of State and Winthrop streets, aged 81 years. He had been in poor health due to old age for the past five years and his condition had become noticeably worse during the last week.
He was unusually active for a man of years and his mind was as keen as men many years his junior. He retained possession of all his faculties and carried out the functions of his office as president of the city board of charities with customary dispatch.
He was born in Rodman, Feb 14, 1838, son of the late Horace and Dulcina Howe Wilder, natives of Massachusetts. He spent his early life in Rodman and came to Watertown when a young man being employed in the Crowner House. The hotel was built in 1852 by John E. Crowner.
The hotel was purchased in 1867 by Mr. Wilder, his partner being Hermon Jackman. His brother, George H. Wilder, who died March 7, 1893, at the age of 59 years, was associated up to the time of his death in the business of hotel keeping since 1868, a year after the hotel was purchased by Solon Wilder.
They were most genial and accommodating of landlords, becoming famous throughout the north country for the qualities of host, and their house became know as a city home for farmers throughout northern New York. The Wilder Brothers became noted also as lovers of finely bred horses of which they raised valuable and speedy specimens.
Mr. Wilder retired from active business about 24 years ago, disposing of his interest in the Crowner House to William G. Noriham. It is said that the Wilder Brothers did more to make the hotel famous throughout all of the north country by liberal advertising and excellent management than any landlord since John D. Crowner with the exception of the recent proprietor Bailey E. Metcalf.
George Wilder had been a printer before he became a hotel keeper and believed in the efficacy of printer's ink, and for many years, every weekly throughout northern New York carried a card advertising the Crowner House, it always being understood that the editor would take his pay in board and lodging whenever he came to the city.
The fraternal feeling existing among the craft caused the country newspapermen to give the Crowner House liberal mention on possible occasion and the fame of the tavern was spread abroad. "Jack" Failing was clerk and George Louscher, was barkeeper for many years.
Mr. Wilder had not been actively engaged since disposing of his interest in the hotel. He had served continuously as president of the board of charities of the city and made it a point to attend the regular monthly meetings in spite of the severest storms of winter. On many occasions when traffic was tied up by storms President Wilder walked to the city hall and was often the only member of the board to put in an appearance.
He conducted the affairs of the board in a business like manner, auditing the bills carefully, and reviewing the statistics relating to the poor and comparing them with those of the preceding season.
He signed the city's warrants on the poor fund until the very last, refusing to permit any member of the board to act in his stead and while his hand sometimes trembled as he signed "Solon Wilder," making the warrant good, the city treasurer never had any difficulty in recognizing the signature.
He had been a member of the board of managers of the Henry Keep Home during the past 26 years and since the death of Allen C. Beach a year ago, he had acted as a president of the board. He was a member of the old Union Club, before the institution was reorganized and named the Black River Valley Club. He also was a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Damay Gibbs Wilder, whom he married over 40 years ago, he leaves two nieces, Mrs. W. E. Murray and Mrs. Dora Englehart, both of this city, a nephew, Herbert H. Wilder of Smithville, N.Y., and one grandniece, Miss Dorris F. Englehart of this city.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon from All Souls' Universalist church, of which he had long been a member. Rev. Dr. Harry Westbrook Reed, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Brookside cemetery.
Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, N.Y., Monday Afternoon, April 7, 1919
He was unusually active for a man of years and his mind was as keen as men many years his junior. He retained possession of all his faculties and carried out the functions of his office as president of the city board of charities with customary dispatch.
He was born in Rodman, Feb 14, 1838, son of the late Horace and Dulcina Howe Wilder, natives of Massachusetts. He spent his early life in Rodman and came to Watertown when a young man being employed in the Crowner House. The hotel was built in 1852 by John E. Crowner.
The hotel was purchased in 1867 by Mr. Wilder, his partner being Hermon Jackman. His brother, George H. Wilder, who died March 7, 1893, at the age of 59 years, was associated up to the time of his death in the business of hotel keeping since 1868, a year after the hotel was purchased by Solon Wilder.
They were most genial and accommodating of landlords, becoming famous throughout the north country for the qualities of host, and their house became know as a city home for farmers throughout northern New York. The Wilder Brothers became noted also as lovers of finely bred horses of which they raised valuable and speedy specimens.
Mr. Wilder retired from active business about 24 years ago, disposing of his interest in the Crowner House to William G. Noriham. It is said that the Wilder Brothers did more to make the hotel famous throughout all of the north country by liberal advertising and excellent management than any landlord since John D. Crowner with the exception of the recent proprietor Bailey E. Metcalf.
George Wilder had been a printer before he became a hotel keeper and believed in the efficacy of printer's ink, and for many years, every weekly throughout northern New York carried a card advertising the Crowner House, it always being understood that the editor would take his pay in board and lodging whenever he came to the city.
The fraternal feeling existing among the craft caused the country newspapermen to give the Crowner House liberal mention on possible occasion and the fame of the tavern was spread abroad. "Jack" Failing was clerk and George Louscher, was barkeeper for many years.
Mr. Wilder had not been actively engaged since disposing of his interest in the hotel. He had served continuously as president of the board of charities of the city and made it a point to attend the regular monthly meetings in spite of the severest storms of winter. On many occasions when traffic was tied up by storms President Wilder walked to the city hall and was often the only member of the board to put in an appearance.
He conducted the affairs of the board in a business like manner, auditing the bills carefully, and reviewing the statistics relating to the poor and comparing them with those of the preceding season.
He signed the city's warrants on the poor fund until the very last, refusing to permit any member of the board to act in his stead and while his hand sometimes trembled as he signed "Solon Wilder," making the warrant good, the city treasurer never had any difficulty in recognizing the signature.
He had been a member of the board of managers of the Henry Keep Home during the past 26 years and since the death of Allen C. Beach a year ago, he had acted as a president of the board. He was a member of the old Union Club, before the institution was reorganized and named the Black River Valley Club. He also was a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Damay Gibbs Wilder, whom he married over 40 years ago, he leaves two nieces, Mrs. W. E. Murray and Mrs. Dora Englehart, both of this city, a nephew, Herbert H. Wilder of Smithville, N.Y., and one grandniece, Miss Dorris F. Englehart of this city.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon from All Souls' Universalist church, of which he had long been a member. Rev. Dr. Harry Westbrook Reed, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Brookside cemetery.
Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, N.Y., Monday Afternoon, April 7, 1919
Solon Wilder, former manager of the Crowner House, and for 20 years president of the board of charities of the city, died at 6:30 Sunday night at his apartments, in The Winthrop, corner of State and Winthrop streets, aged 81 years. He had been in poor health due to old age for the past five years and his condition had become noticeably worse during the last week.
He was unusually active for a man of years and his mind was as keen as men many years his junior. He retained possession of all his faculties and carried out the functions of his office as president of the city board of charities with customary dispatch.
He was born in Rodman, Feb 14, 1838, son of the late Horace and Dulcina Howe Wilder, natives of Massachusetts. He spent his early life in Rodman and came to Watertown when a young man being employed in the Crowner House. The hotel was built in 1852 by John E. Crowner.
The hotel was purchased in 1867 by Mr. Wilder, his partner being Hermon Jackman. His brother, George H. Wilder, who died March 7, 1893, at the age of 59 years, was associated up to the time of his death in the business of hotel keeping since 1868, a year after the hotel was purchased by Solon Wilder.
They were most genial and accommodating of landlords, becoming famous throughout the north country for the qualities of host, and their house became know as a city home for farmers throughout northern New York. The Wilder Brothers became noted also as lovers of finely bred horses of which they raised valuable and speedy specimens.
Mr. Wilder retired from active business about 24 years ago, disposing of his interest in the Crowner House to William G. Noriham. It is said that the Wilder Brothers did more to make the hotel famous throughout all of the north country by liberal advertising and excellent management than any landlord since John D. Crowner with the exception of the recent proprietor Bailey E. Metcalf.
George Wilder had been a printer before he became a hotel keeper and believed in the efficacy of printer's ink, and for many years, every weekly throughout northern New York carried a card advertising the Crowner House, it always being understood that the editor would take his pay in board and lodging whenever he came to the city.
The fraternal feeling existing among the craft caused the country newspapermen to give the Crowner House liberal mention on possible occasion and the fame of the tavern was spread abroad. "Jack" Failing was clerk and George Louscher, was barkeeper for many years.
Mr. Wilder had not been actively engaged since disposing of his interest in the hotel. He had served continuously as president of the board of charities of the city and made it a point to attend the regular monthly meetings in spite of the severest storms of winter. On many occasions when traffic was tied up by storms President Wilder walked to the city hall and was often the only member of the board to put in an appearance.
He conducted the affairs of the board in a business like manner, auditing the bills carefully, and reviewing the statistics relating to the poor and comparing them with those of the preceding season.
He signed the city's warrants on the poor fund until the very last, refusing to permit any member of the board to act in his stead and while his hand sometimes trembled as he signed "Solon Wilder," making the warrant good, the city treasurer never had any difficulty in recognizing the signature.
He had been a member of the board of managers of the Henry Keep Home during the past 26 years and since the death of Allen C. Beach a year ago, he had acted as a president of the board. He was a member of the old Union Club, before the institution was reorganized and named the Black River Valley Club. He also was a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Damay Gibbs Wilder, whom he married over 40 years ago, he leaves two nieces, Mrs. W. E. Murray and Mrs. Dora Englehart, both of this city, a nephew, Herbert H. Wilder of Smithville, N.Y., and one grandniece, Miss Dorris F. Englehart of this city.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon from All Souls' Universalist church, of which he had long been a member. Rev. Dr. Harry Westbrook Reed, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Brookside cemetery.
Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, N.Y., Monday Afternoon, April 7, 1919
He was unusually active for a man of years and his mind was as keen as men many years his junior. He retained possession of all his faculties and carried out the functions of his office as president of the city board of charities with customary dispatch.
He was born in Rodman, Feb 14, 1838, son of the late Horace and Dulcina Howe Wilder, natives of Massachusetts. He spent his early life in Rodman and came to Watertown when a young man being employed in the Crowner House. The hotel was built in 1852 by John E. Crowner.
The hotel was purchased in 1867 by Mr. Wilder, his partner being Hermon Jackman. His brother, George H. Wilder, who died March 7, 1893, at the age of 59 years, was associated up to the time of his death in the business of hotel keeping since 1868, a year after the hotel was purchased by Solon Wilder.
They were most genial and accommodating of landlords, becoming famous throughout the north country for the qualities of host, and their house became know as a city home for farmers throughout northern New York. The Wilder Brothers became noted also as lovers of finely bred horses of which they raised valuable and speedy specimens.
Mr. Wilder retired from active business about 24 years ago, disposing of his interest in the Crowner House to William G. Noriham. It is said that the Wilder Brothers did more to make the hotel famous throughout all of the north country by liberal advertising and excellent management than any landlord since John D. Crowner with the exception of the recent proprietor Bailey E. Metcalf.
George Wilder had been a printer before he became a hotel keeper and believed in the efficacy of printer's ink, and for many years, every weekly throughout northern New York carried a card advertising the Crowner House, it always being understood that the editor would take his pay in board and lodging whenever he came to the city.
The fraternal feeling existing among the craft caused the country newspapermen to give the Crowner House liberal mention on possible occasion and the fame of the tavern was spread abroad. "Jack" Failing was clerk and George Louscher, was barkeeper for many years.
Mr. Wilder had not been actively engaged since disposing of his interest in the hotel. He had served continuously as president of the board of charities of the city and made it a point to attend the regular monthly meetings in spite of the severest storms of winter. On many occasions when traffic was tied up by storms President Wilder walked to the city hall and was often the only member of the board to put in an appearance.
He conducted the affairs of the board in a business like manner, auditing the bills carefully, and reviewing the statistics relating to the poor and comparing them with those of the preceding season.
He signed the city's warrants on the poor fund until the very last, refusing to permit any member of the board to act in his stead and while his hand sometimes trembled as he signed "Solon Wilder," making the warrant good, the city treasurer never had any difficulty in recognizing the signature.
He had been a member of the board of managers of the Henry Keep Home during the past 26 years and since the death of Allen C. Beach a year ago, he had acted as a president of the board. He was a member of the old Union Club, before the institution was reorganized and named the Black River Valley Club. He also was a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Damay Gibbs Wilder, whom he married over 40 years ago, he leaves two nieces, Mrs. W. E. Murray and Mrs. Dora Englehart, both of this city, a nephew, Herbert H. Wilder of Smithville, N.Y., and one grandniece, Miss Dorris F. Englehart of this city.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon from All Souls' Universalist church, of which he had long been a member. Rev. Dr. Harry Westbrook Reed, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Brookside cemetery.
Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, N.Y., Monday Afternoon, April 7, 1919
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Wilder memorials in:
Advertisement
