Wilber Elliott Wilder


Wilber Elliott Wilder was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for rescuing a wounded soldier under heavy fire.

Education and army career

Wilber Elliott Wilder graduated from West Point in June, 1877, when he was just short of 21 years old. He married Violet Blair Martin, of the prominent Throop-Martin family of "Willowbrook" near Auburn, New York, on April 16, 1884. They had a son, Wilber, and a daughter, Violet. In 1886, he was a key figure in negotiating the surrender of the Apache chief Geronimo. While an Army Captain, he served as acting superintendent of Yellowstone National Park from March 15, 1899 - June 22, 1899. He also served in Spanish–American War, Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I. From 1913 to 1916, he was commander of Fort Myer. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving graduate of the Academy. He died in Governors Island, New York but was residing in Ridgefield, Connecticut at the time.
His daughter Sylvia was the first wife of British diplomat Sir Alvary Gascoigne.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Horseshoe Canyon, N. Mex., 23 April 1882. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Birth: Atlas, Mich. Date of issue: 17 August 1896.
Citation:
Assisted, under a heavy fire, to rescue a wounded comrade.