Wilber Elliott Wilder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilber Wilder
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Wilder in 1918 as commander of the 168th Infantry Brigade, 84th Division.
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| Born | August 18, 1857 Atlas, Michigan |
| Died | January 30, 1952 (aged 94) Governors Island, New York |
| Place of burial |
Fairlawn Cemetery, Ridgefield, Connecticut
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1877–1920 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | 4th Cavalry Regiment |
| Commands held | 5th Cavalry Regiment 84th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Indian Wars Spanish–American War Pancho Villa Expedition World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Wilber Elliott Wilder (August 18, 1857 – January 30, 1952) was a United States Army Brigadier General. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. This special award is given for acts of courage in battle. He earned it by saving a wounded soldier while under heavy enemy fire.
Early Life and Army Career
Wilber Elliott Wilder finished his studies at West Point, a famous military school, in 1877. He was almost 21 years old at the time.
In 1886, he played an important role in the surrender of Geronimo, a famous Apache leader. This was a big moment in the American Indian Wars. Later, as an Army Captain, he was in charge of Yellowstone National Park for a few months in 1899.
Wilder served in several important conflicts. These included the Spanish–American War, the Pancho Villa Expedition, and World War I. From 1913 to 1916, he was the commander of Fort Myer.
Family Life
Wilber Wilder married Violet Blair Martin in 1884. She came from a well-known family in New York. Violet's brother, Edward Sanford Martin, was a writer. Wilber and Violet had a son, also named Wilber, and a daughter, Violet.
After Violet's death, Wilder married two more times. He outlived all his wives. When he passed away, he was the oldest living graduate of West Point. He died in Governors Island, New York, but he was living in Ridgefield, Connecticut at the time.
His daughter Sylvia later married a British diplomat named Sir Alvary Gascoigne.
