A.J. Wilder Well Known Resident Dies Suddenly
Almanzo J. Wilder. 92, a pioneer resident of Mansfield and one of its best known residents, died at his home, Rocky Ridge farm, Sunday morning following an illness of several weeks, with only his wife, Laura Ingalls Wilder, with him at the time. Although Mr. Wilder had been seriously ill he was thought to be in an improved condition when death took him after he suffered a sudden heart attack.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilder have resided since 1894 at their farm just east of the city on Highway 60.
A son of James and Angeline Day Wilder, he was born in Malone, N.Y., on February 13, 1857, and with a brother went to South Dakota in 1879.
Mr. Wilder and Laura Ingalls Wilder, who has received acclaim as a writer of children’s books, a native of Wisconsin, who moved with her family to South Dakota, were married on August 25, 1885, in De Smet, S.D. Nine years later they came to Missouri settling in Mansfield. They have on [sic] daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, like her mother a well known writer, who now makes her home in Danbury, Conn.
Mr. Wilder once save [sic] his snowbound town from starving by driving 40 miles through a blizzard for wheat. He is the hero of his wife’s famous series of pioneer juveniles.
Mr. Wilder was a member of the Mansfield Blue Lodge of the Masons, and in earlier years was active in civic affairs of the community.
Funeral services are to be held tomorrow (Friday) at 2 p.m. at the Mansfield Methodist Church with Rev. Carleton Knight officiating.
Burial will be in the Mansfield cemetery under the direction of the Steffe Funeral Home.
Rose Wilder Lane arrived in Springfield Wednesday night and was met by Mr. and Mrs. George B. Freeman, who brought her to Mansfield.
[I believe this was published in the Mansfield Mirror]
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