Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/134

 36 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY The Red Wing party who went down to Spirit Lake to bury the dead, etc, as already mentioned, found the remains of Granger by the side of the cabin he occupied in common with Snyder and Harriett. Granger had first been shot, and then his head cut off from above the mouth and cars with a broadaxe. The remains of Harriett and Snyder were found about forty rods distant, with several bullet holes through their bodies. The presumption was they had started out to defend one of the other cabins and that they were shot and killed where their bodies were found. Aside from the scare, which was general up and down the state, the people of Goodhue county did not suffer during the outbreak of 1862, although a number of men from the county participated in General Sibley's expedition against the murderers. Judge Eli T. Wilder, whose name will always stand for that which was sturdy and good in pioneer life, was born in Hart- land. Conn.. November 27, 1813. There he spent his early boy- hood, and attended the district schools. In 1837, at the age of nineteen, he moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, later going to Paynes- ville. in the same state, where he commenced the practice of law. In the early fifties he was elected judge of the court of common pleas of that district, a position he filled faithfully and honor- ably. In 1855 he started a real estate office in Dubuque, Iowa, with offices in several adjoining A'illages and town. It was in 1856 that he took up his home in Red Wing. Arriving here, he continued the land business and again took up the prac- tice of laAv. In this profession he associated himself with Judge AY. A. Williston, the firm name being Wilder and Williston. He was one of the first members of Christ church, of Red Wing, presented that church with a beautiful altar, and devoted the latter years of his life largely to church work. He was one of the first wardens and continued in that position until the time of his death. At one time Judge Wilder was persuaded to run for congress on the Democratic ticket, to which party he paid his political allegiance. He died at his home here, June 3, 1904. Judge Wilder was first married to Julia W. AVakefield, of Con- necticut, who died in 1866. In 1868, at Waterloo, X. Y., he was married to Larissa Kendig, who survived him. At. the time of his death it was said of him: "Judge Wilder was an ideal citi- zen, honest and upright in all his dealings, and always taking a deep interest in the welfare and progress of the city.''