John Crowninshield Wilder
1827-1896
The ancestors of John Crowninshield Wilder came to the Massachusetts Bay in 1638. Each generation found the family a little further west. The first child of Elias Wilder and Teresa Turzah, John was born in New York State Sept. 13, 1827. John married Hannah Hanes of Van Buren Co., Iowa, July 28, 1851 at the home of her parents David and Hannah Gorrill Hanes. John came first to California around the Horn about 1852 or 1853. He returned to his wife and two children in Missouri. He was mustered into the Union Army April 6, 1862 at Fairmont, Missouri with the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry and was honorably discharged April 4, 1865 at St. Louis, Missouri as a private. In 1870 he brought his family west by train. John left Dixon, Calif, where his father and mother had settled and came to Paskenta, Tehema County and then on to Ono, Calif. He worked first as a carpenter and then as a blacksmith. He owned his own blacksmith shop in Ono. Hannah died Sept. 11, 1879 and John Feb. 5, 1896.

To this marriage six children were born.

Lydia b. July 9,1852
John David b. Dec. 22, 1853
James Elias b. Nov. 18, 1857
Lora b. Mar. 2, 1866
William b. Aug. 30, 1867
Francis Marion b. April 13, 1869

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Francis Marion Alvador Wilder

Francis Marion Alvador Wilder was born at Woodwards Mill, MO, April 13, 1869. He came to California in 1870 with his parents. He married Susan Louisa Robinson in Ono, CA, April 26, 1897. Susan Louisa Robinson was the third child born to Frederick and Mary Frances Jordan Robinson on July 28, 1873 in Paskenta, Tehema County Ca. Frederick & Mary Frances Jordan Robinson moved to Paskenta in 1878 from the Chico area and finally to a farm near Ono.

Frank owned a cattle ranch for a while and then sold it to William Menzel.
He then became the manager of Menzel's stock ranch and worked in that capacity till his death Nov. 11, 1924. Frank was a Past Master of Clinton Lodge A. F. & A. M. #119, Igo, CA. His daughter was told by one of the California Grand Officers of the Masonic Order that as of that time, her father had the record of having been Master of his lodge more times than any other man in the State. He was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

To this marriage were born two daughters:

Delia Ione Wilder b. August 28, 1894 d. Dec. 4, 1963
Mona May Wilder b. March 25, 1899
In 1921 Frank bought a house at the corner of Butte and Magnolia Streets, Redding, CA, where Susan died June 28, 1938. The house is still occupied by daughter Mona. Both daughters were school teachers in Shasta County and especially in Redding until their retirement.

Source: Shasta Co. Historical Society

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