John Albright Wildrick was born on November 17, 1838, in Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey. He was the fourth of six children born to Isaac Wildrick and Nancy Fisher Cummins. Isaac was an accomplished judge, sheriff, and politician, who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1853. John A. Wildrick was educated at "Blair Hall," a boarding and day school for students in high school, which is now known as Blair Academy. After completing his education, John worked as a clerk in the general merchandise store of Howell and Cummins in Newton, Sussex County, N.J. from 1857 to 1861.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, John Albright Wildrick responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops. He was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the Sussex Rifle Company by New Jersey's Governor Charles Smith Olden on May 1, 1861. However, after learning that his company would not immediately go to the front, Wildrick assisted in recruiting Company B of the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On May 27, 1861, 1st Lieutenant Wildrick enlisted for three years of service in the Union Army and was commissioned as the 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 2nd N.J. Infantry. On January 21, 1862, Wildrick was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company B.
During his service with the 2nd New Jersey Infantry, Wildrick fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Gaines' Mill, the Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm, the Battle of Glendale, the Battle of Malvern Hill, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of South Mountain, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On March 1, 1863, Wildrick received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was transferred to the 28th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Due to his "sound judgment and wise exercise of authority," Wildrick "soon made the regiment one of the most effective in the brigade to which it belonged."
He would fight with the 28th N.J. at the Battle of Chancellorsville but was captured by Confederate forces and confined in Libby Prison for 32 days. Wildrick was paroled and exchanged sometime in June 1863 and mustered out of federal service upon returning to New Jersey. For the rest of his life, Wildrick kept an artifact from his time in Libby Prison, which he prized very highly, a soiled sheet of writing paper containing the signatures of a large number of fellow Union Army officers who were also confined in Libby Prison.
Returning home after the war, John Albright Wildrick settled on his homestead at Prospect Hall, near Blairstown, N.J., and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He also worked as director of the First National Bank of Blairstown and was affiliated with Warren County's Masonic Lodge, #60 A.F. & A.M, in Belvidere.
Wildrick also took a keen interest in the success of the Democratic Party and was elected a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving in this capacity as a Democrat from 1903 to 1905. Wildrick was also elected to the office of Warren County Clerk, a position he held from 1890 to 1895. In 1916, he was one of the candidates for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in New Jersey. Although he missed the honor of voting in the Electoral College, Wildrick rejoiced after Woodrow Wilson's victory in the election. It seems that in his later years, Wildrick relocated to Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.
John Albright Wildrick died on March 19, 1918, at the age of 79 in Newark. He died unmarried and was buried in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Blairstown. Overall, his friends described him as "a delightful companion and a charming host, polished in manner and of exquisite courtesy. Truly a gentleman of the old school."
His obituary, published on March 14, 1918, in "The Monmouth Inquirer" read as follows: "-Col. John A. Wildrick Dies in Newark Home- Colonel John A. Wildrick, a soldier of the Union in the Civil War, and for three terms the representative of Warren County in the house of assembly, died early Saturday, March 9, 1918, at the home of his cousin, Mrs. George D. Swain, 69 Lincoln Park, Newark. He was in his 80th year. Colonel Wildrick is survived by a sister, Mrs. Carl Lentz of Newark, the last of six children. Four nephews are serving in the army. Funeral services were held Sunday night at the home of George R. Swain, 994 Broad street. Burial was Monday at the Marksboro (Warren County) Cemetery. Colonel Wildrick was born in Blairstown Nov. 17, 1838. His father was Isaac Wildrick, who was a member of Congress from New Jersey from 1849 to 1853, serving with John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster."
Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, John Albright Wildrick responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops. He was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the Sussex Rifle Company by New Jersey's Governor Charles Smith Olden on May 1, 1861. However, after learning that his company would not immediately go to the front, Wildrick assisted in recruiting Company B of the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On May 27, 1861, 1st Lieutenant Wildrick enlisted for three years of service in the Union Army and was commissioned as the 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 2nd N.J. Infantry. On January 21, 1862, Wildrick was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company B.
During his service with the 2nd New Jersey Infantry, Wildrick fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Gaines' Mill, the Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm, the Battle of Glendale, the Battle of Malvern Hill, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of South Mountain, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On March 1, 1863, Wildrick received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was transferred to the 28th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Due to his "sound judgment and wise exercise of authority," Wildrick "soon made the regiment one of the most effective in the brigade to which it belonged."
He would fight with the 28th N.J. at the Battle of Chancellorsville but was captured by Confederate forces and confined in Libby Prison for 32 days. Wildrick was paroled and exchanged sometime in June 1863 and mustered out of federal service upon returning to New Jersey. For the rest of his life, Wildrick kept an artifact from his time in Libby Prison, which he prized very highly, a soiled sheet of writing paper containing the signatures of a large number of fellow Union Army officers who were also confined in Libby Prison.
Returning home after the war, John Albright Wildrick settled on his homestead at Prospect Hall, near Blairstown, N.J., and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He also worked as director of the First National Bank of Blairstown and was affiliated with Warren County's Masonic Lodge, #60 A.F. & A.M, in Belvidere.
Wildrick also took a keen interest in the success of the Democratic Party and was elected a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving in this capacity as a Democrat from 1903 to 1905. Wildrick was also elected to the office of Warren County Clerk, a position he held from 1890 to 1895. In 1916, he was one of the candidates for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in New Jersey. Although he missed the honor of voting in the Electoral College, Wildrick rejoiced after Woodrow Wilson's victory in the election. It seems that in his later years, Wildrick relocated to Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.
John Albright Wildrick died on March 19, 1918, at the age of 79 in Newark. He died unmarried and was buried in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Blairstown. Overall, his friends described him as "a delightful companion and a charming host, polished in manner and of exquisite courtesy. Truly a gentleman of the old school."
His obituary, published on March 14, 1918, in "The Monmouth Inquirer" read as follows: "-Col. John A. Wildrick Dies in Newark Home- Colonel John A. Wildrick, a soldier of the Union in the Civil War, and for three terms the representative of Warren County in the house of assembly, died early Saturday, March 9, 1918, at the home of his cousin, Mrs. George D. Swain, 69 Lincoln Park, Newark. He was in his 80th year. Colonel Wildrick is survived by a sister, Mrs. Carl Lentz of Newark, the last of six children. Four nephews are serving in the army. Funeral services were held Sunday night at the home of George R. Swain, 994 Broad street. Burial was Monday at the Marksboro (Warren County) Cemetery. Colonel Wildrick was born in Blairstown Nov. 17, 1838. His father was Isaac Wildrick, who was a member of Congress from New Jersey from 1849 to 1853, serving with John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster."
John Albright Wildrick was born on November 17, 1838, in Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey. He was the fourth of six children born to Isaac Wildrick and Nancy Fisher Cummins. Isaac was an accomplished judge, sheriff, and politician, who represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1853. John A. Wildrick was educated at "Blair Hall," a boarding and day school for students in high school, which is now known as Blair Academy. After completing his education, John worked as a clerk in the general merchandise store of Howell and Cummins in Newton, Sussex County, N.J. from 1857 to 1861.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, John Albright Wildrick responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops. He was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the Sussex Rifle Company by New Jersey's Governor Charles Smith Olden on May 1, 1861. However, after learning that his company would not immediately go to the front, Wildrick assisted in recruiting Company B of the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On May 27, 1861, 1st Lieutenant Wildrick enlisted for three years of service in the Union Army and was commissioned as the 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 2nd N.J. Infantry. On January 21, 1862, Wildrick was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company B.
During his service with the 2nd New Jersey Infantry, Wildrick fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Gaines' Mill, the Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm, the Battle of Glendale, the Battle of Malvern Hill, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of South Mountain, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On March 1, 1863, Wildrick received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was transferred to the 28th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Due to his "sound judgment and wise exercise of authority," Wildrick "soon made the regiment one of the most effective in the brigade to which it belonged."
He would fight with the 28th N.J. at the Battle of Chancellorsville but was captured by Confederate forces and confined in Libby Prison for 32 days. Wildrick was paroled and exchanged sometime in June 1863 and mustered out of federal service upon returning to New Jersey. For the rest of his life, Wildrick kept an artifact from his time in Libby Prison, which he prized very highly, a soiled sheet of writing paper containing the signatures of a large number of fellow Union Army officers who were also confined in Libby Prison.
Returning home after the war, John Albright Wildrick settled on his homestead at Prospect Hall, near Blairstown, N.J., and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He also worked as director of the First National Bank of Blairstown and was affiliated with Warren County's Masonic Lodge, #60 A.F. & A.M, in Belvidere.
Wildrick also took a keen interest in the success of the Democratic Party and was elected a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving in this capacity as a Democrat from 1903 to 1905. Wildrick was also elected to the office of Warren County Clerk, a position he held from 1890 to 1895. In 1916, he was one of the candidates for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in New Jersey. Although he missed the honor of voting in the Electoral College, Wildrick rejoiced after Woodrow Wilson's victory in the election. It seems that in his later years, Wildrick relocated to Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.
John Albright Wildrick died on March 19, 1918, at the age of 79 in Newark. He died unmarried and was buried in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Blairstown. Overall, his friends described him as "a delightful companion and a charming host, polished in manner and of exquisite courtesy. Truly a gentleman of the old school."
His obituary, published on March 14, 1918, in "The Monmouth Inquirer" read as follows: "-Col. John A. Wildrick Dies in Newark Home- Colonel John A. Wildrick, a soldier of the Union in the Civil War, and for three terms the representative of Warren County in the house of assembly, died early Saturday, March 9, 1918, at the home of his cousin, Mrs. George D. Swain, 69 Lincoln Park, Newark. He was in his 80th year. Colonel Wildrick is survived by a sister, Mrs. Carl Lentz of Newark, the last of six children. Four nephews are serving in the army. Funeral services were held Sunday night at the home of George R. Swain, 994 Broad street. Burial was Monday at the Marksboro (Warren County) Cemetery. Colonel Wildrick was born in Blairstown Nov. 17, 1838. His father was Isaac Wildrick, who was a member of Congress from New Jersey from 1849 to 1853, serving with John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster."
Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, John Albright Wildrick responded to President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops. He was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the Sussex Rifle Company by New Jersey's Governor Charles Smith Olden on May 1, 1861. However, after learning that his company would not immediately go to the front, Wildrick assisted in recruiting Company B of the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On May 27, 1861, 1st Lieutenant Wildrick enlisted for three years of service in the Union Army and was commissioned as the 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 2nd N.J. Infantry. On January 21, 1862, Wildrick was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company B.
During his service with the 2nd New Jersey Infantry, Wildrick fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, the Battle of Gaines' Mill, the Battle of Garnett's & Golding's Farm, the Battle of Glendale, the Battle of Malvern Hill, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of South Mountain, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Fredericksburg.
On March 1, 1863, Wildrick received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was transferred to the 28th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Due to his "sound judgment and wise exercise of authority," Wildrick "soon made the regiment one of the most effective in the brigade to which it belonged."
He would fight with the 28th N.J. at the Battle of Chancellorsville but was captured by Confederate forces and confined in Libby Prison for 32 days. Wildrick was paroled and exchanged sometime in June 1863 and mustered out of federal service upon returning to New Jersey. For the rest of his life, Wildrick kept an artifact from his time in Libby Prison, which he prized very highly, a soiled sheet of writing paper containing the signatures of a large number of fellow Union Army officers who were also confined in Libby Prison.
Returning home after the war, John Albright Wildrick settled on his homestead at Prospect Hall, near Blairstown, N.J., and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He also worked as director of the First National Bank of Blairstown and was affiliated with Warren County's Masonic Lodge, #60 A.F. & A.M, in Belvidere.
Wildrick also took a keen interest in the success of the Democratic Party and was elected a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature, serving in this capacity as a Democrat from 1903 to 1905. Wildrick was also elected to the office of Warren County Clerk, a position he held from 1890 to 1895. In 1916, he was one of the candidates for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket in New Jersey. Although he missed the honor of voting in the Electoral College, Wildrick rejoiced after Woodrow Wilson's victory in the election. It seems that in his later years, Wildrick relocated to Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.
John Albright Wildrick died on March 19, 1918, at the age of 79 in Newark. He died unmarried and was buried in Marksboro Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Blairstown. Overall, his friends described him as "a delightful companion and a charming host, polished in manner and of exquisite courtesy. Truly a gentleman of the old school."
His obituary, published on March 14, 1918, in "The Monmouth Inquirer" read as follows: "-Col. John A. Wildrick Dies in Newark Home- Colonel John A. Wildrick, a soldier of the Union in the Civil War, and for three terms the representative of Warren County in the house of assembly, died early Saturday, March 9, 1918, at the home of his cousin, Mrs. George D. Swain, 69 Lincoln Park, Newark. He was in his 80th year. Colonel Wildrick is survived by a sister, Mrs. Carl Lentz of Newark, the last of six children. Four nephews are serving in the army. Funeral services were held Sunday night at the home of George R. Swain, 994 Broad street. Burial was Monday at the Marksboro (Warren County) Cemetery. Colonel Wildrick was born in Blairstown Nov. 17, 1838. His father was Isaac Wildrick, who was a member of Congress from New Jersey from 1849 to 1853, serving with John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster."
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