Site Navigation



Dr. William A. Wildman & Kate (Kendrick) Wildman
Picture donated to Jennings County Public Library
    This picture by Otto White is really special because it is posed like he is about to leave on a medical call. Kate is holding up his coat and his galoshes sit on the floor beneath the table, which holds his medical bag and his hat. Dr. Wildman was born in 1853 and Kate was born in 1861 they were married on April 24, 1880 and the picture would appear to have been taken near the time he became a Doctor, which would have been 1884. Seldom do we see a picture that tells such a story.

OBITUARY
March 16, 1922 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
    Dr. William Wildman was born in North Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, July 7, 1853 his father, Jacob Wildman moved to a farm in the southeast corner of Bigger Township, Jennings County and from that time until his death William A. Wildman was a constant resident of Bigger Township spending his whole life not far away from the neighborhood into which his father moved. Nearly all of the residents of community in which Dr. Wildman was raised were devoted to the church and were regular and faithful attendants. The religion of the neighborhood was effective in producing one of the best rural schools in Jennings County and in that rural school Dr. Wildman received early education. In school, at home and on the farm he received the training that was necessary to insure his success in life. He was interested in his work at school, especially in the study that gave him knowledge of the human body. In his work as a physician he was inspired with the same spirit of zeal that he had at school. After quitting the common school he prepared himself for teaching and taught several terms of school in which work he was very successful.
    In 1880 he married Kate Kendrick daughter of Dr. Nathan Kendrick. In 1884 Dr. Wildman graduated, from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio and soon after he became a practicing physician.
    Dr. Wildman was a good citizen. He was elected Township Trustee in 1884 in which office he served for four years. He was always interested in public affairs and look past in all contests in which questions affecting the public welfare were decided.
    The surviving members of his family are his wife, Edis Wildman now in Indianapolis; Dr. Otis Wildman, a surgeon in the U.S. Navy and his daughter, May, who was very helpful to him during the period of his helplessness.
    Dr. Wildman was not unmindful of those great organizations which for their object the salvation and the uplift of mankind. Very early in life he became a member of Graham Baptist Church, a relation which he sustained to that church until his death. He was also a member of Pleasant Valley Lodge I.O.O.F and a member of Graham Valley Lodge K. of P. both of which lodges are at San Jacinto. Also a member of the Jennings County Medical Society.
    During the years of his activity as a physician Dr. Wildman had a large practice and because of his faithful service he was endeared to the people. He never failed to respond to their calls for service and in doing so he endured many hardships. He traveled over bad roads in cold, stormy, weather and at all hours of the night. He was stricken with illness in June 1919 and since that time the people have realized that they have sustained a great loss. He died March 9th, 1922 and was buried in the cemetery at Graham Baptist Church, March 11th. Rev. Elin Hughes of Ripley County preached the funeral sermon.
OBITUARY
July 23, 1925 - Jennings County News
SAN JACINTO
    Died, Mrs. Kate Wildman, widow of late W. A. Wildman, at the M. E. hospital July 15, 1925, age 63 years 6 months. She leaves three children, Edis of Indianapolis, Otis of Norfolk, Va., and Mae and 3 grandchildren.
    Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Wildman of Wilmington, Ohio, Jake Wildman of Mooresville, Ind., Clyde Hare and wife of Bloomington, Ted King and family of Rushville.

You may use this material for your own personal research, however it may not be used for commercial publications without express written consent of the contributor, INGenWeb, and