Mary Edith Wilder was born in Ono, California on August 1, 1894… the fourth of six children born to William Sherman Alvaro and Harriet Wilder—they were Lora Irene, Grace Evangeline, Edgar Francis, Oscar Lee and Veva Eliza.
Her family was a Christian pioneering family, coming to California about the time it became a state. Her father was a blacksmith and inventor… inventing the first railroad tie replacer—and her mother, who was quite learned, stayed at home and taught her children the skills of daily living, until her death in 1899.
She had a passion for cooking, plays, poetry, writing and the great outdoors… and resisted the philosophies of others—as she was determined to experience life for herself and in her own way. She went to schools in Anderson and graduated high school in 1916… with her classmates writing that she is “Modest and wise—Full of tender sympathy.”
She married Harold Herbert Hays on May 5, 1918, who had just finished serving in the Navy during WWI. A few years after their marriage, they set out on their first adventure together. She wrote of that adventure in “Follow Me”—a tale of herding their scatter of sheep from Anderson to Hatchet Mountain and the Burney valley, grazing them along the way, and then returning home.
She raised six children almost single-handedly… and spent every moment she could with her 19 grandchildren—yet she still found time to cook, bake, keep house, crochet, knit and write her tales and stories. She taught us to make cookies and cream pies, breads, biscuits and sourdough pancakes, home-made ice cream and cakes and every other little delight that we requested. Of course, all were from “scratch”—nothing ever came from a “box.” She always made time for each of us, never tiring of our presence… telling us stories and patiently helping us find answers to our heartfelt questions.
Throughout her life she wrote of her experiences, her family and tales of the Indians, who she respected and loved, and who’s love and respect she had earned in return—the people of the Pit River Nation.
Her spirit left her frail body on December 21, 1975… shortly after her youngest son Ed passed away—she had already lost her husband Harold and her first son David, and believe that she just could not stand to bear another loss of her children.
She is loved and missed by all!!
Circa 1916
