El
Dorado County
Biographies
CLIFTON H. WILDMAN
Clifton
H. Wildman, a well known mining and civil engineer, living in Placerville, was
born in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, on the 26th of December, 1874,
and is a son of Judge S. A. and Helen E. (Howe) Wildman. His father, who is still living, was common
pleas judge in Norwalk, and was later elected judge of the appellate court of
his state. His mother passed away in
1919. Clifton H. Wildman attended the
public and high schools of Norwalk and then entered the Case School of Applied
Sciences, at Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the degrees of
Bachelor of Science and Mining Engineer in 1899. In that year he came to Placerville,
California, and for about ten years devoted his attention to mining
engineering, in connection with some of the large mining companies of this
section of the valley. Since then he has
confined his attention largely to civil engineering, in which branch of his
profession he has done some notable work.
From 1912 to 1919 he served as county surveyor and since 1920 has filled
the position of city engineer. While
county surveyor he built the Kelsey grade, a fine piece of grading and road
building in the mountains of California.
All the street paving of Placerville since 1920 has been done under his
direction and this city is well paved.
However, Mr. Wildman’s best work and for which he is directly
responsible was in securing and building the filtration plant for Placerville,
thus providing this city with the pure water for which it is famous. In many other instances also he has shown
himself a master of his profession and he is highly regarded in engineering circles.
Mr.
Wildman was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Goodnow, who belongs to an old and
well known Ohio family, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Marian E., who graduated cum laude from the
University of California and is the wife of P. S. Grant, living in Berkeley,
this state; Mary K., who also graduated cum laude from the University of
California; Samuel, of Placerville; and Sylvia, who is in high school. There is also one grandchild. Politically Mr. Wildman is a Republican and
has shown a keen interest in local public affairs, having served one term as a
member of the school board. He belongs
to the Lions Club, is popular among his associates, and throughout the
community in which he lives he is greatly esteemed.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 17-18. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies