The Wilkinson Family of Madison County, Iowa

WILLIAM SIDNEY WILKINSON.

William Sidney Wilkinson was born in Pike county, Illinois, June 26, 1837. His father, lohn Wilkinson, was born in Ireland in 1803, and his mother, Clarissa Matthews, was born in North Carolina in 1806. The Wilkinson and Matthews families met near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, shortly after the War of 1812. In 182 both families removed to Pike county, Illinois, and in 1826 John Wilkinson and Clarissa Matthews were married. They remained there till 1846 when they came to Iowa and first stopped in Polk county, south of Des Moines. Early the next year they came to Madison county, and settled on a claim in section 10 in Scott township, where a family of ten children were raised to maturity. They continued to own and operate this farm till the death of Mr. Wilkinson, which occurred in 1869. The family consisted of ten children, all of whom were born in Illinois, except the two youngest. They were as follows: Alfred, Thomas, Margaret, David, W. S., John, Matilda, Daniel, A. W. and Samuel. Alfred died of the cholera in St. Louis. Thomas enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry; was severely wounded at the battle of Guntown; partially recovered from his'wounds after a term in a Confederate prison; returned home and after a time went west, where he died in 1876. Margaret became Mrs. Fleener and lived in Winterset for a number of years, but afterwards removed to Kansas, where she died a few years ago. David removed to Kansas City, where he still resides. lohn always lived in Madison county, and died a few years ago near Webster Center. Matilda is deceased. Daniel and Samuel reside in Kansas. A. W. is possibly one of the best known members of the family and resides in Winterset.

W. S. Wilkinson was about ten years old when he came to this county, just old enough to begin to show his natural traits of character and begin to help do the chores and lighter kind of farm work. As a boy he was industrious, quiet and studious, traits of character which distinguished him in after years. He was always observant of everything around him, talked little and read everything which came in his way. He first attended the rural school, but when he grew to maturity indulged his long cherished desire for more learning by attending the select schools of Winterset taught by J. S. Goshorn and H. W. Hardy. He then engaged in teaching school and was considered one of the best rural school teachers in the county.

In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company V of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. At the battle of Parkers Crossroads he was seriously wounded; he lay in the hospital at Corinth, Mississippi, for many weeks and at times his life was repaired of, but his physical vitality and will power finally triumphed and he so far recovered as to be about. An honorable discharge ottered him was refused, and after a while he was able to rejoin his regiment, where he remained till the close of the war. He took part in the Atlanta campaign, went with Sherman on the march to the sea, and made one of the number at the Grand Review in Washington at the close of the war. One of the best proofs of his courage and fidelity is the fact that all of his company and regimental comrades always speak of his bravery, in addition to his upright character and warmheartedness.

When he returned home from the war, like a large majority of his comrades, he had an ambition to engage in some useful occupation, and those farming as his life work. On February 20, 1873, he married Miss Mary Harris, an old schoolmate. He bought a small piece of ground near the paternal home and shortly afterwards traded this for a larger tract farther south. Two boys, Frank and Fred, came to gladden the home, but Frank died while still young. Mrs. Wilkinson died in 1882. He sold the farm the following year, and after residing in Winterset a short time bought of W. R. Mattox the beautiful suburban farm near Middle river, where he resided till the time of his death. He was married to Aliss Lena Schoenenberger in 1885. She died May 4, 1900. During the years between 1882 and 1885 and again from the time of his second wife's death until he himself passed away, he and his son Fred were always together and there can be no earthly relation more deserving of admiration than the love and fidelity which the father and son always manifested to one another.

During his last years Mr. Wilkinson was so afflicted with rheumatism that he was unable to do much manual labor, but these years were made enjoyable and profitable by indulging in study and meditation. Although often alone because of his affliction he was never lonesome; he was always keeping company with the men and things with which he had come in contact during his long and happy life, while he studied and wrote much. No other member of the historical society did as much as he to keep the society alive and store its rooms with interesting relics and valuable records. At nearly every annual meeting he prepared a paper on some salient feature of pioneer life. These papers were always prepared with great care and were listened to with unusual interest. These papers were all composed for the purpose of preserving the facts relating to the early history of the county. He always gladly entered upon this work whenever assigned to him by the officers of the society, and it is doubtful if there has been another during the life of the society as competent as he to perform this work or one who could have done it so thoroughly and conscientiously.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. W. WILKINSON.

A. W. Wilkinson, of Winterset, has not only gained a high position at the bar of the county as an able attorney but has also an enviable reputation as a judge, having served on the district bench for sixteen years. He was born in Scott township, this county, on the 22d of November, 184S. and an account of his parents is given in the sketch of S. Wilkinson, which appears on another page of this work.

Our subject was educated in the district schools and at Winterset Academy, taking what would now be termed a high-school course. He became a surveyor and civil engineer and for three years held the office of county surveyor. However, he decided that the law oifercd the most attractive field for his life's work and he accordingly prepared for the legal profession and was admitted to the bar in 1872. The year following he went to California and was employed as a civil engineer and teacher for about two years..On the ist of January, 1875, he returned to Winterset and opened a law office here. He was spared the dreary waiting for clients that is so often the lot of the young attorney and as he handled successfully the cases entrusted to him his practice grew steadily. In 18S2 his ability was recognized by election to the office of district attorney for the fifth judicial district of Iowa, which then, included Polk county. He served one term of four years and displayed such a thorough knowledge of the law that in the fall of 1886 he was elected district judge and was reelected a number of times, holding the office in all for sixteen years. He was an excellent jurist, maintaining the dignity of the court, expediting the course of the law liy wise rulings and, aljove all, maintaining an absolutely impartial attitude of mind. His decisions possessed the merits of lucidity, simpleness and purity of style and his ability commanded the respect of the profession and the general public alike. Following his service as judge he returned to the general practice of law and won additional laurels in that field.

Mr. Wilkinson married Miss Ellen R. Davis, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and whose parents became early settlers of Burlington. Iowa. They both

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Mr. Wilkinson is a republican and his advice carries weight in the local councils of his party. He has been a Mason for many years, holding membership in Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset; Lebanon Chapter, No. II, R. A. M., also of Winterset; in Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T., of Des Moines: and in Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, S. P. R. S. He is connected with the financial circles of Winterset as a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of this city. He has been honored with important positions of public trust and has at all times proved worthy of the confidence reposed in him and has so ordered his life that those who know him most intimately entertain for him the highest respect and warmest regard.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRED HARRIS WILKINSON.

Fred Harris \Vilkinson was born upon a farm in Scott township on the 22d of February, 1876, a son of W. S. and Mary (Harris) W'wilkinson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He passed the days of his boyhood and youth much as did other lads who were reared in Iowa when it was a frontier state. Much of his time was taken up in assisting with the work of improving and developing the homestead, but his education was not neglected and in the public schools he mastered the rudimentary branches of learning. After reaching years of manhood he continued to reside on the homestead and to cultivate the fields and care for the stock and he is still living on that farm, which is now in his possession. The land is naturally productive and its fertility has been conserved by the careful cultivation and rotation of crops, and as his methods are efficient he derives a good annual income from his agricultural labors.

In 1902 Mr. Wilkinson married Miss Mary Cridling, who was born in Worth county, Missouri, a daughter of John and Laura (Evans") Cridling, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have two daughters, Muriel and Bernice. The name of Wilkinson has been associated with the Vol. 14 development of Madison county since its earliest days and our subject is worthy of the heritage of honor left by his father and is in this day and generation manifesting the same spirit of progressiveness, scrupulous honesty and concern for the public welfare. He is independent in politics and usually votes for the man whom he thinks best qualified for office.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.