A. W. Wilkinson

As printed in 1915

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

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

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 History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.