JOHN F. WILKINSON
Few residents of Fayette county are as widely known and favorably regarded as John F. Wilkinson, proprietor of “Sunny Side Farm,” Scott township, and one of the most successful stock men of northeastern Iowa. His father, John Wilkinson, was born April 13, 1842, grew to maturity in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and came to Iowa a number of years ago, as the representative of a manufacturer of pumps and wind-mills, in connection with which business he also carried on farming. When a young man he married Adella Cowles, who bore him three children, the oldest of whom, George J., was born September, 1865, and died in the year 1903. Esther died at the age of one year, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of the family. George J. Wilkinson was a traveling salesman for some years and at one time run a meat market in Oelwein. He married Mary Badger, by whom he had two daughters, Lulu and Fern. John Wilkinson departed this life in February 1872, and his widow subsequently became the wife of Charles E. Wilkinson, of Smithfield township, to whom she bore three children. Alma, now Mrs. Arthur Loomis, Carl E., a farmer of Smithfield, township, and a son that died in infancy. Mrs. Wilkinson died in the month of September, 1902, leaving a husband and the two children mentioned alone, the farmer being a resident of Smithfield township and a most worthy citizen.
John F. Wilkinson is a native of Iowa, born in Fayette county on the 12th day of January 1871. He was reared amid the bracing airs and wholesome influences of the country, early became familiar with the varied labors of the farm, and in the public schools laid the foundation of an educational discipline, which, supplemented by practical knowledge obtained by mingling with his fellow men, has enabled him thus far to discharge the duties of a very active and successful business life. He remained with his parents until 1894, on March 8th of which year he was happily married to Jennie May Doughty, of Smithfield township, and immediately thereafter rented a farm and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture for himself.
After cultivating the soil as a renter for a period of six years, Mr. Wilkinson purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Scott township where he has since lived and prospered, making a rapid advancement in the meantime and bringing his place to a high state of tillage. His improvements, including residence, barn, outbuildings, fencing, etc., are up-to-date and in first-class condition and it is not too much to say that there is not a finer or more desirable home in the township than the one he owns and few farms in the county present as many evidences of prosperity. While successful as a tiller of the soil, Mr. Wilkinson is better known as a stock raiser, which branch of farming he has found much more satisfactory and remunerative than the raising of grain. He is an expert in all kinds of live stock, his thoroughbred Holstein cattle and Poland-China hogs being among the finest and most valuable in the northeastern part of the state, and he also gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of draft horses, for which there is always a wide demand at liberal prices. Like a number of other enterprising farmers, he is interested in dairying, keeping from fifteen to twenty excellent milkers, which add very materially to his income, and in the matter of poultry he is also abreast of the times, making a specialty of the Plymouth Rock breed which he markets every year in large numbers, to say nothing of their value as layers.
Mr. Wilkinson stands for modern improvements and advancements and endeavors to realize within himself his high ideal of progressive American citizenship. He manifests an abiding interest in all public enterprises, takes an active part in promoting measures having for their object the material, social and moral good of the community and is a firm supporter of law and order in all the terms imply. In politics, he votes with the Republican party and in religion holds to the Methodist Episcopal creed.
History of Fayette County, Iowa, 1910
Pages 1470 – 1472
Typed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Doris A. Smith
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