These are biographies I have donated.If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.  The Wilkinsons are part of Marjorie Rundall Campbell's family.

ANDREW WILKINSON. - While the population of Union county is well known for its push and enterprise, we desire to mention specifically the energetic and capable gentleman, whose name appears above and who is well known as a leading agriculturist and stockman, as well as one of the promotors of the fruit industry of the county, while his intrinsic worth and unblemished character render him highly esteemed and respected by all that have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

To Jacob and Matilda (Cox) Wilkinson, in Cedar county, Missouri, was born the subject of this sketch on December 26, 1941, and in his native place and in Nebraska he worked on the farm with his father. In the spring of 1863 he determined to explore the regions of the west, whence had come such wonderful tales of its wealth and beauty, and accordingly he went first to Colorado, starting from Richardson county, Nebraska, which was the home then of the parents. For two months in the Centennial State he worked for wages in the mines, and then in company with two others went hunting and trapping in the San Luis valley, where they had an enjoyable and interesting time. Returning from ths excursion to Denver, he then made ready and went to Montana, landing in Virginia City on August 24, 1864. He worked for wages for a time, and then took a government ranch at the mouth of Willow creek where he remained and operated it and mined until the fall of 1868; then came via Helena to Walla Walla. From that city he came with teams to the Grande Ronde valley and went to work for Mr. Ames on the latter's dairy farm, where he wrought for two years, losing only one week in that time. At the end of his service there he bought a quarter section adjoining the dairy and went to farming and raising stock in company with Nathan Swiger, which arrangement continued for three years, when we find Mr. Wilkinson working for Jackson Fickle, and in October, 1875, he bought his present place which is eight miles east from Union in High valley. Here he devotes his attention to raising stock and cultivating the soil, having about one hundred and twenty-five acres in grain, a fine meadow, and twelve acres in fruit, mostly prunes. He has erected a drier that has a capacity of about fourteen hundred pounds every twenty-four hours. Last year he dried eleven tons. He devotes his attention chiefly to raising cattle and handles the farm and the orchard as secondary considerations to utilize the time not occupied with his herds.

The marriage of Mr. Wilkinson and Miss Mary Virginia, daughter of Antwine and Zilda (Burke) Lamere, natives of Canada, was solemnized in October, 1876 and they have become the parents of the following children: Nora, wife of James Webb, farmer in High valley; Edward, Clara.

Mr. Wilkinson was born in Cedar county, Missouri, on February 23,1845, when he was taken by his parents to Peoria county, Illinois in 1848. The father settled on a farm and our subject spent his time in attending the common schools in the winter and in assisting his father about the farm in the summer. This routine continued until 1859, he then being fourteen years of age, when the family removed to Richardson county, Nebraska, and Merrits spent one more winter in school and then turned his attention to farming with his father. It was in 1864 that the rumors from the west caused our subject to fit out a conveyance with ox teams and undertake the dangerous trip across the plains. They were taking the old Platte river route, and made the journey without special interference from the savages, landing in Union county on October 9, of the same year. He settled on a homestead and began to raise the fruits of the soil, also paid some attention to stock. A little later, in company with his brothers, Thomas and John, he bought another quarter-section of land for raising hay, then the three brothers, Thomas, John and our subject, bought a half-section for stock pasture. Again, he and Thomas bought two hundred and fifty acres more, and in February last he purchased alone two hundred and seventy-four acres. He raises much stock and is one of the most progressive men of the county, being possessed of ability to handle successfully his large domain and to so order his business that prosperity is pleased to smile upon him.

Mr. Wilkinson was married in 1887 to Miss Mary J., daughter of William H. and Sarah A. (Shipley) Rundall, and the fruit of this union is one son, Leon. Mrs. Wilkinson was born in 1870, and is a native of Iowa, where her father belonged to the agricultural population. Mr. Wilkinson has his estate well improved with good buildings, a fine orchard of peaches, apples, and pears, and he attends to all in a skillful manner, and an air of thrift and comfort pervades his entire premises. Mr. Wilkinson is living at the present time two and one-half miles south, and seven miles east, of Lagrande. He has so demeaned himself since the early days of pioneer life, and during the long years in which he has domiciled within our county in such a commendable manner that he has the entire confidence of the people, and is approved for his sagacity, his ability and his uprightness.

THOMAS WILKINSON. - To those men who came to this section when the Indian roamed its valleys and hillsides and when the unbroken surface of nature had never known the husbandman's tooth, and here erected themselves homes and brought under cultivation the soil and produced those things needful for the comfort and sustenance of life, while they endured great hardships and underwent trials in their extreme efforts that were sore to endure, - to such, it is well that the present generations should pay the tribute of grateful remembrance and due appreciation of their worthy service. To such as one, the subject of this sketch, we do now grant a representation in the abiding chronicles of Union county, since he has faithfully wrought here and demonstrated his ability to achieve abundant success while his uprightness has ever been manifested to all.

Peoria county, Illinois, and January 24, 1837, are his native place and date of birth, his parents being Jacob and Matilda (Cox) Wilkinson. In 1841 the family removed to Cedar county, Missouri, remaining six years, then back to Peoria county, whence in 1859 they migrated to Nebraska and took land and began the work of improvement and raising stock. In 1863 they went to the mouth of the Platte and the following spring turned toward the Pacific coast with ox team and completed the journey in five months. Four brothers and the father took up land, the township lines only being run and they all settled down to producing the fruits of the soil and developing the county. They first made a trip to Walla Walla for flour. Our subject was soon industriously building a home on his government land and went to raising horses in company with his brother Merritt. They were attended with prosperity and continued uninterruptedly at the same business until 1891, when he bought his present place seven miles east from Union, in High Valley. It is the old homestead taken by the father when he came to the county and from there he passed to the shore of the other world on November 11, 1893, the mother going January 5, of the same year. Mr. Wilkinson has a good home and is one of the large property owners of the county having over one section of land. He farms two hundred and twenty-five acres to grain, about thirty to hay, two acres to orchard, and rents the balance. He also has one-half section on Elizabeth creek, which is used for pasture.

Mr. Wilkinson was married to Miss Lydia A., daughter of William Henry and Ann (Radley) Rundall, old pioneers of Union county, on November 27, 1879. They have become the parents of four children, Matilda Ann, Mary Etta, Jacob Henry, and Phillips Edgar. Mr. Wilkinson is highly respected by all and is one of the prominent citizens of the county.