Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/790

 686 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Jane (Wilson) "Wilkenson, were respected residents of Beckside, Yorkshire, England, where their son was born, March 8, 1818. Amid the "flowering hedges and green lanes" of Old England, George received his education, and reached manhood. In 1840 he took to himself a wife, and started to raise a family of bonny children. The spirit of ambition was in his veins, however, and in 1851 he pulled up the roots of the family tree to transplant it again on American soil, where he and his were henceforth to make their home. The first location of the family was in Du- bucpie. la., 1852, then scarcely more Hum ;i frontier village. Two years later he moved to St. Paul, which at that time was also in comparative infancy. In both Dubuque and Si. Paul he worked tm a number of residences. In the spring of 1855 he came to Red "Wing, and secured the contract for the faithful performance of which he will ever live in local history, that of building the first hall of the now Large and influential Hamline University. In the fall of thai year he brought his family here. He opened the first lumber yard in 1 he city, and even thus early in pioneer days, while the log cabins of the original settlers were still standing, he established his business of contractor and architectural drafts- man. For several years he was engaged in erect ins some of the Large business blocks of the city, and later purchased 1,200 acres in the township of Featherstone, where he engaged in raising wheal. Still later he returned to Red Wins and became interest- ed in Hie retail shoe business, dividing his time between that en- terprise and looking after his various interests. lb- passed away March 21. 1896. and his wife. August 27. 1895, both at Red Wing. .Mr. Wilkenson was a Jeffersonian De ;ra1 until the Civil War, but at the outbreak of that conflict he cast his lot with the Re- publican party, with which he was identified for the remainder of his life. He was a charter member of the Episcopal Church in Ibis city, and his name was many limes mentioned at the celebra- tion of the Fiftieth anniversary of that church, held in November, 1908. He was a member of the Red Wing city council, and for years served on the school board, having always raised his voice in favor of every project which tended to the betterment of the civic or school system of the city and county. Seven children survived to bear the mantle of honor and integrity left them by their parents. Mary J. lives in the old homestead at Red Wing. John, who was interested in a retail business in Red Wing for a number of years, located at St. Paul and became a silent partner in the dry goods firm of Tibbs, Hatchings & Co. He died in 1907, leaving a widow and one son, James Humphrey. Thomas has won wide distinction as president of the Upper Mississippi River Association. He is married and has one son, his home being at Burlington, la. Joseph is married and lives in