Frank W Wilkins

WILKINS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/11/2009 at 16:20:23

Frank W Wilkins who is engaged in the real estate business in Ogden, has for almost thirty years made his home in this town. H come from the land of the hills and heather, his birth having occurred in Scotland, on April 16, 1844. He crossed the Atlantic tot eh new world with his parents, Mr and Mrs James H Wilkins, and located in Little Falls, New Jersey, in 1849. There the father acce3pted a position as a bookkeeper, making his home in that place for some time. They then went to St Johns, New Brunswick, where the father engaged in teaching.
While the family were living in New Brunswick, Frank W Wilkins was apprenticed by his father to learn the ship carpenter’s trade at St Johns and followed that pursuit for six years. On the expiration of that period he went on board a ship, serving as carpenter for four years. He then went to Boston where he spent several years working at this trade. In March 1872, after the great Chicago fire, he went to that city and took a contract to erect a building on the corner of LaSalle and Water streets, where the Produce Exchange now stands. He was then foreman of carpenters on the McCormick Reaper foundry. When this was completed he came to Ogden, Iowa arriving in October 1874. Here he began work at the carpenter’s trade, being identified with the building interests of this place for twelve years. He worked on many of the best buildings put up in that time and was always able to command good wages, because of his expert workmanship. Believing that the real estate business would furnish a good field for successful labor he began in that line of business in 1886 in the employ of Mr Litchfield, who owned a large amount of landing Boone county. He has since that time engaged in real estate business entirely and has handled much valuable property., conducting many important real estate transfers. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the value of real estate in this portion of the state and his efforts have proved of benefit to those whom he serves and to himself.
Mr Wilkins was married in 1875, to Isabelle A Shepard, who was born in Boone county in 1859.She was a daughter of J M Shepard, a farmer ad one of the old settlers of Boone county. The home of Mr and Mrs Wilkins has been blessed with nine children but George the third in order of birth is deceased. The others are: James Charles, Arthur J, Frances Q, Agnes M, Carrie M Frank W, Fr, Fred L and Faye E.
Mr Wilkins exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measurer of Democracy, and for a numbe of years held the position of township trustee. He has also been a school director for several years. He belongs to the Episcopal church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both are widely and favorably known in the community and are estimable people enjoying in a high degree the warm regard of many friends.

1902 Boone County History Book