Wilkinson, George

WILKINSON

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 1/21/2005 at 17:04:23

Fairfield Ledger
Sept. 12, 1883
Page 2 col. 4

GEORGE WILKINSON’S DEATH….with whom almost every resident of Fairfield for half a century past was well acquainted, died at his home in this city Saturday evening. He was born in Ohio, removed to Indiana early in life, and finally removed to Iowa with wife about 1844. Since that time, with the exception of his service in the army—he was a veterinary surgeon in an Iowa regiment—he has made this place his home. In the early settlement of Iowa, “Wilk,” as he was familiarly called, was one of the best known men in this part of the state. He was a teamster when all our goods came from Keokuk, and since always made his living in some business of that kind. He was a quick witted and shrewd man, who always had a ready answer for everybody, and many is the man of loftier pretensions he has put to flight, with his ready words. He was a great practical joker at an early day, and scarcely an old settler but can call to mind some of his pranks and sharp sayings. His remains were interred in this city Sunday. REV. S. T. BOYD delivered an impressive address at the house. Many of the old settlers accompanied his remains to the grave, six of them acting as pall bearers. The G A R post had charge of the ceremonies and buried their old comrade with the honors of war.