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Austin Wiley Wilkinson (1925)

BUFFINGTON, DAVIS, MATTHEWS, PARKER, WILKINSON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 12/14/2010 at 13:55:45

The Winterset Madisonia
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, February 26, 1925
Page 1

JUDGE WILKINSON DIES SUDDENLY

Distinguished Jurist and Pioneer of Madison County Dies of Heart Attack

Judge A. W. Wilkinson, prominent in the public affairs of this county for more than a half century, died on Friday of last week after an illness of only a few hours.

He went to his law office early in the morning, as was his usual custom. After eating breakfast, he was taken ill with acute indigestion and died at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Judge Wilkinson was born in Madison county in 1848. In 1847, his parents, John Wilkinson and Clarissa Matthews Wilkinson, moved to Scott township, this county. After attending district school and the Winterset academy, he became a surveyor, and for four years was county surveyor. In 1872, he was admitted to the bar. Excepting two years in which he followed civil engineering in California, his life was spent in this community. He served for four years as district attorney of the old fifth judicial district and 16 years as judge of the district court under the present organization of the fifth district. After his services on the bench, he again took up the practice of law, in which he was actively engaged until the time of his death. He was prominent in Masonry, having taken all the degrees in Masonry, in both the Scottish and York rites of Masonry and a few years ago was honored with the 33rd degree in that order.

He had a wide acquaintance throughout the state, his long years of practice having won for him many warm friends among those prominent in the legal fraternity. Here at home he enjoyed the confidence and the warm friendship of the people of Madison county, and he will be greatly missed in the community where a long and active life was spent.

Funeral services were held here on Monday from the Tidrick funeral home, conducted by Rev. Wm. N. Wyckoff, of the east side Episcopal church of Des Moines, the Masonic order participating in the last rites of a dearly beloved brother.

Surviving members of the family are his wife, Helen Davis Wilkinson, three sons and two daughters.
________________________

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, Feb 26, 1925
Page 1, Column 3

JUDGE WILKINSON DIES SUDDENLY

TAKEN ILL IN OFFICE FRIDAY MORNING, DIES IN AFTERNOON, HEART FAILURE

Surveyor, Lawyer, District Attorney, Judge, A Busy Useful Life of 77 Years

Judge A. W. Wilkinson, lifelong citizen the Winterset and oldest member of the Winterset bar, died of heart failure at his home on Court Ave., Friday afternoon at 1:30 after an illness of a few hours.

Judge Wilkinson, as was his custom for many years, went to his law office early Friday morning before many business houses were open. Miss Cora Henry, his stenographer, arrived at the office at eight o’clock and found him on a couch in the library suffering from an attack of indigestion. She had once called his daughter, Miss Lina and also Dr. Davisson. Judge Wilkinson was taken home and fell into a deep sleep. At 1:20 Miss Lina who is a trained nurse, found him sleeping quietly and his pulse was strong. 10 minutes afterward she entered the room and found it passed away. The news of his sudden death startled the town and the County and was learned with profound sorrow and regret.

The Judge was probably the oldest native born citizen of Madison county. His parents came to Madison County in 1847 and he was born in Scott township in November 1848. He was one of a family of 10 children. The attended school and Winterset and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He spent a year or two in California and open an office and Winterset in 1875. He had a good practice from the start was elected district attorney in 1882. He was elected district judge in 1886 and served 16 years with great ability, declining renomination. Since that time he has practiced law continually with his son, Phil as a partner.

He was married to Helen R. Davis, who survives him. Five of their children are alive, Dr. Ralph Wilkinson of Cincinnati; Mrs. Maud Parker of Washington, D. C.; J. Neil of Des Moines; Miss Lina and Phil R., of Winterset, Mrs. Ruth Buffington, a daughter, died several years ago.

Judge Wilkinson was one of the ablest men in Iowa and was recognized as one of its best attorneys. He was a tireless worker up to the very day of his death. His last public address was made at a Rotary club dinner at which the city Firemen were guests, when he told of the burning of the Madison county court house in 1875. He was a Shriner and a 33rd degree Mason and was buried with Masonic honors.

The funeral at the Tidrick funeral home on Monday was one of the largest in Winterset for many years. It was attended by many friends from other towns.

Gravesite
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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