DR. R. D. WILKIN
R. D. Wilkin, M. D., who came to Atlantic in 1875, is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, being born February 12, 1839, and is a son of Andrew and Marian (Henderson) Wilkin, natives of Pennsylvania also. He was a farmer, spending his early life in Pennsylvania, and afterward removed to Harrison county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkin were members of the United Presbyterian Church, and did much for its advancement and always took an active part in education. Dr. R. D. Wilkin was reared upon a farm and received an academic education at Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania. In 1859 he began reading medicine with an older brother in Harrisonville, Ohio. In 1861, he enlisted as private in company I, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and participated in the battles of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, Gettysburg and many skirmishes. During a service of three years he was promoted to the office of sergeant, and also spent about eleven months in the hospital at Washington City. After returning to Ohio, he pursued the study of medicine, and in 1866 removed to Pella, Warren county, Iowa. In 1869 he attended lectures at the Keokuk Medical College, from which place he graduated in the class of 1870. Returning to Pella, he began the practice of his profession, which he continued until coming to Atlantic in 1875. In the fall of 1876 he embarked in the drug business, which he continued until the spring of 1884, when he opened a crockery and china store, the only exclusive store of this kind in Atlantic. He was united in marriage in 1867, to Miss N. V. Watson, a daughter of Joshua P. Watson, of Harrisonville, Ohio. The doctor is a member of the Blue Lodge and chapter, and in politics is a Republican. In 1881 he was chairman of the county central committee, and at present is a member of the city council of Atlantic. The doctor is one of the enterprising citizens of Atlantic, and has taken an active interest in the development of the same.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 398-399.
