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| CHARLES WILKINSON, farmer, sec. 25, Aetna Tp., was born June 28, 1833, in Harrison Co., Ohio, and is a son of Philander and Thankful R. (Leach) Wilkinson. On attaining his majority, Mr. Wilkinson took his final leave of the parental home, and sought his fotune in the Peninsular State, and made his first essay in business for himself in Hillsdale County, finding employ on a farm for some months. He went thence to Barry Co., Mich., where he made another investment, and secured a wife - Harriet, daughter of Peter and Susan Mosier, who died April 8, 1882. Of this marriage three children were born: Francis L., Sept. 19, 1857; Emma R., Oct. 31, 1859, and Ella V., Aug. 23, 1860. Mr. Wilkinson was engaged in farming in Barry County until the fall of 1860, when he went to St. Joseph Co., Mich. On the first call for troops in 1861, when the cry of an impugned nation rang like a trumpet blast over a started world, Mr. Wilkinson enlisted in defense of that nation's integrity, enrolling in the Sixth Mich. Vol. Inf., for thre months, and on the expiration of that period again recorded his name on the list of defenders of the Union. He enrolled Aug. 20, 1862, and was in the service eight months. After a brief stay at home when his period of enlistment had expired, he re-entered the army as a hired substitute, and served until the close of the war. June 19, 1864, he was again married, to Mrs. Wealthy Day, and immediately came to Aetna Tp.,since which time they have resided on a farm of 40 acres near Morley. Of the second marriage four children have been born, as follows: Franklin H., March 10, 1865; Elmer E., Sept. 30, 1867; Willie C., born Oct. 8, 1877, and died Nov. 14, 1878; Nora died in infancy. Mr. Wilkinson is a Republican. |