HENLEY WILKINSON, proprietor of the White Hall nursery situated at the west side of the city, was born in Durham, Laporte county, Indiana, on the 1st of February, 1840, being the second son of Richard H. and Julia (Henley) Wilkinson. His father was a native of Virginia and a graduate of Winchester College. In 1832 he removed to southern Indiana and was a pioneer minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in that locality. He took a very active and helpful part in church and educational work and assisted in establishing Greencastle University, which has since been one of the strong educational institutions of the state. In 1835 he removed from Clark county, Indiana, to Laporte county, and in that year he was married to Miss Julia A. Henley, whose birth occurred in Clark county, and who was the sister of Thomas J. Henley, of Indiana, first postmaster of San Francisco and afterward Indian agent of the western coast. His son, Barclay Henley, was the youngest member of congress in 1885.

Mr. Wilkinson, whose name introduces this record, remained at home until he attained his majority, when he became interested in the nursery business, which he learned under the direction of Irvin L. Jessup, the leading nurseryman and florist of Laporte, Indiana. In 1864 he came to Illinois on a visit and formed a favorable impression of the state and its possibilities so that a few years later he established his home within its borders.

Ere his removal, however, Mr. Wilkinson was married on the 25th of April, 1865, to Miss Ella Owen. In 1867 they removed to Beardstown, Illinois, where he established a nursery for the growing of fruit and flowers. In 1870 he opened a branch house at White Hall and in 1873 he removed to White Hall, where he rented ten acres of land. He has achieved success under adverse circumstances, and in the face of many difficulties. On the 2d of June, 1881, when all of his trees and nursery stock were being held in readiness to fill the orders for their delivery there occurred a terrible hail storm which totally destroyed his stock, causing a loss to him of several thousand dollars. He possessed undaunted courage, unfaltering perseverance and keen discernment, however, and he set to work to secure financial assistance. This he did and in due course of time he retrieved his lost possessions. In 1886, however, his home was destroyed by fire and in 1889 his greenhouse was consumed by flames. Notwithstanding these disadvantages he has persevered and he now has a comfortable home. He rebuilt his greenhouse and continued for fourteen years but the orchard business gradually forced the greenhouse out, but he has continued in the nursery business and is the owner of a fine farm and good orchard.

Mrs. Wilkinson was educated at Princeton, Illinois. She is a niece of Robert Dale Owen, of Indiana, and a daughter of Allen and Margaret Owen of that state. Her birth occurred near Richmond, Indiana, April 2, 1844, and in 1853 she accompanied her parents on their removal to Bureau county, Illinois. By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children: A. H., born April 2, 1867; W. G., born August 14, 1869; Stella A., born February 10, 1871; B. O., born April 26, 1873; Lloyd H., born November 28, 1875; R. W., born December 3, 1877; Tillie M., born November 14, 1879; L. E., born January 26, 1882; Pansy May, born February 2, 1884; Neil, born February 6, 1888; and Zellet, born February 2, 1890. William and Pansy are now deceased. Some of the children have left home, but one son assists in the cultivation of the farm and the two youngest are still in school. Zellet, the youngest, is an artist of considerable natural ability and works indicative of his skill adorn the home.

In his political views Mr. Wilkinson is an earnest Democrat and is an ardent admirer of Bryan. He has delivered many campaign addresses, his services being in demand on many occasions, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he is enabled to present strong arguments and impressive reasoning. He is a good speaker, eloquent at times and his utterance make a deep impression upon his hearers. He belongs to no fraternity or church but aids all. He is a man of broad public spirit, generous disposition and kindly nature, and there are in his life record many elements that are worthy of commendation and of emulation.