JOHN WILKINSON, farmer; P. O. Stitzer; was born in 1821 in Yorkshire, England; is a son of the Hon. Charles Wilkinson, of England. He lived with his parents until 16 years of age; was a cloth-dresser by trade; but, at the early age of 16 years, began as an apprentice in a blacksmith's-shop. He came to America in 1842; located in Paterson, N. J., where he resided for nine months; then to Pittsburgh, Penn., for nine months; then taking a westward course to Davenport, Iowa, for one and a half years; then to Galena, Ill.; thence to Mineral Point, where he resided for seven years. During all this time, he followed the occupation of blacksmith; and, in 1850, he wended his way to the golden regions of California, where he wandered around for eighteen months; then returned to Mineral Point for the period of two years; then to Liberty, Grant Co., Wis., in 1854, where he lived for ten years; then to Dallas Co., Iowa; then returned to his old home in Liberty, where he has since lived. He was married, in 1850, at Mineral Point, to Miss Grace Pace, a daughter of Richard and Mary Pace, who were from Cornwall, England. He had nine children - Joseph H., Christopher, Charles A., Charlotte, Lillie, Helen, Rosalie, Richard (deceased) and John. He has 215 acres of land, valued at $4,000; has been Pathmaster five terms, and School Director one term. In politics, a Greenbacker.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.