Squire J. W. Wilkes, one of the best known residents and natives of Hardeman County, was born September 17, 1835, the third of a family of three sons and six daughters born to Joseph and Naomi M. (Barnett) Wilkes. The father was of English descent, born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1807, and raised in Humphreys County. His educational advantages were very limited. When only seventeen years of age he plied a flatboat on Hatchie River. Later he and his brother went to Haywood County, and for several years kept "bachelor's’ hall," and in 1826, he settled permanently in Hardeman County. In 1829, he married Miss Barnett, who was of Irish extraction, born in Kentucky in 1809 and died in 1847. His second union was with Mrs. Rebecca J. Kirkpatrick, by whom he had two sons and four daughters. The second wife died in 1875. Some time afterward he wedded Miss Ann Robley. He and each of his wives were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he having joined when a lad of twelve years. He was a stanch Democrat, and successful agriculturist. Having started in life a poor man, by hard work and good management, he became owner of more than a thousand acres of land. He died March 3, 1881. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm. After attending the schools in the vicinity he took a thorough course in the McLemoresville College, Carroll County, preparatory to the study of. medicine, but failing health compelled him to abandon this desire, and he turned his attention to farming. In 1858, he married Emily J. Mitchell, who was born in Middle Tennessee November 17, 1838, a daughter of James and Mary W. Mitchell, a most highly respected family. The father was a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Tennessee. Squire and Mrs. Wilkes have two children: John W., Jr. and Emmett C. Mrs. Wilkes is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Wilkes of the Cumberland Presbyterian. He is a strong Democrat. He was a stanch Union man, but when war became the last resort, he went out, in 1863, in Company F, Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate service. During more than two years of active duty, he was neither wounded nor captured. At the close of the war he returned home, and resumed farming with comparatively nothing, but by hard work, energy and judicious management, he has accumulated considerable property, owning 1,100 acres of fine land. In 1866, he was made magistrate, giving so much satisfaction that he held the office for eighteen years, declining to serve any longer. He has been a resident of Hardeman County all his life, and no man in the community has a fairer name. He is charitable, and an honest, worthy citizen.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”