USA History

FROM SWINHOPE BURN BEGINNINGS    to the United States of America

ROBERT _ HUGH  &   CAIN  WILKINSON and their Families

JOHN WILKINSON i (1803-1878) & JANE (MackMillan) WILKINSON  1806-1877

Their Children by Date of Birth:-

(1) ROBERT Wilkinson (1824-1895) m Margaret Peart (1828-1896)       

(2) John Wilkinson ii (1826-1880) m Elizabeth Pears (1830-<1871)

(3) Ann Wilkinson (1828-?) m Anthony Charlton

(4) Matthew Wilkinson (1829-1881) m Elizabeth Hodgeson (1822-1906)

(5) Adam Wilkinson (1831-1865) m Ann Armstrong

(6) William Wilkinson (1834-1901) m Ann Elliott

(7) HUGH Wilkinson (1836-1901) m Elizabeth Philipson (1843-1909)

(8) Job Wilkinson (1838-1857) bachelor

( 9) Paul Wilkinson (1841-1884) m Mary Ann Lee (1849-1920)

(10) CAIN Wilkinson (1843-1896) m Margaret Philipson (1849-1933)

(11) Mary Wilkinson (1846-?)  m ?

(12) Jane Wilkinson (1849-1915) m John Wilson Milburn (1852-1919)              

I'll start with my 3 times Great Grandparents JOHN WILKINSON i and JANE (MACMILLAN) who appear to be well documented individuals who feature on the internet and  near the top of many published family trees. My own research does however throw up some anomalies with the data concerning their parentages. 

From original Census information JOHN seems to have been born about 1803 at Allendale and there are two possible records listed on Latter Day Saints I.G.I. index. The first is JOHN born 1804 at Allendale to MARGARET WILKINSON a single woman and baptised in that year. The second is JOHN born 1803 at Cleugh Bank Allendale to MATTHEW and MARY (nee SHORT) but not baptised until 1810. While there is sometimes a good reason for delaying baptisms it does trigger some doubt especially when this couple had other children namely MARY and ELIZABETH whose births are recorded as 1803 and 1806 respectively with their baptisms also in those years.

The only pointer which may demonstrate that JOHN was the son of MATTHEW and MARY can  be gleaned from the choice of names for JOHN's own children ie. MATTHEW, WILLIAM, MARY and no MARGARET after his possible mother, thus reflecting those names of his parents and siblings.

Assuming JOHN was the son of MATTHEW and MARY then his paternal grandparents were JAMES WILKINSON (born 1716/1722) and JANE RIDLEY (born 1726). His maternal grandparents would have been NICHOLAS SHORT and ANN LOWDON.

With regard to JANE McMILLAN there are again two possible records listed on Latter Day Saints I.G.I. index. The first records JANE born 1806 to ROBERT MACKMILLAN and ANNE (nee SPARKE) while the second is JANE born 1807 to JOHN MACMILLAN and CATHERINE NIXON. The second entry also goes on to state JANE's marriage to JOHN WILKINSON and her death in 1877. Most family history internet sites opt for JANE born to ROBERT and ANNE and this can be construed as correct due to JANE's first son being named ROBERT with her first daughter being called ANN.

The marriage and death records should therefore be amended and attributed to JANE born to ROBERT and ANNE.

 Returning now to JOHN WILKINSON i and JANE (MACMILLAN) they both seemed to have resided at Dirtpot near Allenheads in Allendale close to JANE's parents ROBERT MACMILLAN (1749-1823) and ANNE (SPARKE 1762-1823).

JOHN and JANE were married at St. Peter's church in 1823 at Sparty Lea in the Swinhope Burn valley Allendale. They are listed in the 1841 and 1851 census records living with their extensive family at WHITE RIGG or RIDGE a detached house which is still occupied today and lies on the southeast side of Swinhope Burn.

Their children were ROBERT (1824), JOHN ii (1826), ANN (1828), MATTHEW (1830), ADAM (1831), WILLIAM (1834), HUGH (1836), JOB (1838), PAUL (1841), CAIN (1843), MARY (1846) and JANE (1849).

           St. Peter's Sparty Lea Allendale

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html?txtXCoord=383630&txtYCoord=547980

The WILKINSON family worked in the ALLENDALE Lead Mines as their ancestors had done for many generations. They also kept small farms to support their families when they were not working in the mines. It was common practice to do the farm work after blasting was carried out at the mine in order for the highly toxic dust to settle. With the arrival of a new Mine Agent, THOMAS SOPWORTH, watchers were employed to record when the miners were actually working in the mines. He tried to organise fixed regular hours which was not accepted by the workers who in 1849 decided to withhold their labour.

The strike force had massive support notably at the meetings which were held in Swinhope Methodist Chapel which still exists today. W. Beaumont, the mine owner brought in 'blackleg' labour from Alston and the strikes were told that they would never be employed in the neighbourhood again. As a result groups of miners decided to emigrate to the lead mining area in the state of Illinois USA where former Allenheads residents had settled years earlier.

An initial group of 58 persons left Allendale in 1849 and sailed from Liverpool to New York onboard the 'Guy Mannering'.  Such was the desire of the miners to start a new life that it was reported that many of them walked from Allendale to the departure port of Liverpool.

A couple of items I've found relating to the Allenheads 1849 strike.

 First a poem, "Miner's Farewell"

- far too long to give in full , but a few short excerpts might convey just a  little of the anti-Sopwith sentiment around at the time:

While Crawhall was at Allenheads,

Its wealth did much increase:

Elate, the miners raised their heads,

The land was blest with peace.

Then Sopwith came - the Upas Tree

To poison all the Dale,

And drive us from our country,

And make us weep and wail.

At doing mischief he is apt,

It seems to give him joy;

He the firm bond of friendship snapt

Delighting to annoy.

His ignorance with pride allied,

Has fearful havoc made,

The sneaking agents with him side

Then ask: Who is afraid.

And later...

Now we on other sights must look,

In a far and distant land,

While those we leave behind must brook 

The tyrant's stern command.

Willing to work but not to be

Sopwith's devoted slaves,

In a far distant country,

We go to make our graves.    

And it ends ... 21 May 1849 - the sailing date of the ship 'Guy Mannering'

Upon the twenty-first we sail,      

And leave our friends behind,       

Tho' far away we will not fail

To keep them still in mind.

We'll face the blowing of the wind,

The stormy, raging sea,

Poor, yet to crouch no ways inclined

We swear we will be free.

We'll seek our bread in foreign climes

And we'll depend on God;

Far from the despot and his mines,

We are going off abroad.

He may enquire: Why go away?

Why not submit to me?

We answer fearful tyrant: Nay,

We value liberty.

We will not bear thy hated yoke,

But we will go to those

Who th' bonds of the oppressors broke,

For freedom's sacred cause.

We leave our country with a sigh,

We leave thee with disdain,

Remember Sopwith thou must die,

We tell thee so again.

The evil thou hast done of late

Thou never can undo;

Pity the key of Allen's fate

Was ever left to you.

To Allendale and Allenheads

We fondly say Farewell,

Of the proud tyrant and his deeds,

In other lands we'll tell.

                                                                                          Swinhope Primitive Methodist Chapel

        v JOHN i & JANE WILKINSON

Ø  (1) ROBERT  WILKINSON (1824-1895) - MARGARET PEART (1828-1896)

Their Children by Date of Birth

§  Elizabeth Jane Wilkinson (1852-1888) m Charles Austin Cochran (1849-1914) 

Jane died in the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888.     Charlie Cochran was struck by a train & died of his injuries.

§  John W. Wilkinson (1854-1925) m1. Mary Harkness(1853-1893) m2. Mary Ann Wilkinson (1873-1970) daughter of Cain Wilkinson (1843)

§  Margaret A. Wilkinson (1857-?) m ?

§  William Wilkinson ( 1860-?) m ?

§  Mary H. Wilkinson (1862-?) m ?

§  Robert A. Wilkinson (1865-1913) m Margaret Ellen McAllister (1876-1959)

§  Sarah M. Wilkinson (1867-1883) spinster

ROBERT WILKINSON (1824) emigrated in 1850, a short time after the Guy Mannering exodus and sailed with his wife MARGARET PEART (1828) who he married in July 1850 in Allendale prior to departing for America

They lived in New York State for 2 years and their daughter Elizabeth JANE (1852) was born there in the town of Corning in Steuben County. They then moved a few miles south and across the border to the small town of Blossburg in the State of Pennsylvania where their second child JOHN W. (1854) was born. This was a coal mining area and that became ROBERT's new occupation in about 1853.

He wrote letters in that year to MARGARET's family and tried to encourage them to come over and settle in the locality and copies of are reproduced below.  ROBERT also joined the UNION army 7th Cavalry unit sometime laterand travelled with MARGARET's brother JACOB PEART who recalled the event in a further letter reproduced below.

 LETTER 1 -ROBERT WILKINSON TO JOHN PEART 1853

Robert Wilkinson and his wife, John Peart¿s sister Margaret, after emigrating to America, settled in Blossburg, Pennsylvania, a coal mining community. Robert, a lead miner in England, took up coal mining in his new home. He wanted John and Joseph to join him. We have two letters which he sent to them in New York State during 1853 urging them to consider mining. Durham Records Office ref D/X 1035/4 Faberwary 16 1853 Dear frenes I take the present time of ritting you a few lines to in form you that we are all well at present hoping this few sempell lines will find you injoying the same. But Margaret has been verey seek sence we cam here. On last Mounday I thot she wold dead. On Sunday she take sum flurea brimson and she got cold and she was verey set I tall you. But she is got well now. But we got a good house to live in in bloss Borg. We have two rum down (stairs) upstairs to(o) all lathet and plster. We have a faire place like the auld Contery. We have got a load of cole so we have good coal fires. I am working at the mines at mars run that is at the new mines. Me and Beell works together and an nather Englechman and two of his Boys. We are in a draffet. We have 6 feet of coal. It sia nice sem of coll. It is drefet bit of col. We have onely 8 dolars a week at present working 5 nites 6 days for a week. She is verey wet at present but we did not get the Dreffer that we exspicket. I think that we will be taken a wane sune. I think that we can make mor by the Jake we work about 7 or 8 oures. Thas new mines thay pay chash wonce a munth. They belong to the rall road Cumpeny. I thank this will be a good place after a while. Dear fernes I hope you are both well. I think you will like the mines beter that the woods*. I did mes you on Sunday. Ther is lots of our Cunterey men here and the ways is mor like hom. I think that you dead not lament much about hiring for the year for ther would (have) been no chance her befor now and I think ther will be a good chance by June. But I must stop at this time so I remane your well wicher Robert Wilkinson. Margaret wiches you Bouth well and gives her verey best respicke to you bouth. She wold like for you yo com up to see us befor long. You must rit us a letter as sune as conven(ien)t and if ther be aney letter form the old Conterey let us no. aney news ther be lett us no. so no mor at present. Elsebeth Jane is well** ¿ ¿ It is quite likely that John and Joseph were cutting timber while working for Jonathan Brown ¿ ** Elsebeth Jane is Robert Wilkinson¿s daughter.

LETTER 2 -ROBERT WILKINSON TO JOHN PEART 1853

Robert Wilkinson¿s second letter to John Peart and Joseph Graham follows: Durham Records Office ref D/X 1035/5 Blos Borg May 8 1853 Dear frenes and aquantens I ll take the afer opurtunty of ritting you a few mor lines to in form you that we are all well at present hoping thes lines will find you the same. I duly receved your kind and welkem letter yesterday the 7 of may and you want to (k)no(w) what a place this is. Well sir it is a good place for making Muney and pa(i)d everey munth but it is a very wild place at the new mines and bording verey his 20 shillings a week. The wages is form 8 dolars a week, tow dollars a day. This last munth I worket for my slafe and I have 34;50 for my months work. I lost to days and tow days I worket out sid(e) for wone dollar per day. But now I work with 4 men parteners and we have 2:25 a yeard we cat (cut) form 5 feet to two yeards a day tow of us at wone shift and we yous no pouder. It cos us about 7 or 8 sence per day for exspunsces but if I had a good falley with me I co(u)ld make much more as I hope that I will get you for a parterns. I have bilt my slafe a house at the new mines and mence to move in to it in a weeks time. I have put shinegels on it. I have a good pig a young sue (sow) as I think she will pig in a week or tow. I gave 5 dolars for her a munth ago to and was very shape at that. My house is close to the new mines and I mine to have a bet garding if posebell. I have save no money but what I have spent I will have my house and will have it all pad for to about 5 or ten dollars and I think that¿s pretey good for they costs a concertebel of money. I have not work over tow days as it my slafe let it by the job. I think in a months time or to I will be abell to buy my slafe a good cow and then I will be rich. I think ther will be a good chance for you aganct your time be up* and the best advice that I can you is to start mining for I think you can make 9 or 10 dolars a week for working 8 ours in wone day. And if you com(e) up to our house you can hard your slafe as ther is a great maney das Bords ther sleves. It is most like the old Conterey her(e). they are all old Conterey fokes and wardall. It cost a man about 8 dolars a munth to bord him slife as sum das that bord them slaves. But you might com up and see. And we live in the ten bildenes in the laset house but call at the Blaksmith shop belo(w) the dipo and Mr Pateres Paterson workes in it and he will tell you all wher to find us. We roght a letter to Jacon** and tell him how to find us. And I hope you will not hire for for anyeure. You must hire no way until you com up her and see all about it. You might com up on startday. Sone at present we remane your wall wicher Robert Wilkinson and fameeley ¿ *Robert Wilkinson appears to be telling John and Joseph that he believes there will be an opportunity to work at the coal mines when the time for which they had contracted to work is up. ¿ ** It is not known exactly when Jacob, John Peart¿s brother, emigrated to America. However, he did emigrate about this time. He did not settle in the east, but rather in the Mid-West.

LETTER 3 - MENTIONS ROBERT WILKINSON IN THE UNION ARMY 1865

Joseph did escape form involvement in the Civil War in America, but Jacob and John Peart and Robert Wilkinson all served in the Union Army at the end of the war and immediately after. The following letter from Jacob to the Grahams and Pearts in New York State describes life in the army. It contains much news of the family back in England as well. Durham Record Office Ref: D/X 1035/23 Okolona Mississippi June the 11th 65 My dear Friends To again address you with a few more lines in answer to your letter or rather to Elizabeth* dated May 1th 65 I am happy to hear that you are ale (all) in good health and Enjoying the comforts of this sinful World it is one of the greatest that a man can enjoy in this World is good Health. I am glad to inform you that I am wele when I write this note. I have had very good health since I entered the army. I felt a little while we was moving from Eastport to this place I had the direah very bad and a little disorderd in my stomach but now I am quite well again there is a number of us that is sick in our regiment this southern climate uses a great many men up. A great many men leaves home never to see it again. O this war this cruel war it have raveaged the Country left many orphans and Widows but I think we living to see the end of it. The south is completely used up and they acknowledge they are whipt and if any man would be astonished that they could have carried on the war so long. They have very little or no provisions our government have to feed them or they would starve. Their ceities and towns where we have passed through is tore to pieces and most of the people gone. I suppose they was Rebels a great many of them been in the rebel army besides a number of them wile have got to their long home we are at the present time in a very pretty part of the country. We are close to the Mobile and Ohio railroad. We are not doing anything at the present time with the exception of standing camp guard. The Boys here is not very honest. When they get a chance they take chickens or turkeys or hogs and anything they can carry of(f) and they do not let the women alone. If they are not willing they force the thing and the citizens complain to headquarters and they put on a guard so if we want to get outside of the lines we have to get a pass. We are wele enough of (f) if one could be content but I cannot. I want to be home the war is ended and we are doing no good now in the field. Robert Wilkinson likes it much worse than I do. He hates it. We Enlisted to ride Cavalry but our regiment is ale (all) dismounted so that we nev er have had the privilige of rideing a govement horse. I suppose never wile(will). Now our regiment is ale scattered along the Mobile and Ohio railroad. We are at Okolona Mississippi we have not had any letters from home lately but when we got the last letters from them the folks was ale wele . I had a letter from Home stateing that our sister Elizabeth is dead. She died November the 12th by a miscariage. Mother feels very bad about her death. I felt very sorry when I read the letter she was ale the sisters that was left** to look after Mother and she would be a sort of a comfort to her besides helpin her when she was not able she have left one little Boy behind and he has been very sick he have got wele again John and Adam (and) Watson is (I) suppose is ale living with Mother Adam and Watson was both working in rookhope Watson is working at a brandon wales below boltburn. Adam is working at a painter by trade he is at that kind of work they write that mother is wearing down fast she thinks that the Journey to this Country wile be more than she wile be able to stand. They write they would come a year ago last spring but this cruel war scared them. They thought it would not be safe to come. I wrote that the war would not have any effect on them nor meddle with them in shape or form but I suppose the News concerning the war in England was dreadful. I told them they would do much better in the united states than they can do in England. There is more money to be made (here) by only working half their time and they wile breathe the free fresh air and not be buried in powder smoke and damps. I wrote for them to come if they could come though I wrote that if Mother was not able to stand the journey it would not be right to move her from home that it be better for one of them to stay at Home and take care of her so long as she lives. She cannot live long by course of years. She is getting pretty old yet I should like very wele to see her again in the flesh. Though we are a long ways parted in body yet I suppose we are often present in mind. No doubt but she wile (will) of have us in mind and wile wish to see us again. John writes the letters and he is excellent writer. I remember the time when Mother said she would never live to get any good of them two boys*** but people do not know what they may live to see. Ale (all) looks very dule and poor at allenheads. Allendale men is scattered all over the country. There is a great many of thenm in derwent. You must give my love to John and wife and the little girl**** . If John is got home***** tele (tell) him to write to me and let me know how you are ale getting along. If I knowd that John was not come home I would Write to him immediately. I have wrote a letter to John¿s wife a day or two ahead of this but I am sorry to say that I forgot to put a stamp on it and I thought it might not go and I thought I would write on to you I calculated to write you ale a letter at any rate in a few days. You must write home to Mother and tele them how you are moveing along in the state of New York the(y) complain of not receiveing any letters from you. Write and let them know where and what state you live in. we have plenty of the black race round this part of the country we have one cooking for our mess. He cooks for 20 men they feel glad to get inside of the union lines. We have good many of them in the regiment. Now dear friend I (am) about drawing this letter to close with giving my love and affections to you ale hopeing this may find (you) in perfect health. Robert sends his kind love to you ale desiring you to write soon when you receive this Note. Direct it to Jacob Peart Okolona first Provisional Company 7th Illinois Cavalry Mississippi. We May be gone from this place before this reaches you. You had better direct them to Galena post office Box 766. You can send your likenesses to Galena and then they will send theirs. If I go home soon I shall send ale of our likenesses so no more at Present from your Ever loveing Brother Jacob Peart Write soon *Elizabeth is John¿s wife. **Exactly when their sister Mary died is not known. It might have been after the fever she had in 1858. The letter telling of the fever stated that she was recovering, but the writers tended to be optimistic in their letters. ***Her son Adam born about 1843 and Mary¿s son John born in 1848 ****John¿s daughter *****John is also in the Union Army.

ROBERT and his family  subsequently moved to Vinegar Hill near Galena in the State of Illinois in 1856 and were recorded there on the 1870 Census with seven children ELIZABETH JANE (1852), JOHN (1854), MARGARET (1857), WILLIAM (1860), MARY (1862), ROBERT (1865) and SARAH (1867).  They are also recorded in the ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP township record for that time.

From "The History of Jo Daviess County Illinois" 

by H.F. Kett & Co., 1878 

WILKINSON ROBERT, Renter; Sec. 35; P.I. Elizabeth Township; born in Northumberland Co., Eng., June 8, 1824; married Miss Margaret Peart July 24, 1850; came to America same year; remained in N.Y. for two years, Pa. four years, and came to Jo Daviess Co. in Fall of 1856; engaged in mining twenty years; has been farming four years; have been members of M.E. Church twenty years; he has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for twelve years; have seven children: Elizabeth Jane, John W., Margaret A., William J., Mary H., Robert A., Sarah M. 

ROBERT and his family then moved to Nebraska in the late 1870's where land was easily available for farming. On the 1880 Census the family were residing at Weeping Water, Cass County in Nebraska never to return to ENGLAND. Sadly in a letter from MARGARET's mother she wrote  -" when I think you are forever hid from my eyes on this side of the grave it gives me great trouble"

Homesteaders in Nebraska

 Weeping Water. This town is situated on the creek called by the French "L'Eau qui Pleure" or "The Water that Weeps", and is named for the creek. There is an interesting Indian tradition concerning the origin of this stream. It is said that near the source of the river once lived a powerful and peaceful tribe governed by a mild and valorous chief. The warriors of the tribe were strong and fleet. The maidens were lithe and lovely and their beauty exceeded that possessed by the maidens of any of the neighboring tribes. The chief's daughter was the fairest of all and so beautiful, indeed, that the chief of a powerful tribe in the west fell in love with her and asked her father for her hand in marriage. He was refused, but one day succeeded in abducting her while she was bathing with her companions in a lake near the village. Pursuit immediately followed with disastrous results, for all of the pursuers were killed in the fight. After three days waiting, the women who had been left in charge of the camp started out in search of the warriors and found them dead on the battlefield. This caused them to weep so long that their tears formed the river "Weeping Water", which still exists. The town was incorporated February 13, 1857.

        The Omaha and Otoe Indian name of the creek is Nigahoe, from ni, water, and gahoe, the rustling, swishing sound of water running over low falls, or "rustling water." The ho is an h with a guttural sound. The name was confused by white men with Nihoage which means "weeping water" from ni, water, and hoage, weeping. The legend of "weeping water" is a white man's tradition or invention to account for the word "weeping water", a mistranslation as stated above.

There is also a record of their daughter Elizabeth JANE WILKINSON's marriage to CHARLES AUSTIN COCHRAN (1849) born in Hancock County, Illinois, son of JOHN COCHRAN  & SUSAN GATES, which took place in 1880 in Otoe County, Nebraska. The children of CHARLES and Elizabeth JANE were MABEL ANNA (1881), CYRUS RAYMOND (1883) and ROBERT LeROY (1886) who were all born in the town of Avoca in Cass County, Nebraska.

On January 12th 1888 a storm across the Northwest Plains region of the United States came with no warning and a dramatic fall in temperature in just 24 hours. It was a Thursday afternoon and there had been unseasonably warm weather the previous day. Suddenly, within a matter of hours Arctic air from Canada rapidly pushed south. Temperatures plunged to 40 below zero with high winds and heavy snow causing blizzard conditions. At the time of the blizzard children were either still in their classrooms or just making for home. There are many sad accounts of those trapped in the schools with fuel exhausted or trying unsuccessfully to make their way home and succumbing to the cold. Roofs were blown from some of the buildings adding to the exposure and some of the survivors found next day had to have limbs amputated because of frostbite. Altogether 235 people lost their lives on that day, most of whom were children. The storm was termed "SCHOOLCHILDRENS or SCHOOLHOUSE BLIZZARD" and is recorded as one of the most serious storms in American history.

Elizabeth JANE (WILKINSON) COCHRAN  died in childbirth on that day due to the doctor being unable to reach her because of the storm. She was only 36 years old and left a husband and three young children. Her parents ROBERT and MARGARET lived for a further seven or so years  after that fateful day.

ROBERT died at Weeping Water in 1895 and MARGARET also died there in 1896 where they are buried together in Avoca Cemetery, Cass County, Nebraska. Elizabeth JANE is burried near to her parents grave but there is no headstone to mark the exact place.

 Headstone of ROBERT & MARGARET WILKINSON (PEART) Avoca Cemetery Nebraska.

Their grandson ROBERT LeROY COCHRAN  was a credit to them and his mother Elizabeth JANE  and through hard work and determination, he became Governor of Nebraska and served three terms from 1935-1941. He died in 1963 and is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lancaster, Nebraska.

ROBERT LeROY & AILEEN (GANTT) COCHRAN

 http://www.dor.state.ne.us/history/docs/cochran.pdf

ROY & AILEEN'S daughter MARY COCHRAN GRIMES, an accomplished historian wrote two books chronicling the lives of her parents, she died in 2011 aged 82.

Maud Wilkinson & Gus Ruhge

ROBERT A. WILKINSON (1865-1913) 'Col. Bob'

Robert was born in near Galena Illinois, the youngest son of Robert and Margaret ( Peart) Wilkinson.

His parents who were born and married in Allendale in England had emigrated to America in 1850. Robert A. Wilkinson is recorded with his family on the 1870 census for Vinegar Hill, Illinois aged five.

On the 1880 census the family resided at Weeping Water in the state of Nebraska.

Robert A. Wilkinson married Margaret Ellen McAllester In Avoca in1896 and profession was in the hardware business alongside his brother John & partner Joseph Graham.

Robert A. and Margaret are recorded on the 1900 census as residing in Avoca, Cass County Nebraska also with a daughter Audrey Irene aged three.

Robert A. Wilkinson changed his profession to that as an Auctioneer for which he carried a fine reputation.

Having also served in the in the US army Robert was sometimes referred to as 'Col. Bob'

Many newspaper articles of the time refer Robert & his business, listed initially in his own name & later as Wilkinson Hall Auctioneers of Dunbar' which is in the Delaware precinct of Otoe County, Nebraska.

The 1910 census lists Robert, Margaret, Audra I. and new daughter Mildred aged 6.

Robert died in 1913 and although sometimes referred to as 'Old Bob' he was only 48 on his passing.

ON the 1920 census Margaret E. (Mcallester) Wilkinson, his widow is in Lincoln Nebraska with Audrey aged 23 who is a teacher together with Mildred Wilkinson now sixteen years old.

In 1825 Mildred Wilkinson married George Lee Montgomery who was born in Kentucky in 1887.

The marriage was in Denver but they set up home in McCook, Red Willow Nebraska.

Margaret Ellen (McAllester) Wilkinson shared the home with the Montgmery family for the rest of her life and they are all recorded there on the 1930 & 1940 census together with thei r daughter Elizabeth (Betty) who was born in 1927.

There is a headstone in Memorial Park, McCook to Margaret E. (1876-1959) and Robert A. Wilkinson (1865-1913).

George Lee Montgomery was a doctor & Head Osteopath for Group McCook as well as President of the Nebraska Osteopath Association.

Dr. G. L. Montgomery features in several newspaper articles in association with Robert LeRoy Cochran the Govenor of Nebraska who was the husband of Robert A. Wilkinson's sister Elizabeth Jane.

There is a headstone In Memorial Park McCook to Mildred Ellen (1903-1964) and George Lee Montgomery (1887-1965).

There is also a headstone in Memorial Park for their daughter Elizabeth Lee Montgomery Eisenhart (1926-1990).

Robert A. Wilkinson Auctioneer

Wilkinson Hall Auctioneers

Death Col. R. L. Wilkinson 1913

Note :- Robert's brother was John from Ardmore South Dakota and his sister was Margaret (Wilkinson) Graham.

Death Record R. A. Wilkinson

MARGARET A. WILKINSON (1857-1924)

Margaret was the second daughter or Robert and Margaret (Peart) Wilkinson and was born in Vinegar Hill near Galena Illinois. She moved to Weeping Water, Cass County in Nebraska with her family and is recorded there on the 1880 census.

Margaret was married in about 1884 to Joseph Graham (born New York State in 1848) and they subsequently settled in Avoca Nebraska.

Joseph Graham was a 'Hardware Merchant' by trade and was trading in Avoca in 1890 as 'Graham & Wilkinson Hardware & Furniture'.

The Company operating the Hardware Store was a partnership between Joseph Graham,John Watson Wilkinson and initially Robert A. Wilkinson.

Joseph died in 1907 & the Hardware Store was sold to Louis Dunkak and George Maseman with William Maseman aquiring the Dunkak share some time later.

William (Bill) Maseman was a younger brother of George and he also went on to marry Florence the daughter of John Watson Wilkinson.

Margaret (Wilkinson) Graham lived with her family W.Ralph, Mary I., Thomas C., Lloyd E., Gladys M., and Elizabeth F. and died in Avoca in 1924. She nursed her sick brother Robert A. Wilkinson and attended to him at his home in Dubar Nebraska where he died in 1913.

Avoca Business 1890 Graham & Wilkinson Hardware

               v JOHN & JANE WILKINSON

Ø  (7) HUGH WILKINSON (1836-1901) & ELIZABETH PHILIPSON (1843-1909)

Their Children by Date of Birth

§  Adam Wilkinson (1865-1923) m Eva Estella Sincox (1870-1955)

§  John H. Wilkinson (1868-1926) m Mary Jennie Hornby (1874-1935)

§  Sarah Jennie E. Wilkinson (1869-1912) m ?

§  Mary A. Wilkinson (1871-1923) m John Heaton Curwen (1872-1956)

§  Maggie M. Wilkinson (1877-1951) m George W. Bucher

§  Ada Ophilia Wilkinson (1879-1960) m Richard H. Heller (1873-1945)

ROBERT had been settled in America for about seventeen years when he was joined by his younger brother HUGH and family in about 1867.They all lived next to each other in the settlement of Vinegar Hill near Galena in Illinois.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn5oacXfYr0&feature=related

HUGH had previously lived with his parents JOHN i & JANE at Whiterigg and then Hayrake at Swinhope in Allendale. He had married ELIZABETH PHILIPSON (1843) in St. Peter's church at Sparty Lea, Allendale in 1866 and by the time of his emigration they had two children, ADAM (1865) and JOHN H. (1868).

Four further children were born in Illinois namely SARAH J.E. (1869), MARY A. (1871), MAGGIE M. (1877) and ADA OPHELIA (1879). About the time ROBERT was moving to Nebraska, HUGH and his family resettled in the nearby township of Scales Mound and they are recorded there on the 1880 US. census.

Although the WILKINSON family had been attracted to the Galena area because of the lead mining industry it appears that they were also employed in coal mining & as farmers. Galena lies on the Galena river which is a tributary of the Mississippi and the area was responsible for about 90% of Americas lead production in the early 1800's with steamboat transport via the Mississippi river. Vinegar Hill lies just north of Galena & was named after a town in Wexford  Ireland from which the early settlers came. There is still a lead mine in Vinegar Hill to this day with guided tours  operated by direct descendents of the founder JOHN FURLONG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbX6qxIyuNY

Scales Mound is situated a few miles northeast of Vinegar Hill astride the railway and close to the 'Old Stagecoach Trail' between Chicago in the east and Galena to the west. HUGH and ELIZABETH lived most of their time in Scales Mound then for a short time in east Galena and were interred in Greenwood cemetery Galena in 1901 & 1909 respectively. Their son Adam a resident of Warren is buried in Elmwood Cemetery

Their youngest daughter ADA OPHELIA WILKINSON married RICHARD HELLER in Galena in 1897 and was also buried in Greenwood cemetery in 1960.

Old Scales Mound 

Hugh Wilkinson & Elizabeth (Philipson) Wilkinson

Adam Wilkinson

Ada Ophilia Wilkinson daughter of Hugh Wilkinson & Elizabeth Philipson.