My Genealogy Hound

W. P. Wilkins was partly reared to farm life in Tennessee, where he was born, and also in Kentucky, his parents having removed to the Blue Grass State when he was twelve years of age. In 1847 he came to Arkansas and located in what was then St. Francis (now Cross) County, within two miles of his present place of residence, and was engaged for the next five years as a farm laborer. In 1852 he purchased a quarter section of land, since which time he has added forty acres more, now having over 100 acres under cultivation, with a good house, buildings and orchard, etc. In 1861 Mr. Wilkins joined the Confederate service in McGee’s regiment, in which he served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Big Creek, Ironton (Mo.), Wittsburg, and a number of skirmishes. Mr. Wilkins was born in Tennessee, in 1827, as a son of William and Nancy J. (Sutfin) Wilkins. The father was a prominent Tennessee farmer, and in 1839 moved to Kentucky and settled in Jackson County, remaining there until the year 1845, when his wife died. Returning thence to Marshall County, Tenn., he also died, at the age of ninety-six years. Mr. Wilkins served in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He was always blessed with good health, and was never known to call a doctor in his life. He had been twice married; first, to a Miss Ellison, who was the mother of four children, all now deceased, and after her death to the mother of our subject, who bore eleven children, three living: Isabella (the widow of William Trout), B. F. (a resident of Yell County, Ark.) and W. P. The latter was married in 1849 to Miss Mollie Eldridge. They have a family of ten children, seven of whom survive: P. P. (a resident of Wynne), Isabella (wife of P. Anderson), N. J., John, Mollie L. (the wife of James Halk), Rufus C. and R. G. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is connected with the A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the school board. Mr. Wilkins is a prominent man hereabouts, and takes an active part in politics, having served as constable of the township.