My Genealogy Hound

Jesse A. Wilkes, ex-assessor of Lee County, Ark., was born in Yalobusha County, Miss., in 1837, and in 1855 came to Arkansas, and located in Spring Creek Township, soon after entering the Arkansas Christian College, at Fayetteville, which institution he was attending at the breaking out of the late war. He immediately joined the Confederate army, and after participating in the battle of Oak Hill his company was disbanded and joined the Army of Tennessee, he being a member of Company I, Ballentine’s regiment, and was at the battle of Atlanta. He was chosen as one of Capt. Harvey’s scouts, and served in that capacity for about eighteen months. The close of the war found him at Atlanta, and from there he returned to Arkansas, making the journey on horseback, having gone there on horseback. He and his brother then formed a partnership, and for two years were engaged in the cotton traffic at Memphis, Tenn., and in Arkansas, but upon the death of his brother Mr. Wilkes returned to Arkansas to settle up their business here, but found things in such a bad condition that it took him some time to adjust matters satisfactorily. Since that time he has followed various callings, and acted in various business capacities, but is now giving his attention to farming, being the owner of some excellent land in Spring Creek Township, and in other places in the county. In 1885 he was elected county assessor, and held the position two years. In 1882 he married Mrs. Mary E. Pascal, who is a member of the Christian Church. Eight Wilkes brothers came from England to the United States at a very early day and settled in Virginia, and now have descendants in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. The father of our subject was a farmer, and both he and wife died when Jesse A. was a child. The latter had one brother and one sister, both dead.