My Genealogy Hound

Giles W. Wilkes, a well-known colored citizen of Big Creek Township, Phillips County, and extensively engaged in planting, was born in North Carolina about the year 1833. He was reared in Georgia and came to Phillips County, Ark., in 1861, ten years later purchasing the plantation on which he now resides. This consists of 580 acres, with 250 acres cultivated, and his spirit of progression has made his farm one of the most carefully cultivated in the community. He has many modern improvements, a good house, out-buildings, and the general impression given to the observer is that thrift and prosperity abound. Mr. Wilkes was first married, in 1866, to Miss Salina Scaile, of South Carolina, who died in 1885, having borne one child. One year later Mr. Wilkes was married to Mrs. Mary Joyce, who has two children by her former marriage: Mary and Anna. By her union with Mr. Wilkes she is the mother of two children living: Luther and James. Mrs. Wilkes owns in her name 250 acres of land, making a total of 830 acres under the skillful and efficient management of Mr. Wilkes. Himself and former wife were members of the Colored Missionary Baptist Church. The present Mrs. Wilkes is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Wilkes is a Republican in his political views, having cast his first vote for U. S. Grant. He is an honest and industrious citizen, liberal in all his contributions to worthy enterprises, and is quite wealthy.