Samuel R. Wilkinson, section 3, Pike Township, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Jay County. He was born on the Homestead, he now holds and occupies, March 30, 1840, his parents, Charles C. and Sarah W. (Sayrs) Wilkinson, settling there in November, 1835. His father entered 160 acres of government land, which was covered with a dense growth of timber, and from a point 9 miles south, he chopped a road to his new home. Rugged and ambitious, he lived to make a comfortable home and to enjoy it in his old age. He lived in Jay County nearly a half-century, his death occurring in February, 1884. His wife died in February, 1877. They had a family of seven children. The eldest, John A. was born in Ohio, and now lives on section 5, Pike Township. The others were born in Jay County. Elizabeth died in childhood, Mrs. Margaret McCartney and Samuel R., living in Pike Township, Henry and William (twins) are both deceased, the former dying in childhood and the latter aged 35 years, Sylvester, died in childhood.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Wilkinson married Rachel Ashley, who still lives in Liber, and to them were born two children, Bell and Charles. Samuel R. Wilkinson was reared in his native Township, where he has always made his home, with the exception of two years spent in Preble County, Ohio with his father. September 23, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. His first service was in Tennessee, and afterword he was with General Sherman in the Vicksburg campaign, including all the battles of to the capture of Vicksburg, and thence to the relief of Chattanooga, and the battle of Mission Ridge; then marched to the relief of Knoxville, and was in the campaign against Atlanta. At the battle of Jonesboro, he was wounded and was sent home, where he remained six months, four months of that time walking with the aid of crutches. He rejoined his regiment in time to participate in the grand review at Washington. After his discharge, he returned to Jay County, where he has since left. He now owns 80 acres of the old homestead, to which he has added 80 acres, making one of the best farms in the Township. His building improvements are good, his fine large frame barn being one of the best in the neighborhood.Mr. Wilkinson was married April 21, 1866, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Harriet Collins. She died from the effects of injuries received by a runaway team in April, 1884.
Mr. Wilkinson afterward married Mrs. Rines, widow of Lewis Rines, to whom she was married January 25, 1872. He was born in Columbiana County Ohio, December 16, 1846, a son of James and Mary Rines. He died June 18, 1883, leaving three children –Hazie A. Joseph G. and James E. his eldest son, Roland, died in infancy. He left his widow of good home on section 11, Pike Township, which she still owns.
Biographical and historical record of Jay
County, Indiana, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1897.
Contributed by Jim
Cox