Obituary of Judge J W Wilkin, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cindy McCachern Obituary of Judge J. W. Wilkin   It was with expressions of sincere regret that the many friends of Judge Jacob W. Wilkin in Robinson, and in the county, heard of his death, which occured at his home in Danville Wednesday last at 5:55 p.m.   Judge Wilkin as born near Newark, Ohio, June 7, 1837, and came with his parents to Illinois in 1844, they locating on a farm in Licking township, this county where he grew to manhood.  He attended the country schools, a college or academy at Marshall, and also McKendree College at Lebanon.  He engaged in teaching for a time, read law with Charles Constable at Marshall, who was one of the most prominent attorneys of the state fifty years ago.  He married a daughter of his preceptor, who died in 1883.  He was remarried a few years later to a worthy lady of Marshall, who, with some three or four children survive him.  He is also survived by two brothers, Rev. M. P. Wilkin, of the Central Illinois M. E. Conference, and Henry O. Wilkin, clerk of our Circuit Court.   In the spring of 1862, he was mustered into the union service as captain of company K, 130th Illinois infantry.  He took an active part in the campaign and seige of Vicksburg, was at Grant's headquarters during the seige on special duty, and for some time after the surrender.  He was in the Red river campaign and all its battles.  He was also on Gen. Rosserans' staff and on duty with him at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, where Gen. Roseerans was seriously wounded and Capt. Dickey, his adjutant general, son of the late Judge Dickey, was killed.  Capt. Wilkin was also in the Mobile campaign, at the seige and capture of Spanish fort, storming of Blakely, and surrender of Mobile, and in other battles and skirmishes, and was mustered out at the close of the war and given a major's commission on account of meritorious conduct.   After the close of the war, Mr. Wilkin formed a partnership with the late Judge John Scholfield, which continued until Mr. S. was elected Supreme Judge in 1873.  Deceased was elected Judge of the Fourth circuit in 1879, re-elected in 1885, and in June of that year assigned to the Appellate bench of the Fourth where he served for three years. Having in the meantime removed from Marshall to Danville, he was elected to the supreme Bench in 1888, and successively re-elected, serving his third term at the time of his death.   Judge Wilkin was recognized all over the State as a just and upright man, a Christian gentleman, honred and loved by all with whom he came in contact, and his death will be sincerely regretted.   The remains of Judge Wilkin were taken to Marshall for interment, the funeral service being at the M. E. church here Saturday.  The bar association and G. A. R. were in charge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cindy McCachern