Bio of WILKINSON, William A. (b.1855 d.1913), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol II, pg 542-545
WILLIAM A. WILKINSON
William A. Wilkinson, a consulting engineer, carried on business as senior
partner of the firm of W. A. Wilkinson & Son, largely specializing in designing
and building sawmills. In this connection, because of his skill and pronounced
ability, he was widely known throughout the country and he also possessed
inventive genius which found expression in various valuable devices used in the
operation of these mills, on several of which he received patents.
William A. Wilkinson was of Canadian birth. He was born in Goodrich, Ontario,
April 25, 1855, a son of James and Jane (Patton) Wilkinson, both of whom were
natives of Ireland, whence they were taken to Canada by their parents in early
life. William A. Wilkinson acquired his education in his native province and
early in life learned the millwright trade at Ontario. He remained a resident of
that country until 1880, when at the age of twenty-five years he removed to
Minneapolis and through the succeeding four years was here connected with the
mills and elevators as a millwright. In 1885 he went to Idaho to erect a flour
mill, which task he accom­plished and put the mill in operation. While thus
engaged he met with an accident which cost him the partial loss of the use of
one of his hands, after which he returned to Minneapolis and pursued a course of
study as a draftsman in the University of Min­nesota. When his studies were
finished he engaged with the Diamond Iron Works and brought the business up to a
high standard, remaining therewith until 1901, when he resigned his position and
opened an office as a designer of sawmills and as a consulting engineer. In this
work he was assisted by his son, Charles P., under the firm name of W. A.
Wilkinson & Son and the firm built many of the largest and most modern sawmills
in this part of the country and also in the Pacific northwest. They also
designed and erected two large sawmills at Chihuahua, Mexico, for the Madeira
Lumber Company, which were fully equipped with all of the latest devices, many
of which were patents of Mr. Wilkinson. He also designed and built the sawmill
at Rainy River, Ontario, one of the largest in the country, having a capacity of
two hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber in ten hours. Other mills which he
erected were the Weyerhaeuser plant in Idaho, the Shevlin mills in northern
Minnesota and still other great institutions of similar character which stand as
monuments to his skill and ability. By profession an engineer, he became an
expert in the building of lumber plants and was recognized by leading lumbermen
as the greatest mind in the world in his particular line. His opinions came to
be recognized as authority by all who knew aught of his work. His thorough
study, his comprehensive experience, his constant alertness to anything that
tended toward advancement, soon placed him in a point of leadership and he never
lost this vantage point by reason of the expert skill which he constantly
manifested throughout his professional career.
In 1882 Mr. Wilkinson was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Burnham, a daughter
of Enoch and Hannah (Hall) Burnham, residents of Milltown, New Bruns­wick. Mr.
and Mrs. Wilkinson became parents of three children: Charles P.; Eva, the wife
of Morton E. Hall of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Gladness, at home. Mr.
Wilkinson departed this life August 8, 1913. He was never connected with
fra­ternal orders nor clubs, his interest outside of his business centering in
his home and in his church. He was one of the most prominent and active workers
in the First Advent Christian church and was untiring in his activities in
connection with religious work. One who knew him well said: "He was a man of red
blood, a master of men, a loving husband and father, and above all a consistent
and humble follower of the Master. He gathered with us (the congregation of his
church) always as a brother, a friend, a counselor, with whom the humblest might
feel at ease. His every act was characterized by the genial kindness that always
pervaded him and caused his acquaintances to become his friends." He met with
notable success in business but this was merely a means to an end; it was the
act of the trusted servant in the wise use of his talents and his prosperity was
divided with others for their benefit and for the upbuilding of the community in
which he lived.