Biography of Edward Wilkinson, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Wilkinson, Atkinson.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 326

Edward Wilkinson

Mr. Wilkinson was born in Westmoreland county, England, in 1846, the son of
Edward and Elizabeth (Atkinson) Wilkinson, natives of the same place. He
remained at home until fifteen years old, acquiring a common school education,
then yielded to the promptings of his adventurous nature, and went to the
coast of Africa. He traveled quite widely over the Conger river region, then
visited the Cape Verde islands, the island of St. Helena, Ascension island and
many more in the region, and when they had explored the country sufficiently
to satisfy him he set sail for Rio de Janeiro, thence to the Falkland Islands
and through the straight of Magellan to the Pacific ocean. He went to
Honolulu, thence to Portland thence to San Francisco, arriving at the latter
point in 1867.

Soon he was engaged in mining in the Golden state, but apparently not finding
conditions to his liking, he came north to Portland, and thence to the Boise
basin, where he was engaged in placer mining for about eighteen months. At the
end of that period he entered the Malheur district, in which he spent a couple
of years, eventually coming to Sparta. For about three years he followed
mining and the general merchandise business there, and for three years more he
followed like pursuits in the upper end of Pine Valley. He then came to Pine
post-office and embarked in the general merchandise business with S. S.
Pindle, whom he afterward bought out, that he might enter into partnership
with his brother, Robert A. The two are in business together at present and
are building up a very extensive and thriving trade, the natural result of
their business sagacity and fair dealing.

Our subject is the owner of a couple of Galena claims in Idaho, some realty at
Sparta, and fruit ranches at Eagle, Bridgeport and Pine.

Mr. Wilkinson states that he has never had any personal difficulties with the
Indians, though he participated in the Joseph war. It is of interest to record
at this juncture that he met Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, at Luzon island,
and that he saw the Kearsage and was on board her a short time before she
fought the Alabama.