Cabell County, West Virginia           Biography of Robert J. WILKINSON, M. D.

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 58

ROBERT J. WILKINSON, M. D.  The professional career of doctor Wilkinson since
he graduated from medical college has been almost entirely in some branch of
public and institutional service.  For the past several years he has had the
responsible duties of surgeon-in-charge of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
Hospital at Huntington.

Doctor Wilkinson was born in Campbell County, Virginia, July 12, 1888.  His
grandfather, Thomas Jasper Wilkinson, was a native of Chesterfield County,
Virginia, but when a young man removed to Lebanon, Tennessee.  There he
married Miss Lucy Wade, and not only led an active business life, but was a
prominent whig in early day politics.

Beverly J. Wilkinson, father of Doctor Wilkinson, was born at Lebanon in
April, 1844, and was reared in that city.  When the war between the states
broke out, though but a boy, he enlisted and served under General Jackson in
the Valley Campaign, but was seriously wounded and discharged.  He then
reenlisted and served under General Morgan for three years.  He was a
graduate of Cumberland University with an LL. B. degree, and after his
university career removed to Campbell County, Virginia, where he made a
distinguished name and reputation as a lawyer, being a leader in the affairs
of the democratic party of this county.  He was twice married, first to
Mollie Turner, of Bedford County, Virginia, and later to Jennie Traylor, of
Brunswick County, Virginia, who is the mother of Doctor Wilkinson.  After
retiring from practice he lived with his son, Doctor Wilkinson, in
Huntington, where he died in August, 1920.

The early education of Doctor Wilkinson was received from the public schools
of Campbell County, supplemented by private tutors.  At the age of fifteen he
qualified for work as a telegraph operator with the Southern Railway Company.
 This occupation he followed three years, and was then in the mercantile
business until 1908.  Abandoning a  business career, he entered the Medical
College of Virginia at Richmond, and remained there until graduating in 1912.
 While there he had the honor of being a member of the Omega Upsilon Phi
Medical Fraternity, and in his senior year was elected president of the
Student body.  After his graduation he served one year as an interne in the
Memorial Hospital of Richmond, then for two years was associated with Dr. C.
C. Coleman, of that city, specializing in general surgery.

In October, 1915, Doctor Wilkinson was appointed surgeon-in-charge of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Hospital at Huntington.  He is a member of the Cabell
County, West Virginia State, American Medical association, Virginia Medical
Society, Richmond Academy of Medicine, Southern Medical Association, and
through a special attainment as a surgeon is a Fellow in the American College
of Surgeons.

He was among the first to volunteer for service in the great World war, and
after receiving his commission was assigned to the Base Hospital at Camp Lee,
where he remained until after the armistice.

In April of 1916 he married Miss Elizabeth Richmond, a native of Milton,
North Carolina, and with their three children, Robert, Elizabeth and Walter,
they now reside at their home on Sixth Avenue.

Doctor Wilkinson votes as a democrat, and is a member of Johnson Memorial
Methodist Church, South, of Huntington.  He is also affiliated with
Huntington Lodge No. 313, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Mohawk
Tribe No. 11, Improved Order of Red Men, the Kiwanis Club, Huntington Lodge
No. 53, A. F. and A. M., West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite
of Wheeling, Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston and the
Grottoes Branch of Masonry.