My Genealogy Hound

Harvey D. Wilkinson, farmer, was born July 9, 1863, in Polk County, Ark., and is the son of Benjamin J. and Sallie A. (Arbuckle) Wilkinson. Benjamin J. Wilkinson was born in Mississippi, and there lived to be grown, and was by profession a lawyer, graduating, both in the academic and law department, at Lebanon, Tenn., and establishing himself in the profession at Fort Smith with Judge Walker as his law partner. He had previously read with Judge Brown, of Van Buren, and subsequently continued in practice in Fort Smith until the breaking out of the war. Then he went to Texas, and remained there until his death in 1864. Sallie Arbuckle was born and reared in Sebastian County, on Arbuckle Island, and was educated by private tutor. Here she grew to womanhood, and married Mr. Wilkinson, and bore him one child, Harvey D. After Mr. Wilkinson’s death she was married to John Jacoway. James A. Wilkinson, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Tennessee, and was there reared and married, going thence to Mississippi and Texas, returning finally to Tennessee. He is now living in Texas. John D. Arbuckle, the maternal grandfather, was born near Hopkinsville, Ky., leaving there when about twenty years of age. He remained in Missouri some time teaching school, and then came to Sebastian County, having married, however in Missouri, Louisa Jones. On coming to Arkansas he settled on Arbuckle Island, which now bears his name. During his early life he was elected colonel in the State Militia in Kentucky. He and wife both died on the farm where our subject now lives, he at the age of sixty-five, December 8, 1873, and while occupying the senatorial seat from the Eighth District, having been elected over Col. B. J. Brown, and in an article taken from the Fort Smith paper we find the following: The noble old man, whom the people all delighted to honor, passed away from earth to an assembly where we trust he will wear brighter than any earthly honors. Arkansas has lost a valuable representative, the community an estimable citizen, and the family a loving husband and father.” Gen. Mathew Arbuckle, of Kentucky, was an uncle, and a graduate of West Point, and it was through him that Arbuckle Island was acquired by a patent from Martin Van Buren in 1839. The first court-house site of the county is now on land owned by Harvey Wilkinson, he having acquired the property through his grandfather, John D. Arbuckle. Harvey D. Wilkinson was principally reared in this county, being cared for after the death of his parents by his grandfather and grandmother, Mr. and Mrs. Arbuckle. He lived with them until their deaths, and from 1879 until 1886 attended the Fayetteville University. He is the owner of 700 acres of land, 200 of which he cultivates, the old homestead being included. In connection with his farming he is engaged in milling and ginning. In politics Mr. Wilkinson is a Democrat, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity.