My Genealogy Hound

William B. Wilkinson, M. D., a retired physician and a progressive farmer of Fayette County, was born near Petersburg, Dinwiddie Co., Va., January 16, 1824, and is a son of Wyatt and Mrs. Nancy (Lloyd) Wilkinson, both being natives of Virginia. In 1825 they immigrated to Alabama and located in Limestone County, where they spent the rest of their lives. The father was a successful farmer, and both parents were consistent members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was the second of three children, and was well educated at La Grange College, Ala., when it was under Bishop Robert Paine. After completing his literary education he entered the Medical College of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, where he received a diploma in 1845, then located in Fayette County in the Twelfth District, and commenced the practice of medicine, but after a successful effort for a year in that direction, not liking the responsibility of the work, he retired from the profession, and for the next four years gave all of his time to farming. From 1851 to 1861 he was without a permanent home and engaged in various enterprises. In 1860 he purchased the place where he now lives and moved to it the next year, and has met with great success as a farmer; he now owns over 1,400 acres of land in Fayette County. February 2, 1859, he married Margaretta L. Locke, who was born in La Grange, Fayette County, January 25, 1840. They had eleven children—seven sons and four daughters—of whom three sons and two daughters are dead. Dr. Wilkinson is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the success of his party. Mrs. Wilkinson is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and both are highly esteemed by all who know them.