The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-02-09

administration, he was defeated for
reelection in the winter of 1865 by the
multiplicity of candidates. William
Window and Daniel S. Norton, of
Winona, and ex-Goy. Henry A. Swift,
of ST. Peter, were all Republican can
didates. together with himself, and
all have preceded him to the other
world.
Mr.. Lincoln was very much grieved
at Wilkinson's defeat, and publicly
announced through the press that he
regarded it as national calamity.
One of the exciting incidents ofWil-
kinSOn'S senatorial career was his
bringing charges of dislOyaltY to the
government against Jesse ID. Bright,
then one of the senators from Indiana.
Though the charges were not sustain
ed by the judiciary committee, Mr..
Wilkinson led the fight in open SEN
ate with such eluquence and vigor
that Bright was expelled.
In the winter of 1869 Mr., Wilkinson
was again candidate for the senate,
and again the fates were against him,
though the swerving Of hair would
have given him the prize.
When the an ti-Grant, or Liberal-Re-
publican convention was called to
meet in Cincinni ti in 1872 Mr.. Will
kinson was in sympathy with that
movement. 1t was called as mass
convention, and hence no state con-
ventiOn was necessary to send dele
gates. Quite number went from
Minnesota, and among them Mr..
Wilkinson. The convention was
found to be so unwieldy that in was
decided, after gathering, to make it a
delegate body, the number of dele
gates being made as is usual in
national conventions. There was
Just enough present from Minnesota
to make a full delegation and Mr..
Wilkinson therefore joined in the
Of Horace Greeley and B.
GratZ Brown for president and vice
president. This was the first loosen
ing of his party ties, as he acted with
the so-called "Liberal-Republican p"
party while that organization existed.
He was, however, elected to the
state senate 10 1874 from Mankato,
succeeding j. f. Meagher, and served
for four years, after which time he
formally allied himself with the DEM
ocratic party After removing to
Wells he was elected county attorney,
and in 1890 was the Democratic nom
for congress in the Second district,
but withdrew prior TO the election.
Soon after his retirement from the
United States senate in 1865, he re-
moved from ST. Paul to Mankato
where he resided until after the
death Of his wife, when he again
changed his residence to Wells. He,
however, ALWAYS kept up mis- interest
in and old acquaintance with Man
kato, and though Of late years
his visits have been somewhat
infrequent, there was always cordial
and heartfelt greeting for "Wilk"
when he came 10 this city.
Mr.. Wilkinson was admitted to the
bar at Syracuse, N, Y, in 1912, and
TO practice at Eaton
Rapids, Mich, after which he moved
to saltwater and became prosecuting
attorney. He was the first practicing
lawyer northwest of Prairie da CHEN.
La 1860 he was one Of the commission
ers to compile the state statutes.
While in ST. Paul he practiced law in
partnership with Judge Babcock. He
was twice married, his first wife
dying in Michigan. His second wife
and only son are buried in Glenwood
cemetery in this city. Only one child
survives him.
While a resident of this City and
serving his term in the United States
Senate Mr.. Wilkinson built the large
stone house now owned by Geo. M.
Palmer. 1t was one of the finest
houses in the city.
Mr.. Wilkinson was man of delight
full social habits and manners. grace
full cOnversationaliSt and a genial
gentleman. He was a good lawyer,
and an advocate of unusual power. He
never accumulated property. Helived
well, did not work very hard, and died
poor. His honor as d public servant
or a private gentiem In was never
questioned, and ia the senate he re-
fused to accept single present. For
many of the latter years of his life he
lived 10 Wells. He made freuueI f
visits to MankatO on business and fl r
pleasure, and was always welcome d
heartily by the old settlers. He left
his impress on the laws and policy Of
his country, and lived to a good old
age.
Children Cry fol-