The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-02-03
Judge LDilkin Passes
BIOGRAPHICAL


reared in the Buckeye state. After
completing the course of study in the
public schools of his native town he
attended the University of Ohio at
Columbus for one year and then matric-
ulated as student at the University
of Wisconsin at Madison from which
institution he was graduated in 1874.
He was school teacher, both before
and after his graduation; subsequent
ly studying law with Major Townsend
at Athens, where he later practiced
his profession for one year on his
own account.
In the spring of 1880 Judge Wilkin
came to Colorado and located at Fair
play in Park county, which has been
the family home ever since. In 1852
law partnership was formed at
Fairplay between Judge Wilkin and
Judge Morton S. Bailey, which continu-
ed for ten years, or until the removal
of the latter to Canon City. Judge
Wilkin was elected prosecuting attor-
ney of the old Fourth judicial district,
comprising Ell Paso, Douglas, Elbert.
Park and Chaffee counties, in 1882,
an office he held for three years. There
was a lot of work to do in connection
with the position in curbing the law
lessness of the undesirable citizens
of the district, but Judge Wilkin
proved to be the right man for the
MI nd xt-1,n ic oc
prosecutor expired the district was an
inviting field for religious eyangeiists
and Sunday school missionaries.
Judge Wilkin was mayor of Fairplay
for eight or ten years; position he
held at the time of his election to the
district judgship. He was president
of the board of education there for
about the same length of time and his
counsel and advice was in constant
demand by his neighbors and acquaint-
ances upon all questions of local inter
est and concern. Judge Wilkin is a
member of the Loyal Legion, an or
ganization formed among the officers
of the United States army and navy.
and, including in its membership SOL
diers and sailors of the Civil war and
their sons. Judge Wilkins connection
with it being an inheritance from his
father, who was a cavalryman in an
Ohio regiment during the Rebellion.
No man stood higher in the estima-
ton of his fellow citizens than Judge
Wilkin because of his high personal
honor and integrity and his usefulness
and devotion to the interests of those
about him. He was never seeker
for office. but what public positions
he held were bestowed upon him as a
f, tribute Of confidence and esteem by
those who appreciated his attainments
! as lawyer and his splendid qualities
as a citizen.
No man in the state was held in
higher regard by HIS friends than
Judge Wilkin and none supported
more Loyalty than he it's social edu-
cational, religious. moral and patriot
: ic Institutions. Judge Wilkin, both
as an attorney and as an administra-
tor, was fair and fearless in his in
depreciation of the law, and, that fact
coupled with his high appreciation
of justice, won for him the admira-
1 tion and esteem of all classes of peo-
pie in the district in which he prac-
ticed his profession, or presided as a
Judge; particularly among the mem
bers of the bar. The construction
and application of the law made by
Judge Wilkin in all cases was based
upon sound principles, equity and
good judgment. The sentences i'm
posed by him in punishment on its
violators were prompted by reason
and were based upon law. tempered
with mercy
During his long residence as an at
torney at Fairplay. and, indeed, after
his election to the judgeship and hiE
removal to Canon City. he, probably
devoted more hours to study and labor.
ed more days in the week than almost
any member of his profession, yet this
man, whose work was never done, al
ways had time to listen to the griev'
ances of the community, many OF
whose members seemed to regard his
office as a sort of temple of Justice
where they could adjust their trou
bles and ALLEVIATE their distresses.