師範學校
Wilkinson, born September 19, 1851, to Jackson and Mary, began his career in education at sixteen. In 1874, Wilkinson graduated from Illinois Normal School. After graduating from college, Wilkinson was the principal of the Buda, Illinois school district until 1879. Wilkinson moved to Emporia, Kansas in 1884 to become a professor at the Normal school and later became vice-president.