Birthday
On July 28, 1855 Edward was born somewhere around Lynville and Pulaski, Tennessee to Sarah and Peter Wilkinson joining his one or two year old sister Willie.
Little Brother
Edward’s brother Clarence was born in April of 1857.
Another Little Brother
Edward’s brother Pinkny was born in sometime in 1858.
Another Sister
Edward’s sister Nancy Ellin was born about June 1860.
1860 U. S. Census
On June 9, 1860 Edward’s family was recorded in the census as family and dwelling number 121, then July 28, 1860 they were recorded as 989. The first census indicates Lynville Tennessee, the next Lynville (Pulaski) Tennessee. Perhaps they were living with Peter’s sister Nancy (45) then they moved into a new home a little closer to Pulaski away from Lynville. Edward (5) was living with his dad Peter (41), mom Sarah (27), brothers Con (4), Pinkney (2), sisters Willy (7) and Nancy (1mo). Peter’s occupation was a gatekeeper.
Civil War Begins
At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered.
Another Little Brother
Edward’s brother Daniel was born June 30, 1862.
Franklin–Nashville Campaign
Late in the Civil War, the Confederate army attempted a campaign from Alabama through central Tennessee to attack Nashville. The campaign failed causing a retreat back through central Tennessee. The civilians would have been whipsawed as the two massive armies pursued each other. The Confederate army consisted of 39,000 men, the Union army had 60,000.
Another Little Sister
Edward’s sister Mollie was born April 1, 1865.
Civil War End
President Andrew Johnson officially declared an end to the insurrection on May 9, 1865; Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, was captured the following day.
Another Little Brother – The Last Sibling
Edward’s brother Gilbert was born November 7, 1867.
1870 U. S. Census
On August 15, 1870 Edward’s family lived in or near Pulaski, Tennessee. The family has grown to seven children. Edward (15) was living with his dad Peter (50), mom Sarah (37), Clarence or Con (13), Pinkney (12), Daniel (9), Gilbert (3) sisters Willy (16), Ellin formerly Nancy (10), and Molly (5).
It seems that they had moved from their previous house. Peter’s occupation was a farmer and Edward is now a Farm Laborer.
A notable difference is the racial integration of the area they lived in. It looks like about 50/50 black and white.
Marriage of Celia and Edward
On January 6, 1879 Celia Few and Edward were married in Giles county Tennessee.
Of interest, in the state of Tennessee you or someone was bound to pay $1,250 to the state in the event of a divorce?
He was 23 years 5 months 9 days and she was 18 years 11 months 24 days .
1880 U. S. Census
On June 16, 1889 Edward was living with his new wife Celia in Limestone county in Alabama. The county sits on the border with Tennessee just below Pulaski. He was a farmer next door to his brother Con Wilkinson and family.
He was 24 years 10 months 19 days and she was 20 years 5 months 3 days
A Son
George was born October 3, 1882 in Tennessee.
Texas Arrival
The year 1885 saw Uncle Ed entering Texas and was known as a railroad man in his former home, Nashville, Tennessee. He secured employment with a section gang engaged in laying steel for the Texas & Pacific, but soon tired of this and rented a farm North of Arlington on what was known as the Bostick place. Improved, sandy land, with a house and barn then worth $5.00 per acre with any kind of terms to pay for it, he says.
From the Arlington Journal – December 4, 1925
A Daughter
Lena was born August 25, 1885 in Arlington, Texas
Back to Nashville
In 1886 Edward left Texas and returned to Nashville, Tennessee.
A Son
Edgar was born in August, 1888 in Tennessee.
Tennessee Tax Payment
On February 26, 1890 E. F. Wilkinson paid $7.90 in Giles Tennessee county taxes.
He was 34 years 6 months 29 days old.
T. W. Pitman & Co. Statement
On March 11, 1891 Ed Wilkinson was given a statement for his account. T. W. Pitman & Co. was builder, and related timber services in Pulaski, Tennessee.
This is the only part of the statement saved. Wish I new more.
Unionized
August 19, 1891 Edward joined Favorite Lodge No 400, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.
A Night Out
November 24, 1891 Edward attended the third annual ball given by Nashville Lodge 89. Admission was 50 cents, ladies free.
Edward is Listed
In 1892, Edward is listed in the local directory as a brakeman for the L & N Railroad living on Brown Street.
The bill was written on a Demoville & Co prescription sheet. Demoville was a large pharmacy company in Nashville.
The Demoville office located in the Maxwell House building, an upscale hotel. Yes, it is the origin of the Maxwell House coffee brand name.
Medical Bill Paid in Full
On February 22, 1892 E. F. Wilkinson paid $3.50 to cover a medical bill.
Dr, W. J. Mcmurray was a prominent person in Nashville, Tennessee. Served on municipal boards and wrote a book about a Confederate military unit in the civil war.
Tennessee Business License
On March 9, 1893 Wilkinson & Co. paid $13.55 in state and county taxes for the privilege of operating a mdse (merchandise?) business. The license was for doing business in Davidson County where Nashville is located.
He was 37 years 7 months 12 days old.
Pork Purchase
On March 19, 1893 Wilkinson & Co. paid $26.79 for a lot of pork product. Perhaps for his merchandise business.
The puzzle, if he lived in Nashville, Tennessee he traveled 176 miles to Louisville, Kentucky for this purchase.
Flour Purchase
On August 23, 1893 Edward paid $9.30 for two types of flour. Another addition to his merchandise business.
Celia, Edward’s wife dies. Unknown as to exactly when, where or cause.
Edward is Listed
In 1894, Edward is listed in the local directory as a brakeman for the L & N Railroad living on Rains Avenue at the corner of Nolensville Pike.
Unionized Again
In 1894 Edward belonged to the ARU (American Railway Union) No. 187 working for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
Pullman Strike
Thirty people were killed in riots and sabotage caused $80 million in damages.
Pullman Strike, (May 11, 1894–c. July 20, 1894), in U.S. history, widespread railroad strike and boycott that severely disrupted rail traffic in the Midwest of the United States in June–July 1894. The federal government’s response to the unrest marked the first time that an injunction was used to break a strike.
The ARU called a massive boycott against all trains that carried a Pullman car. It affected most rail lines west of Detroit and at its peak involved some 250,000 workers in 27 states. The railroad brotherhoods and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) opposed the boycott, and the General Managers’ Association of the railroads coordinated the opposition.
Letter of Recommendation
On November 5, 1894 Mr W. H. C… sent a letter of recommendation. Edward was a good man who lost his wife and caring for his children, he is in need of a job.
Letter of Recommendation Denial
On March 15, 1895 Edward received a letter denying the request for a letter of recommendation, these things must follow proper channels.
Prior to the letter, It seems Edward did get a job working for the tracks department of the Lousville & Nashville Railroad Company.
Back To Texas
Land Lease in Tarrant County, Texas
On August 11, 1896 Edward leased land from D. McRae with required specifications through 1901. The land was located about ten miles east of Ft. Worth, east of Rush creek and north of the railroad in the R. R. Ramey 1280 acre survey. The land would be cleared for cultivation and a house built.
The map is a Goodfellow survey completed in 1892.
The lot would have been on the edge of Arlington city limits. Currently on the campus of the University of Texas Arlington.
The map is a 1940 version. The dark line is the city limits.
Loan to H. P. Mc something
On August 10, 1897 Edward loaned a man $42.50 for one year to purchase a lot at the corner of Yates and Fifth streets in Arlington Texas.
Not sure if this is note one of two notes or… the loan could be for $125.00 with $40 down?
(J.W. Dunlop Photograph Collection)
1900 U. S. Census
On June 3, 1900 Edward was renting a farm in Tarrant county Texas. He was living with his children George (17 yrs), Lena (14 yrs) and Edgar (11 yrs).
Marriage of Margaret and Edward
On July 7, 1900 Margaret Clementine Wright married Edward in Tarrant county Texas.
He was 44 years 11 months 10 days old, she was 41 years 4 months 5 days old.
Margaret was previously married to D Lafayette Wright who died eight months earlier. She had nine children with Lafayette. Seven surviving to this date, six living with her. Bert Wright 18, Willy Wright 14, James Wright 11, Thomas Wright 8, Clarence Wright 6, and Laura Wright 3. They had lived just seven houses apart.
A Daughter – The Final Child
Margaret gave birth to Myrtle on April 2, 1901 in Arlington, Texas
A New Subdivision in 1907
A Curious Announcement
The Dallas Morning News
Thursday, April 4 1907
Matters in the Courts
The application of E. F. Wilkinson, guardian of the person and estate of Nettie D. A. Thomas, to sell an undivided one-sixteenth interest of eighteen acres of land belonging to the maid was granted.
Death of Edwards’ Mother
Sarah A. Wilkinson died in Arlington on December 26, 1907. She was 74 years old.
1910 U. S. Census
On April 21, 1910 Edward was living in Tarrant county Texas, rural Arlington renting a farm.
The household included his wife, Margaret, their daughter Myrtle (8), Margaret’s sons Jim (21) and Clarence (15), and daughter Laura (13). Jim and Clarence worked the farm at home, but Edward was employed on a different farm. He lived next door to his son George with family.
Curious, the census indicates Margaret was in her 2nd marriage and Edward was in his 3rd marriage. Edward had two prior marriages, Celia and who?
Edward was 54 years 8 months 24 days old and Margaret was 51 years 1 months 19 days old.
Oklahoma State and Local Tax
On January 27, 1912 E. F. Wilkinson paid $2.65 in state and county property taxes. The property was in or near Cherokee Oklahoma.
He was 56 years 5 months 30 days old.
Death of Edgar
On May 9, 1914 Edward’s son Edgar died of tuberculosis at the age of 25. He died at the Oakland stop of the Dallas Interurban.
Edward was 58 years 9 months 12 days old.
1920 U. S. Census
On January 17, 1920 Edward owned his house on West Main Street in Arlington Texas.
The household included his wife, Margaret, their daughter Myrtle (19) and son in law Charles (26). They lived a house down from Margaret’s son Clarence with family. Edward is listed as a Cotton Speculator, Charles was an Insurance Agent.
Edward was 64 years 5 months 20 days old and Margaret was 60 years 10 months 15 days old.
Governor’s Letter
On April 26, 1921 Edward received a letter from Texas governor Pat Neff thanking him for a suggestion. I guess Edward was in favor of sharing the wealth of schools. Could have been the beginning of the Robinhood plan in Texas which was enacted in 1993.
Edward was 65 years 8 months 29 days old and lived at 212 West Street in Arlington Texas.
Arlington Journal
On Friday, December 4, 1925 the paper printed a short article about one of their pioneer citizens, “Uncle” Ed F. Wilkerson.
1930 U. S. Census
On April 9, 1930 Edward owned his house on West Main Street in Arlington Texas the same house as in 1920.
He lived with his wife, Margaret and a boarder by the name of Roland Turk. Margaret’s son Jim lived next door. Edward is employed as a public trader.
The census includes the fact that they owned a radio.
Land Purchase to Help Myrtle
On July 29, 1931, Edward purchased a one acre lot in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas for $4,000.00. He sold the lot and the note to Charles Edwards for $1.00 a few days later on August 10, 1931.
His daughter Myrtle and her husband Charles would soon build a house and move there with their daughter Charline and son Alfred.
This lot would become 702.
Death of sister Mollie
On July 25, 1936 Edward’s sister Mollie died as a result of arthritis deformana (aka rheumatoid arthritis). She was 71 years old.
Death of brother Daniel
On November 28, 1937 Edward’s brother Daniel committed suicide. “Brooding over the affliction that is slowly taking the life of his grand-daughter…”, Daniel killed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun. He did this in front of his 4 year old grandson.
1940 U. S. Census
On April 12, 1940 Edward owned his house on West Main Street in Arlington Texas the same house as in 1930.
He and his wife, Margaret lived alone together. Family members have moved a few streets away and Edward seems to have finally retired.
85th Birthday
On July 29, 1940 the Fort Worth Star Telegram published an article celebrating Edward’s 85th birthday.
Death of Margaret
On October 28, 1944 Edward’s wife dies as a result of burns after her clothing caught fire from an open gas heater in her home.
Edward Moves Near Daughter in Dallas
Edward is listed as living at 800 North Oak Cliff Blvd, just a couple of houses down from his daughter Myrtle.
Edward Dies
Edward died on June 13, 1946, buried in Parkdale Cemetery in Arlington, Texas.
He was 90 years 10 months 17 days old.
