My Genealogy Hound

H. C. WILKEY, postmaster, Columbus, Hickman County, was born October 11, 1814, in Pike County, Ohio. He is a son of John Wilkey, who was a native of Virginia; he died in Illinois in 1850, at the advanced age of ninety-five. Our subject was brought up on a farm, and at the age of eighteen went to Wapello County, Iowa, and continued farming. He enlisted in 1861, in Company F, Seventh Iowa Infantry, served three years, and at the expiration of his enlistment, was honorably discharged. He participated in the following battles: Belmont, Fort Donelson, first and second battles of Corinth, Shiloh, Pulaski and others. He then went to Paris, Tenn., where he was engaged in merchandising seven years. He then moved to Jackson, Tenn., where he continued merchandising about two years. In 1875 he came to Columbus, where he has since been engaged in the jewelry business. October, 1881, he was appointed postmaster, which office he has since held. He is a member of the Republican Central Committee, Knights of Honor, and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Knights of the Golden Cross. Mr. Wilkey was married, in 1865, to Mrs. Mary Johnson, of Tennessee; she died in 1880, leaving two daughters and one son; she also left one son by a former marriage. Mr. Wilkey was next married, in 1882, to Rose Patterson, of Hickman County. This union was blessed with one son. Mr. Wilkey is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school for four years, which office he still holds.