Willard Wood Wilkinson was born July 25, 1839 to Robert
Wilkinson and Elizabeth Miller in Lake County, Indiana. He was one of nine children. The others were: Noah A, David M, John B,
Sarah Jane, William (died), Corsena, Corena, Elizabeth. Sarah Jane Cottrell was born December 11,
1840 in Madison County, Indiana to William Cottrell and Anna Parcels. Willard and Sarah Jane were married in
Benton County, Iowa in June 10, 1860 just before Willard enlisted in the
Union Army (1861-1865). Willard
served with Company D, 28th Iowa Infantry. Willard was wounded several times,
captured, escaped, and discharged at the war’s end. They lived in Iowa for several years before coming to
Nebraska. Willard came first in 1871
and took up a homestead in St Clair Valley southeast of Oakdale,
Nebraska. Sarah Jane and the children
came in the fall of the year. The
continued to live on the farm until moving to a small place on the southeast
edge of Oakdale in 1897. Eight boys
and three girls were born to them: Robert William, Adelbert, Thomas Peter, Willard Henry, Charles Ralph,
Minnie, David Miller, Ella May, John Mitford and Clyde Alvin. Lenora Elizabeth died in infancy in
Iowa. The older children married and
moved away to South and North Dakota and Oregon. Minnie married James Rouse and lived at Oakdale, as did David,
Ella, John and Clyde.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in July 2007