Mr. Samuel Wilkinson died at his home in Kerhonkson at 12:55 on the morning of Monday, August 18, 1902. It is not often that a rural journal is called to chronicle the demise within the same week of two men so conspicuous in the town, in whom centered so large a measure of public confidence, respect and affection, as in the case of John McElhone and Samuel Wilkinson. Probably no other two men in the township were more widely known. Something very nearly coincident occurred five years ago when the JOURNAL recorded in successive issues the death of Charles Ver Nooy, president of the First National Bank and George B. Childs, treasurer of the Ellenville Savings Bank. Again we note the passing of a bank president and the veteran official of the savings bank, Mr. Wilkinson having been at his death the sole survivor of the original board of directors of the Ellenville Saving Bank.

The writer is not a believer in tokens and auguries; but he will confess that when on one of the late days of March he finished the revision of the last chapter of Mr. Wilkinson’s reminiscences (No. 35) and found at the bottom of the page the phrase, “That’s all,” a shade of sadness fell upon his heart, and he remarked to an office companion that the words appeared ominous. They were lifted to a place above the signature, and thus became the last that were printed from his pen. Only a few days later we heard that Mr. Wilkinson, having taken a cold, it had developed into pneumonia.

His illness at once took on a serious form; both lungs were involved, and his recovery from that disease seemed little less than a miracle, and his restoration to comparative health was hoped for. But the patient himself did not appear to desire recovery — indeed for a time he so expressed himself; his broken spirits were crushed by the death of his son, Melbourne, on the 26^th of April, and thus his amazing vitality was handicapped. Repeatedly it was thought the end had come; but it was only by inches that the last enemy gained ground against a native constitution of great vigor and will preserved. The battle lasted more than four months with trying days and restless nights, periods of suffering that would have taxed the endurance of a strong man. At last the end came very peacefully.

The funeral service was at the home on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. A fitting discourse was delivered by Rev. W. P. Francisco of Accord; Rev. Mr. Kipp of Accord and Rev. N. L. Heroy of Greenfield assisted in the services. A large gathering of neighbors and friends attended. The following directors of the Ellenville Saving Bank were present: Dwight Divine, Clark Eaton, Samuel N. Smith, Isaac N. Cox, G. H. Dutcher and Dr. B. R. Bevier. Interment was in the family plot at Pine Bush cemetery.

Almost 60 years a resident of the town, the greater part of the time a prominent and influential citizen and business man, Mr. Wilkinson’s life is as an open book to our people. A man of probity, public spirited, a successful business man, a safe counselor, a good and exemplary neighbor, a stanch friend and genial companion, he will be missed and kindly remembered by many. He possessed a good mind and a remarkable memory. He revealed himself largely in the felicitous reminiscent sketches in the JOURNAL. He was domestic in his tastes, a lover of home and of the children. Mr. Wilkinson made no profession of any form of religion, but regarded himself an Episcopalian, having been baptized in that church in early life. He was a liberal supporter of the church, without prejudice to denomination.

Samuel Wilkinson was born in the parish of Almondsburg, Lingards township, Yorkshire, England, the home of his ancestors for generations. His birth occurred on the 24^th of June, 1824, and he was one of a family of eight children, all the others having preceded him into the silent land. One brother, Joseph, came also to America and located at High Falls in this country. He became a loyal American and in the great war for the Union fought gallantly under the flag of his adopted country. He died ten years ago at Muncie, Indiana. Samuel was the sixth child in the order of birth of the family. Having attended the school of his native place until he was twelve years of age, he was apprenticed to a tailor of Meltham, where he remained four years.

In November, 1841, Mr. Wilkinson sailed in company with the late Joseph Whitely for America, landing in New York on the 23^rd of December following. Remaining in New York until the following spring, he then came to Saugerties in this county, then in his eighteenth year. The journeyings and experiences of Mr. Wilkinson in the years immediately following have been related in a very interesting manner in the reminiscences written by his own hand and published in the JOURNAL. He settled in Kerhonkson in 1843, and engaged in his profession, in the pursuit of which he disclosed good taste, superior skill and a habit of honest dealing which gained for him the confidence of the public.

In 1847 Mr. Wilkinson entered into partnership with Col. A. D. Whitaker in the mercantile business, which interest he retained until 1863, when he sold out. In 1865 he once more engaged in merchandising, which business has been prosperously carried on and is now prosecuted under the firm name of S. Wilkinson’s Son. He was also interested for thirteen years, up to 1892, in trade in Ellenville, first in the firm of Moore, Wilkinson & Co., and later for a longer period under the style of Wilkinson & Denman—the present firm of Grant & Holmes being their successors.

On the 10^th of July, 1847, Samuel Wilkinson was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Cornelius Decker, and there were born to them six children: Alice, wife of Dr. Geo. H. Lathrup of Livingston Manor; Adele, wife of J. E. Decker; Salome, who became the wife of M. E. Stanton of Wurtsboro (now deceased); Webster, a merchant of Hurleyville and Kerhonkson; John James, who died in November, 1895, and Melbourne, who died on April 26^th, of this year. The mother of these children died on December 17, 1865, and eight years later, on the 12^th of February, 1874, Mr. Wilkinson was married to Tamar E., the daughter of the late Caleb P. and Sarah E. Knapp, and widow of Edward T. Marson, who died on February 23, 1891, survived by two children, T. Edna Wilkinson and Jennie M., a daughter of her former marriage, and the wife of J. Melford Depuy of New Paltz.