Salathiel Leonard

ELIAS D. WILKIN OBITUARY
CLARK COUNTY HERALD
17-APRIL-1895

In Licking County, Ohio, on September 20, 1832, a son was born to Isaac and Sarah Wilkin. He was the second son. This was Elias D. Wilkin, the subject of this sketch.

In 1845, the family then increased by the arrival of several other children, moved to Crawford County, Illinois. Elias taught school and at intervals attended McKendree College for a number of years, graduating from the college in 1856. The next year he was appointed to the principalship of the Andrew College in Marshall. He filled this position very acceptably until 1862, when he resigned to take the post of chaplain in the 21st Illinois, Grant's regiment in which his brother Ed was a captain of a company.

After his discharge from the service, at the close of the war, he was ordained a minister of the Illinois M.E. Conference and was given a regular charge. Charleston was the scene of his first work in the Lord's vineyard. Some of his other charges were Normal, Springfield, Mattoon, Pana, Paris, Champaign, Danville, Carlinville and Lincoln. From the size and importance of these cities, it will be seen that he is successful and a much sought for minister from the very start. He was finishing his fifth year at Lincoln and had been five years at both Carlinville and Danville.

On December 28, 1857, he married Miss. Harriet Mayo of Paris. She died in 1881. Four years later Rev. Wilkin married a Mrs. Hill of Palestine who survives him.

Rev. Wilkin's death resulted from stomach and heart trouble from which he had suffered for years.

There was no more popular minister in Illinois than Rev. E.D. Wilkin. He loved his work, and the charm of his genial, kindly manner and the example of his holy life was an everyday sermon. He was loved and honored by the G.A.R. men all over the state and the simple announcement that Elias Wilkin was to talk to the boys was sufficient to bring out a big crowd. At the time of his death, he was chaplain of the Fourth Regiment Illinois National Guard. The following order was promulgated from regimental headquarters:

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH REGIMENT, ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD, GREENUP, ILLINOIS, APRIL 11, 1895.

It is with profound regret and deepest sorrow that the announcement to the regiment must be made, that death has taken from our Field and Staff that most devout and earnest Christian officer and gentleman, Elias D.Wilkin, Chaplain of the 4th Regiment Infantry, who died April 8, 1895. No truer soldier ever wore the uniform of his country; a more devout Christian never camped in the field of his own and his country's service. His life has always been one of example and worthy of imitation by any true man or soldier. Schooled in the field of active service during the war of the Rebellion, he brought with him to the Illinois National Guard those qualities that qualify men to command and obey the law.

The officers of the Regiment will wear the usual badge of mourning for the period of three months and the Regimental colors will be draped in mourning for the same period.

BY ORDER OF COL. SMITH, H.S. PARKER, CAPTAIN AND ADJUTANT.