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ames E. Wilkinson Portrait and Biographical Record, Pages 419, 420 JAMES E. WILKINSON, who is chaplain of the Akeley Institute of Grand Haven, Mich., was born in Essex County, Mass., February 9, 1857, and is a son of Thomas Wilkinson, a native of England. The father died in the Bay State in November, 1879. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Stanclyffe, and was also born in England. After attending the common schools of Massachusetts, Mr. Wilkinson whose name heads this record entered a preparatory school in Nashotah, Wis., and afterwards became a student in Harvard University, from which he was graduated, after completing the classical course, in 1884. He entered the ministry of the Episcopal Churh, and in the autumn of 1884 he became rector of St. Thomas’ Church, of Hamilton, N.Y., where he remained for sixteen months. He then went to Utica, N.Y., and became assistant minister of Grace Church, under Rev. C. T. Olmstead, remaining with him until April, 1888, when he came to Grand Haven, Mich. Ere his removal to the West, Mr. Wilkinson was married, in January, 1885, to Miss Abbie Egar, of Rome, N.Y., a highly educated lady, whose culture and refinement would give her a leading place in any circle of society. Their union has been blessed with three children, a son and two daughters: Laurence, Mary and Elizabeth. Having been appointed rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Grand Haven, Mich., Mr. Wilkinson entered upon the duties of that position in the summer of 1888, and in the autumn of the same year took charge of Akeley Institute, which was duly opened to the public on the 12th of September, with our subject as chaplain and his wife as principal. These positions they still hold. The land upon which the institute stands was donated by H. C. Akeley, now of Minneapolis, Minn., in memory of his daughter, who died in 1887. He was formerly a resident of Grand Haven, and was much interested in the growth of the city. The erection of the new building was due largely to the generosity of Bishop Gillespie, of Grand Rapids, who is Bishop of western Michigan, and the edifice was erected at a cost of $22,000. It is a handsome brick building, 40x130 feet, three stories in height, built in modern style, supplied with all the latest improvements and beautifully located on Akeley Hill, where it commands a fine view of the surrounding country. This institution was founded for the education of young ladies, and the first year had an attendance of eleven boarding pupils and twenty day pupils. Since then the attendance has increased to thirty boarding students and fifteen day pupils. The classical languages are taught, also German and French, art, music and the sciences. Young ladies are there prepared for entering the universities. The professor devotes his entire time to the institute, and it has made a steady and healthy growth under his supervision, and bids fair to become one of Michigan’s great seats of learning for young ladies. Mr. Wilkinson is a genial, affable gentleman, whose excellent education and natural ability make him well qualified for the position he so ably fills. In 1888 he was granted the degree of Ph. D. He has direct charge of the history and mental science classes and the classics. His most estimable wife has the personal care of the young ladies and is principal of the institute. |
Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company
Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 16 May 2003
URL: Biographies