[1] Wilkinson, born September 19, 1851, to Jackson and Mary,[2] began his career in education at sixteen.

Wilkinson moved to Emporia, Kansas in 1884 to become a professor at the Normal school and later became vice-president.

[4] Wilkinson took over as the Kansas State Normal School's sixth president on June 7, 1901, following Albert R. Taylor's resignation.

[5] Shortly after becoming president, Wilkinson decided that students who were failing would not continue at the Normal school and only those who completed a four-year program would graduate.

[7] After resigning in June 1906 from the Normal School, Wilkinson bought and became the president of the Citizens Bank in Oklahoma until 1910.