An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 416-417

	THOMAS GILKERSON. -- Like her sister countries England has contributed many
of the most enterprising and popular citizens of time United States, and
prominent among time early pioneers of the State of Washington is the subject of
this sketch, whose birth occurred in that fair land. Mr. Gilkerson was born in
England, October 19, 1837, son of George and Sarah (Wilson) Gilkerson, both
natives of England. In the year 1841, the father removed his little family to
America, our subject being then but a small boy, four years of age. The father
settled New York State, where he reared his family on a farm, dying in 1884, at
the age of seventy-three years. His wife survived him until 1890, when she too
died, at the age of eighty years. They had seven children, of whom our subject
was the third child, and all of them are living but one.
	Our subject left the State where he was reared, January 20, 1860, and came,
via the Isthmus of Panama to British Columbia, where he remained a short time,
then removed to Washington, working for wages for about two years. As he was
industrious and frugal he was soon able to accumulate enough to purchase 160
acres of land. This he has improved, increasing the number of his acres to 440,
200 acres of which are in a high state of cultivation. This land he devotes to
grain-raising and stock-growing, dealing in the best grades of live stock,
including cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses, believing that it is a good plan to
raise a little of everything, so that he may have something to sell at all
times. On his land he has erected a comfortable home for his little family. It
must be a source of great satisfaction to Mr. Gilkerson to review the past and
contrast his present prosperous condition with his poverty when he landed in
Washington. Notwithstanding his lack of means at starting, he is now numbered
among the leading citizens of the county.
	Our subject was married in 1863, to Mrs. McWhirk, nee Sickley, a native of
Pennsylvania, who came to Washington in 1859. She was the widow of Henry
McWhirk, who died, leaving one child, George Henry McWhirk. Mr. and Mrs.
Gilkerson have had four children born to them, namely: Charles, Harry, Thomas
and Lewis. Politically our subject casts his vote for the candidates of the
Democratic party, and takes great interest in all measures of benefit to the
community.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.