M. G. Wilkins Fought Under General Forest

Golden Anniversary Edition of the Crowley Daily Signal Pub. 1949, page 104

M. G. "Uncle Mitt" Wilkins, late father of Gus Wilkins and Mrs. W. W. McCain and Mrs. Elzy Duval of Crowley, was born in Mississippi 99 years ago, veteran of the Civil War with a regiment of Mississippians, with whom he fought under famed General Forest.

He joined the Army when 16 years of age and fought the last two years of that conflict. He settled in Opelousas after the war, farming, and was a St. Landry Parish official serving under C.C. Duson when he was sheriff of that parish.

He came to Crowley in 1902 and was with Thomson-Lyons (now Thomson-Reiber) the first few years here. Later he was appointed street commissioner and then elected Chief of Police of Crowley. He was a veteran of the Civil War and regularlhy participated in conventions and other activities of Veterans organizations.

He was the father of Gus Wilkins, Mrs. Elzy Duval of Crowley, Mrs. W.W. McCain or Prairie Hayes, Eral Wilkins of Norfolk, Virginia, Miss Ida Wilkins of Jackson, Mississippi, Mrs. Louis Bihm of Evansville, Indiana, and Mrs. Mike Halpin of Opelousas. "Uncle Mitt" was one of the most colorful and is one of the best remembered of the pioneers of this section. He died June 23, 1926.

M. G. Wilkins