Hugh Wilkinson, M. D., one of the leading surgeons of Kansas City, Kan., was born at Seneca, Nemaha county, Kansas, Nov. 27, 1877, the son of Western and Mary (McLellan) Wilkinson. His paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Michigan, where he reared his family. Western Wilkinson was born at Berrien Springs, Mich., March 21, 1846. He came to Kansas in 1871 and engaged in the newspaper business. For years he ran the "Seneca Weekly Courier," but left the paper to accept a position as cashier of the First National Bank of Seneca, which position he held for fifteen years before he retired from active business. He takes great interest in politics, is a Republican leader in local politics and was postmaster of Seneca for two terms. Western Wilkinson's church affiliations are with the Congregational church, of which he is a stanch supporter. Some of Dr. Wilkinson's maternal ancestors fought in the Revolutionary war. His maternal grandfather, Hugh McLellan, was a native of Maine, a merchant, who spent his life in his native state.

Dr. Wilkinson received his elementary education in the public schools of his native town, then went to Maine, where he graduated in the Brunswick High School. Having determined to study medicine, after leaving the high school he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., where he graduated in 1901. Soon after graduating he went to Lawton, Okla., being the first physician to open an office there, but remained only four months, as he was offered inducements to go to Kansas City, Kan. Within two years he had built up a satisfactory and growing practice, devoting most of his attention to surgical work. For some time he was a lecturer in the medical department of the University of Kansas, which is located in Kansas City, Kan. Dr. Wilkinson is abdominal and gynecological surgeon to Bethany Hospital; is the attending physician at the State School for the Blind, and belongs to four medical societies. He is a member of the medical fraternity of Phi Beta Pi and has served as secretary of the Wyandotte County Medical Society. On Feb. 21, 1904, Dr. Wilkinson married Ethel Sims, daughter of Ellington Sims, a native of Iowa and a veteran of the Civil war. One child, a daughter named Elizabeth, has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Wilkinson. Dr. Wilkinson is a Republican in politics and is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 272. He takes an interest in all public affairs which tend to the welfare of the city, but devotes his entire time to his large practice and hospital work.