practiced awhile at Goshen. In 1847 he enlisted in the Tenth New York
Regulars for service in the Mexican War, and was commissioned captain.
In the spring of 1849 he came to St. Paul; practiced law; was
appointed United States marshal in 1851, and served until 1853. He
visited Europe during the Crimean War, and studied the art of war
before Sebastopol. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he raised the
first company for the first regiment, acted with conspicuous bravery
at the battle of Bull Run, and was commissioned major of the Second
Minnesota, lieutenant colonel in the same regiment, and colonel of the
Ninth Minnesota, all in the same year, 1862. He took part in the
Indian campaign, but at its close returned South, his regiment being
attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. A. J. Smith. He was
advanced to the position of brigade commander, and was killed at the
battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, July 14, 1864. Wilkin county,
Minnesota, bears his name.
WESCOTT WILKEN, a brother of Alexander, was born at Goshen, New York,
in 1827, received a good education, graduating at Princeton College in
1843, and studied law at New Haven Law School in 1846. He practiced
law in Sullivan county, New York, and was county judge four years. In
1856 he came to St. Paul and formed a partnership with I. V. D. Heard;
was elected judge of the district court in 1864, and re-elected every
succeeding term, without opposition.
S. C. WHITCHER was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1821. He came
to Amador, Chisago county, Minnesota, in 1853, and to St. Paul in