VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
919
Point, King William county, X'irginia. He
obtained his early education in the public
schools, then during the years 1889-91 pur-
sued an academic course at William and
Mary College, completing his years of study
with a course at Pickett's Business College,
in Philadelphia. He then rettirned to West
Point and there was engaged as clerk in a
mercantile house until 1896. In the latter
year he located in Norfolk, Virginia, where
for two years he engaged in business as a
life insurance agent. In 1898 he entered the
government postal service as clerk in the
Norfolk postoffice. His first promotion was
to the money order department and in 1910
he was advanced to the position of stiperin-
tendent of that division. On July i, 191 1,
he was appointed assistant postmaster, a
position he has most efficiently and satis-
factorily filled. Mr. Wilkinson is a director
in the Old Dominion Life Insurance Com-
pany, of Norfolk, Virginia : a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church: a Republican
in politics and a member of the Royal Arca-
num. Mr. Wilkinson married, in Norfolk,
Grace A. Moore. Children: Dorothy Bayn-
ham ; Theodoric Lenyear; Thomas A. (2).
Edward E. Palen. One of the oldest of New York Holland families, founded in the colony about 1640, the Palen family has since that time been numerous and promi- nent in the Empire state. Leather tanning and dressing were the occupations of the family in the early days of their settlement, and they have continued in that line to the present time. Green county. New York, is a locality selected by many of the name as their home, and in time they gave their name to the village of Palenville.
Ezekiel Palen. grandfather of Edward E. Palen. of Norfolk. Virginia, assistant gen- eral manager of the Old Dominion Steam- ship Company, was a tanner and farmer of Greene county. New York, a man of con- siderable wealth and wide influence in the community. His trade descended to his son, Peter, in the manner in which the elder Palen had received it.
Peter Palen, son of Ezekial Palen, was born in Greene county. New York, in 1842. the eldest son of his father, and after com- pleting the usual course of study in the public schools was trained by his father and became a tanner. He was nineteen years of age when war broke out between the North
and South, and in 1861 enlisted as second
lieutenant in a company of the One Hun-
dred and Forty-third Regiment, New York
Infantry \'olunteers, being promoted to the
rank of captain, and finally breveted major
of United States Volunteers. He was
severely wounded on several occasions, but
each time rejoined his regiment upon re-
covery, serving until the final surrender.
After returning to his home and resuming
work at his trade he began the study of law,
several of those who began study at the
same time afterward becoming prominent in
their profession, and after his admission to
the bar he established in general practice in
Monticello, New York. Mr. Palen attained
influential position in his profession, and
was a leader in public afTairs, holding many
local offices, among them justice of the
peace, member of the school board, and
member of the board of trustees. After his
retirement he moved to Orlando, Florida,
where, the possessor of a comfortable for-
tune, he is passing the closing years of his
life in quiet enjoyment of the semi-tropical
beauties of his home. He is a Democrat in
political choice, and is a member of the Pres-
byterian church. Peter Palen married Rachel
J. Young, and has issue : Edward E.. of
whom further : Frederick P.. married Lina
Mayo, and has a son. Frederick P., Jr., born
in 1914; Jeannette H., married Sidney L.
Wood, and has a son, John, born in 1904:
Lewis S. ; Mary E.. died in 1904, married
Guy B. Steven.
Edward E. Palen. son of Peter and Rachel J. (Young) Palen. was born in New York state, in 1869. and there was educated in the public schools, finishing his studies in a business college. His entrance into the business world was in newspaper work in New York City, and he continued in jour- nalistic work as a member of the reportorial staff of the "Milwaukee Sentinel" of Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, remaining with the lat- ter paper for one year. On November 16, 1889, Mr. Palen accepted a position as clerk in the employ of the Old Dominion Steam- ship Company at Norfolk, where he has re- sided during this time exce])t for a period of between eight and nine years when he was located at the general offices of the com- pany in New York City. In the twenty- five years that have elapsed since Mr. Palen's association with this company was formed he has followed a course that has led con-
