The eventful life of a well-known Syracusan
Alfred Wilkinson died at his home on James street at 9:30 o'clock last night. He had been out of health for a long time and confined to his room for many weeks, his last appearance on the streets of Syracuse being about the time when the trial of the case of Wilkinson & Co. before Judge Williams ended. Mr. Wilkinson was a native of this city, his father having settled here in 1810. The elder Wilkinson purchased about that time the tract of land where the Globe Hotel now stands, building for himself an office at the corner of Salina and Washington streets. Tradition has it that John Wilkinson's neighbors laughed at him because he put his office so far from the center of the village.
Alfred Wilkinson enjoyed such educational advantages as were afforded at the time of his boyhood. He was quick witted and had an unusual faculty for remembering details of every sort. Business affairs engaged his attention when he was a young man and at length the widely known banking firm of which he was a member was organized January 1, 1864. The business was conducted for a time in East Genesee street but eventually the banking house took possession of offices in the corner of the Globe Hotel building, where business was continued until the failure of December 10, 1884. For a time Mr. Wilkinson held the office of Collector of Internal Revenue. In 1873 Mr. Wilkinson became a member of the firm of Parkhurst & Willkinson of Chicago, terminating that relation five years later. For many years he was a member of the New York Stock Exchange, holding a seat there until its sale in 1883. He was for a long time one of the trustees of the New York State Idiot asylum, and took a deep interest in the success of the institution especially while it was under the management of the late Dr. Wilbur, with whom Mr. Wilkinson's relations were those of an intimate friend.
For something like twenty years Mr. Wilkinson was a Democrat in politics and at times a man of much influence in the counsels of that party. he was known as one of the most ardent admirers and staunchest supporters of Samuel J. Tilden, whom he always regarded with a feeling akin to reverence. On occasion Mr. Wilkinson's name was canvassed in connection with offices of great responsibility in the state.
During his life Mr. Wilkinson made several visits to Europe. He was an observing traveler making friends wherever he went. He had perhaps a wider acquaintance with men of distinction or of prominence in business in the larger American cities and in England than any one of his fellow townsmen, and the list of distinguished guests where he has entertained at his home in this city is very long.
Mr. Wilkinson's mind was remarkably alert. It was well stored with facts which he knew how to summon instantly when occasion demanded. He was well read and was a man of much more than ordinary general culture and information. Indeed he was almost entitled to rank as an expect in a dozen different fields. Mr. Wilkinson's wife was the daughter of the late Samuel J. May. His elder brother J. Forman Wilkinson is a Syracusan. Two brothers, John and Dudley, are residents of Chicago. His sister Maria H. Welsch died recently in Florence Italy. A second sister is Mrs. Joseph Kirkland.

Syracuse Standard, July 8. 1886, page 4