(3 Sept. 1868-15 May 1938), cheese factory proprietor. (Charlie Wilkins) Born at Athens, Ont. Parents: George Wilkins and his wife Margaret Maloney. Wilkins learned the cheesemaking trade in early life, and was involved in the cheese industry for 50 years, quickly advancing from the manual work of cheesemaking into the ownership of cheese factories. At an early stage, as a follower or employee, he was one of protégés of D. M. Macpherson, the celebrated Cheese King. Having owned and operated cheese factories in Leeds County, Wilkins went on to conduct cheese factories at Bainsville, Tyotown and Glen Walter in GC. Then afterwards, about 28 years before his death, he went to Mille Roches (Stormont County), where he owned and operated the Lakeview factory for 24 years. In his final few years, he operated first the Morrisburg cheese factory and next, till it closed for the season the fall before his death, the cheese factory at Lodi, Stormont County. He won many prizes for his cheesemaking, including one at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. “For many years he boarded [i.e., put on sale] his cheese on Cornwall Cheese Board, acting as his own salesman…” His long connection with the cheese industry brought him into contact with many farmers, businessmen and professional men, making him, it was stated, “one of the best known men in Eastern Ontario.” He does not seem to have acted as a buyer in the cheese industry. (John A. Welsh, for example, was one of these buyers.) Wilkins’ involvement with GC was not a major part of his career. However, he was one of the men who by work and example advanced the cheese industry generally, so much a part of GC’s economy for several generations. He was married to Charlotte McRoberts. (four children) He died at Cornwall General Hospital after seven weeks of hospitalization. Burial was at Moulinette. He was a Protestant.

Standard Freeholder 16 & 18 May 1938 (QF) * Stiles 294 (biog. sketch, no portrait) * Rutley: index