Morton Smith Wilkinson was one of Minnesota’s most influential early political leaders, serving both in Congress and in the United States Senate during some of the most turbulent years in American history.

Born January 22, 1819, in Skaneateles, New York, Wilkinson received an academic education and studied law after earlier working on his father’s farm and spending time in Illinois and Michigan. He eventually settled in Minnesota Territory, where he quickly became active in public life as the region organized its government and legal structure.

In 1859, Wilkinson was elected United States Senator by the Republican legislature, serving from 1859 to 1865. His term coincided with the Civil War, and he played a prominent role in national affairs during that critical period. A close political ally and personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln, Wilkinson was frequently consulted on important matters of state. In the Senate he served as chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims and as a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, where he took an active role during the crisis following the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862.

After his Senate service, Wilkinson was elected to represent Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1869 to 1871. He also served in the Minnesota State Legislature and held various legal and public offices throughout his career, including county attorney after relocating to Wells, Minnesota.

Though warmly supported by many, Wilkinson’s political career was not without setbacks. He was defeated in a later bid for re-election to the Senate, an outcome that reportedly grieved President Lincoln deeply. Nevertheless, his influence on Minnesota’s early political development was substantial. He was known as a powerful orator, a capable lawyer, and a man deeply engaged in public service.

In his later years, Wilkinson divided his time between St. Paul, Mankato, and Wells, remaining interested in political and civic affairs. He died of heart disease in 1894 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John S. Brewster. His funeral was held in Mankato, and he was laid to rest in Glenwood Cemetery.

Wilkinson’s legacy is that of a territorial pioneer turned national statesman—one who helped shape Minnesota’s transition from frontier territory to established state during the defining years of the Civil War era.