John Bluford Wilkinson enlisted Confederate service in Civil War May 18, 1861 in Smithville, DeKalb Co. Tennessee age 28. Served in Company A 16th Tennessee Infantry as a private. November 25, 1863 he was captured Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge, near Ringgold, Georgia remained a prisoner until close of war released May 12, 1865 after taking oath of allegiance to United States.

They lived in District 15, Warren Co TN

John and Hannah Wilkinson moved with family, including married daughter Mary (Mollie) Elizabeth and husband John Harrison Wooldridge to Denton Co. Texas ... January 7, 1879. They had 12 children, all born in Tennessee except for the youngest.

John Bluford Wilkinson age 77, filed for Confederate Civil War pension in Denton Co. Texas, October 14, 1909. He died at his home in Denton October 18, 1919. Physician J. L. Hooper M.D. listed illness as "Senility", buried Trinity Cemetery Denton Co. Texas. $30 paid by pension fund for burial. Widow Hannah Wilkinson filed for pension benefits based on husbands service December 31, 1919 and granted payments until her death May 4, 1928.