James was born in about 1843, likely in Alabama where his parents were recently married (see also, 1860 census). He is the son of John R. Wilkinson and Sarah C. Cox. [1][2]
Sources
↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4LJ-39P : 12 April 2016), James W Wilkinson in household of John R Wilkinson, Tishomingo county, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States; citing family 574, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).