Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance Agency honored for 75 years as family business
The Highland County Press
Meghan Shea of Westfield Insurance honored Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance Agency of Hillsboro for 75 years of local business service during an award presentation Tuesday afternoon.
While the local insurance business has been in the Wilkin family since 1939, the business traces its roots to 1876, when Thomas Perfect owned the company.
Ten years later, Henry Waddell succeeded Perfect in ownership, and in 1898, C.E. Wood was the owner.
According to the company's website, http://www.wilkin-wilkin.com, Wood then formed a partnership with John Q. Rhoads and Frank Kirkpatrick. He sold out to his two partners, and in 1905, Rhoads became the sole proprietor of the Ohio Farmers Hillsboro Agency.
In 1909, Rhoads sold to Raymond Kirkpatrick, the agent in 1913, and Charles McNeil took over the reins.
In 1919, Walter B. Hilliard bought the business and hired Miss Blangie Wilkin to be his secretary, as the Wilkin family entered into the business.
Mr. Hilliard and his son, Richard, were in business until Richard died in 1938.
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After Richard's death, Mr. Hilliard opted for early retirement, and he gave Miss Blangie the first option to buy. She asked her brother, Henry N. Wilkin, to join her in business; thereby the first Wilkin-Wilkin Agency was formed.
John C. Wilkin joined with his father and his aunt in 1945. In 1945, Miss Blangie had a stroke and sold her share of the business to her nephew, John.
John became the sole owner at the death of his father in 1963. His son, John Jr. "Buck" Wilkin, joined the agency in 1973. John Sr. died in 1982, and his wife, Betty, and his daughter, Mary Wilkin Hamilton, joined the agency.
They are still working there and are joined by Bruce Smith, in charge of the farm department, Erin Blankenship, Ron Hughes and John's son-in-law, Ben Howland, as personal and commercial lines agents.
Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance Agency was appointed as an independent agent representing Westfield Insurance in 1939. Both companies are proud of this 75-year relationship and remain committed to providing their customers with the best service possible.
The agency is located at 127 South High Street in uptown Hillsboro. The website is http://www.wilkin-wilkin.com, and they can be reached by phone at (937) 393-3492.