Minister of Methodist Churches
ISAAC H ATKINSON
The name of Atkinson has for more than fifty years been familiar to the inhabitants of Story Co. The family having come here in pioneer days.
Isaac H Atkinson, the son of Eli and Jestine (Moore) Atkinson, was born in Knox Co, IL, on the 4th of October, 1856. His father was a native of Clark Co, OH, and his mother of Tazewell Co, West VA. They removed to Knox Co, IL, with their respective parents when children and there were reared and married.
In 1847 they came to Story Co, where they lived for one year and then went to Missouri for a year, at the end of which time they returned to Knox Co, IL, where they resided for twelve years.
In 1862 they again came to Story Co, locating in Palestine Twp, but in the spring of 1870 they went to Jasper Co and for twelve years were residents of the latter place. They migrated to Guthrie Co, NE, in 1886 and later went to Washington and Montana. Our subject's mother has passed away and since October, 1908, the father has made his home with his son Isaac.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, the Rev Isaac Atkinson, was a Methodist minister and came to Story Co with his son Eli when the latter first migrated from IL and made his home here during the remainder of his life. Not having any means of conveyance, he traveled all over Story
Co on foot in order to carry the gospel to the people. The story of Christ was told in the log cabin, the primitive schoolhouse, and sometimes in a clearing in the forest-God's first temple. Mr Atkinson was widely known and highly esteemed throughout the district in which he so long resided.
It was said of him that he had conducted more funeral services during the many years he ministered to the spiritual needs of the people than any other divine in the state. During the last thirty-five or forty years of his life he was afflicted with total blindness but no mere physical infirmity could vanquish a spirit such as his and despite the difficulties he encountered in going from place to place he continued to preach the word of God.
In 1884 he passed away. He was living in Jasper Co at the
time, where he had removed late in life from the old homestead in Palestine twp, this county.
Isaac H Atkinson, who represents the third generation bearing this name in Story Co, was reared at home. His boyhood and youth were very similar to those of all pioneer farmer boys attending the district school, which was conducted in a log schoolhouse very unlike the modern school
buildings seen on the Iowa prairies. He assisted in the work of the farm and enjoyed such recreations as fell to the lot of the young people of his day.
On the 7th of August, 1881, Mr Atkinson married Miss Mary Boitnott, and immediately after this event he began farming on his own account as a renter, but at the end of four years they went to NE and preempted one hundred and sixty acres in Frontier Co, where they continued to live for
nine years.
In 1894 they returned to Story Co and remained here for two years, at the end of which time they again removed to Nebrasha, residing there till 1900, when they sold their preemption.
Returning to this county they rented the farm in Indian Creek twp where they still live and which they now own. Having bought it in 1904. It is one of the fine farms of the locality, containing one hundred and forty eight acres of well improved and valuable land.
Mr and Mrs Atkinson are the parents of nine children: Gertie, the wife of Fred Lakin, living in Kansas; Lee, of Colo, this county; Sidney, who lives in Indian Creek Twp; Guy of McCallsburg, also of this county; Archie, George and Devere at home. George being a student in the high school;
and Lois, and Gerald. The family attend the services of the Christian Church, of which the parents are members.
Mr Atkinson is a republican in his political view, feeling the party's policy of protection best serves the interests of the agriculturist, and while he fulfills his duty as a citizen by casting a vote at each election, he has never sought any reward for party fealty in the way of political honors.
His fraternal relations are confined to membership in Sylvan Camp, MWA He is one of those unobtrusive, reliable and substantial citizens highly esteemed and respected throughout the community in which he lives because he can at all times be depended upon to fulfill his duty as he sees it to his country and fellow men.
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IA, A RECORD OF SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION, PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT, BY WO PAYNE, ILL, VOL II, CHICAGO: THE SJ CLARKE PUBLISHING CO, 1911. OBTAINED AT THE IA GEN SOC, DES MOINES, POLK CO, IA.
PAGES 130-132
Minister of Methodist Churches
ISAAC H ATKINSON
The name of Atkinson has for more than fifty years been familiar to the inhabitants of Story Co. The family having come here in pioneer days.
Isaac H Atkinson, the son of Eli and Jestine (Moore) Atkinson, was born in Knox Co, IL, on the 4th of October, 1856. His father was a native of Clark Co, OH, and his mother of Tazewell Co, West VA. They removed to Knox Co, IL, with their respective parents when children and there were reared and married.
In 1847 they came to Story Co, where they lived for one year and then went to Missouri for a year, at the end of which time they returned to Knox Co, IL, where they resided for twelve years.
In 1862 they again came to Story Co, locating in Palestine Twp, but in the spring of 1870 they went to Jasper Co and for twelve years were residents of the latter place. They migrated to Guthrie Co, NE, in 1886 and later went to Washington and Montana. Our subject's mother has passed away and since October, 1908, the father has made his home with his son Isaac.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, the Rev Isaac Atkinson, was a Methodist minister and came to Story Co with his son Eli when the latter first migrated from IL and made his home here during the remainder of his life. Not having any means of conveyance, he traveled all over Story
Co on foot in order to carry the gospel to the people. The story of Christ was told in the log cabin, the primitive schoolhouse, and sometimes in a clearing in the forest-God's first temple. Mr Atkinson was widely known and highly esteemed throughout the district in which he so long resided.
It was said of him that he had conducted more funeral services during the many years he ministered to the spiritual needs of the people than any other divine in the state. During the last thirty-five or forty years of his life he was afflicted with total blindness but no mere physical infirmity could vanquish a spirit such as his and despite the difficulties he encountered in going from place to place he continued to preach the word of God.
In 1884 he passed away. He was living in Jasper Co at the
time, where he had removed late in life from the old homestead in Palestine twp, this county.
Isaac H Atkinson, who represents the third generation bearing this name in Story Co, was reared at home. His boyhood and youth were very similar to those of all pioneer farmer boys attending the district school, which was conducted in a log schoolhouse very unlike the modern school
buildings seen on the Iowa prairies. He assisted in the work of the farm and enjoyed such recreations as fell to the lot of the young people of his day.
On the 7th of August, 1881, Mr Atkinson married Miss Mary Boitnott, and immediately after this event he began farming on his own account as a renter, but at the end of four years they went to NE and preempted one hundred and sixty acres in Frontier Co, where they continued to live for
nine years.
In 1894 they returned to Story Co and remained here for two years, at the end of which time they again removed to Nebrasha, residing there till 1900, when they sold their preemption.
Returning to this county they rented the farm in Indian Creek twp where they still live and which they now own. Having bought it in 1904. It is one of the fine farms of the locality, containing one hundred and forty eight acres of well improved and valuable land.
Mr and Mrs Atkinson are the parents of nine children: Gertie, the wife of Fred Lakin, living in Kansas; Lee, of Colo, this county; Sidney, who lives in Indian Creek Twp; Guy of McCallsburg, also of this county; Archie, George and Devere at home. George being a student in the high school;
and Lois, and Gerald. The family attend the services of the Christian Church, of which the parents are members.
Mr Atkinson is a republican in his political view, feeling the party's policy of protection best serves the interests of the agriculturist, and while he fulfills his duty as a citizen by casting a vote at each election, he has never sought any reward for party fealty in the way of political honors.
His fraternal relations are confined to membership in Sylvan Camp, MWA He is one of those unobtrusive, reliable and substantial citizens highly esteemed and respected throughout the community in which he lives because he can at all times be depended upon to fulfill his duty as he sees it to his country and fellow men.
HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY, IA, A RECORD OF SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION, PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT, BY WO PAYNE, ILL, VOL II, CHICAGO: THE SJ CLARKE PUBLISHING CO, 1911. OBTAINED AT THE IA GEN SOC, DES MOINES, POLK CO, IA.
PAGES 130-132
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
