1 Nov 1915: Not in many years was the city so profoundly shocked as on Saturday evening when announcement was made of the sudden death of Harry T. Atkins, one of Lebanon's most prominent insurance men and church members. He was at his place of business In the L. E. Weimer building during the day, and appeared to be in exceptionally good health and spirits, and yet at 5 o'clock the same evening, he was found dead at his home at 212 South Ninth Street. Mr. Atkins left his office early in the afternoon to go to his home to look after plants, flowers and shrubbery in his garden, and place them in a condition to withstand the rigors of winter. He was at that work when Mrs. Atkins went up town on a hurried errand. When she returned about 5 o'clock she was horrified to find her husband lying unconscious on the kitchen floor, with the garden soil still soiling his hands and clothing. She quickly summoned Dr. Alfred S. Weiss, the Chestnut Street physician, but his efforts were unavailing for a fleeting gasp was the only evidence of life that still remained in the form of the stricken man, and the doctor pronounced him dead a few minutes after his arrival. Mr. Atkins last May suffered a temporary spell of sickness which was unaccounted for at the time, but it is now believed that it was a slight stroke of paralysis, a forerunner of the fatal stroke of apoplexy which afflicted him on Saturday evening. It is believed that he may have felt a dizzy spell, and probably went to the kitchen for a drink of water, not knowing the real cause of the distress. The deceased was the son of the late John Atkins, a highly respected and influential citizen of Lebanon. He attended the local schools until he arrived at an age to look after himself, and then learned the trade of a machinist at the Weimer Machine Works. Upon his completion of his trade, he was married to Miss Jennie Roberts, and they went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they lived for a time, and then Mr. Atkins returned and with Charles Molly ventured into the insurance business, of which he made a success, having been thus engaged during the rest of his life. He was interested in the Lebanon Chain Works plant for a long term of years, and was also active in several other corporations, among them being the Annville and Palmyra Gas and Fuel Company, of which he was secretary at the time of his death. He was also secretary of the chain company when he died. He was probably best known in his relationship with the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school, he was a member there for many years, but during the past several years was especially active, being the president of the Brotherhood, and taking an active part in all church and Sunday school work. He was a particularly strong supporter of the Stough campaign and was instrumental in leading many men and boys to hit the trail. During the past week he was deeply involved in a revival held at the Methodist church, and on Friday evening seemed particularly elated and inspired. Upon his return from the meeting, he and Mrs. Atkins sat at home and sang selections from the Stough hymnal until after midnight. Mr. Atkins was a Republican in politics, and some years ago took a very active part in campaigns of that character. He was elected to the old time Select Council, and when that system was outlawed to make room for the new commission form of government, he was President of that branch of the city legislature. The deceased was one of Lebanon's most genial men, and was highly valued as a friend by thousands. He was undoubtedly one of the best known men in the city, largely through his connections with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, for which he was the local agent for many years. He was a member of the Masonic orders. He passed his fifty-first birthday anniversary in September last, and besides his wife, leaves two sons, John, a clerk at the Frank T. Atkins drug store, on Eighth Street, and LeRoy, who recently graduated as an electrical engineer from Lehigh University, and who is now employed near Bethlehem. There is one grand child. Mrs. John D. Adair, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Thomas P. Harris, of the same city, are sisters. The funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. [Lebanon Daily News]
1 Nov 1915: Not in many years was the city so profoundly shocked as on Saturday evening when announcement was made of the sudden death of Harry T. Atkins, one of Lebanon's most prominent insurance men and church members. He was at his place of business In the L. E. Weimer building during the day, and appeared to be in exceptionally good health and spirits, and yet at 5 o'clock the same evening, he was found dead at his home at 212 South Ninth Street. Mr. Atkins left his office early in the afternoon to go to his home to look after plants, flowers and shrubbery in his garden, and place them in a condition to withstand the rigors of winter. He was at that work when Mrs. Atkins went up town on a hurried errand. When she returned about 5 o'clock she was horrified to find her husband lying unconscious on the kitchen floor, with the garden soil still soiling his hands and clothing. She quickly summoned Dr. Alfred S. Weiss, the Chestnut Street physician, but his efforts were unavailing for a fleeting gasp was the only evidence of life that still remained in the form of the stricken man, and the doctor pronounced him dead a few minutes after his arrival. Mr. Atkins last May suffered a temporary spell of sickness which was unaccounted for at the time, but it is now believed that it was a slight stroke of paralysis, a forerunner of the fatal stroke of apoplexy which afflicted him on Saturday evening. It is believed that he may have felt a dizzy spell, and probably went to the kitchen for a drink of water, not knowing the real cause of the distress. The deceased was the son of the late John Atkins, a highly respected and influential citizen of Lebanon. He attended the local schools until he arrived at an age to look after himself, and then learned the trade of a machinist at the Weimer Machine Works. Upon his completion of his trade, he was married to Miss Jennie Roberts, and they went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they lived for a time, and then Mr. Atkins returned and with Charles Molly ventured into the insurance business, of which he made a success, having been thus engaged during the rest of his life. He was interested in the Lebanon Chain Works plant for a long term of years, and was also active in several other corporations, among them being the Annville and Palmyra Gas and Fuel Company, of which he was secretary at the time of his death. He was also secretary of the chain company when he died. He was probably best known in his relationship with the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school, he was a member there for many years, but during the past several years was especially active, being the president of the Brotherhood, and taking an active part in all church and Sunday school work. He was a particularly strong supporter of the Stough campaign and was instrumental in leading many men and boys to hit the trail. During the past week he was deeply involved in a revival held at the Methodist church, and on Friday evening seemed particularly elated and inspired. Upon his return from the meeting, he and Mrs. Atkins sat at home and sang selections from the Stough hymnal until after midnight. Mr. Atkins was a Republican in politics, and some years ago took a very active part in campaigns of that character. He was elected to the old time Select Council, and when that system was outlawed to make room for the new commission form of government, he was President of that branch of the city legislature. The deceased was one of Lebanon's most genial men, and was highly valued as a friend by thousands. He was undoubtedly one of the best known men in the city, largely through his connections with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, for which he was the local agent for many years. He was a member of the Masonic orders. He passed his fifty-first birthday anniversary in September last, and besides his wife, leaves two sons, John, a clerk at the Frank T. Atkins drug store, on Eighth Street, and LeRoy, who recently graduated as an electrical engineer from Lehigh University, and who is now employed near Bethlehem. There is one grand child. Mrs. John D. Adair, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Thomas P. Harris, of the same city, are sisters. The funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. [Lebanon Daily News]
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