James W. Atkinson, of Moline, was born at Union Grove, Whiteside Co., 111., Aug. 26, 1839, and is a son of Joshua T. and Emeline (Little) Atkinson, the former a native of Newburyport, Mass., and the latter of Suncook, N. H., both being of English descent. They were pioneers here, coming West as early as 1835.

James W., whose name heads this sketch, attended school at Union Grove, at Galesburg, 111., and at Denmark, Iowa, until he was about 16 years of age, when he began to assist in the maintenance of the family by working on his father's farm, which, he continued to do for three years.

In 1868 he came to Moline, and from that time until 1874 was with his uncle, Mr. Charles Atkinson, as clerk in his real-estate business, and in the office of the Water-Power Company, of which his uncle is President. After that he was traveling salesman for two years for the Moline Wagon Company, and during the year r876 was in the insurance business. In 1877 he became manager and secretary of the Deere & Mansur Company's Corn-Planter Works, a position which he still holds. He has seen the business grow during his connection with it until the company lias become one of the largest corporations and occupies and owns one of the finest corn-planter works in the country.

Mr. Atkinson formed a matrimonial alliance June 3, 1874. at Morrison, 111., to Miss Sarah M. Savage, and they have one child, George L., born July 7, 1877.

In politics, Mr. Atkinson is a Republican, but his mind runs entirely in business, not in political channels.

(Source: Rock Island County, 1885)



Name: James W Atkinson
Age: 10
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1850: District 37, Whiteside, Illinois
Gender: Male
Family Number: 495
Household Members:
Name Age
J T Atkinson 40
Emeline Atkinson 37
James W Atkinson 10
Anna Atkinson 13
Sarah S Atkinson 9
Jasiah S Atkinson 4
George S Atkinson 1
Caroline Little 48
James Shields 48
George Edmunds 22
Frances Immols 22

(Source: 1850 United States Federal Census)


Name: Jas W Atkinson
Age in 1860: 20
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1860: Union Grove, Whiteside, Illinois
Gender: Male
Post Office: Morrison
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
J T Atkinson 50
Emeline L Atkinson 48
Anna E Atkinson 23
Jas W Atkinson 20
Sarah L Atkinson 17
George L Atkinson 11
Caroline Little 58
Annie Trye 23

(Source: 1860 United States Federal Census)


Name: James W. Atkinson
Age: 40
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1880: Moline, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sarah M. Atkinson
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: New Hampshire
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Sec. Com. Planter Works
Cannot read/write:
Blind:
Deaf and Dumb:
Otherwise disabled:
Idiotic or insane:
Household Members:
Name Age
James W. Atkinson 40
Sarah M. Atkinson 37
George Atkinson 2

(Source: 1880 United States Federal Census)


Name: Jas W Atkinson [Jos W Atkinson]
Age: 60
Birth Date: Aug 1839
Birthplace: Illinois
Home in 1900: Moline Ward 4, Rock Island, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Sarah M Atkinson
Marriage Year: 1874
Years Married: 26
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: New Hampshire
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Jas W Atkinson 60
Sarah M Atkinson 53
Bert Rosenstone 22
Otelia Antresen 22

(Source: 1900 United States Federal Census)


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Parents:
Joshua Tappan Atkinson
Emeline Little

Spouse:
Sarah Moore Savage

Children:
George L. Atkinson (1877 - 1892)