Calvin B. Atkinson

This gentleman may very truly be called a self-made man,as will be seen 
by the perusal of his history.  He occupies a finely improved farm of one 
hudnre and sixty acres on sections 13 and 14, Mt. Vernon Township, and ranks 
among the highly respected citizens of Jefferson County by reason of his 
intelligence, sterling character and reliable citizenship. He is an enterprising 
farmer, prudently changing his crops in order to keep up the fertility of the soil; 
he devotes the greater amount of his land to grain, but does not neglect other 
articles of produce.

The first representative of the Atkinson family in this country came from Ireland.  
Grandfather Edgar Arkinson was born in East Tennessee, as were also James and Winnie 
(Bonner) Atkinson, our subject's parents.   Calvin B. was born in McMinn County, East 
Tennessee, in 1828, and was there reared to manhood.  

In December, 1847, he married Miss E. Adeline Massner.

Then years later he came to this county with his family and located on the tract where 
he still makes his home.  By hard work he placed his farm under high cultivation, enclosed 
the land with neat fences and erected good buildings. In the fall of 1865 he built his 
present large and commodious residence, which adds greatly to the attractive appearance 
of the place.

To Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Atkinson have been born six children. John M. is residing in Mt. Vernon; 
James G. makes his home in Cottonwood Falls, Kans.; Sarah is the wife of John W. Smith and 
resides near the old homestead; Samuel R. is living in mt. Vernon Township; W. Mahala 
(Mrs. G.L. Staley), makes her home in Webber Township, and Margaret, who married Jacob 
Leibengood, is living in Mt. Vernon.

In politics Mr. Atkinson gives his allegiance to the Democratic party.  he has never 
sought office, but at the solicitation of his fellow citizens he has at different times 
served as Supervisor and Assessor of his township. He has also been greatly interested 
in free schools and has done much toward raising the standard of scholarship in his community.  
He has been a leader in religious circles and aided largely in the erection of the Salem Church.  
With his family he is a member of the United Baptist Church.





"Portrait and Biographical Record of Clinton, 
Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Published by Chapman Publishing Company of Chicago in 1894

Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer