Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Atkinson, James B. 1822 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 16, 2014, 10:35 pm

Source: See Below
Author: Alden, Ogle & Co.

HON. JAMES B. ATKINSON, one of the pioneers of Meeker county, as well as one of
the most prominent citizens, is a native of Kingston, Canada, born November 13,
1822. His parents were both natives of Yorkshire, England, but came to America
in 1821, landing in New York, from whence they proceeded to Canada, where James
B. was born. About a year later they removed to Black Rock, N.Y., where they
remained for about nine years. The father was a stone mason by trade, and during
this time was contracting on canal bridges and other heavy work. Later, he
purchased a large farm near Freeport, Penn., where he lived until the time of
his death. The parents of James B. had four children, three of whom are still
living – two in Minnesota and one in Kansas.

James B. Atkinson remained at home with his parents until eighteen years of age,
attending common schools most of the time. At the age referred to he began
learning the printer’s trade at Freeport, following that at various places until
he was twenty-two, when he returned home and rented a farm for twenty-one
months. The first fall from this experiment, the hay crop cleared him $600 above
all expenses, including the rent for the fall time. The following winter, March
20, 1845, he was married to Miss Abbie Sholes, of Allegheny City, Penn., but
remained on the farm until the following fall, when he moved into Freeport and
opened a butcher shop. Five or six years later, he sold out and began his
afterward extensive business of railroad contracting. His first contract was one
for $8,000 on the Allegheny Valley road; next on the North-Western, now
Pennsylvania, and from that to the Iron Mountain, on which he had a contract for
over $100,000. His next move was to return to Freeport, where he bought a stock
of general merchandise and conducted that business for one year. He then came
West in search of a location, and spent some time in travelling through the
eastern part of Iowa. In the spring of 1856, he decided to come to Minneapolis,
and, being pleased with the prospect there, he returned to New York for goods,
was taken sick and laid up for three months. For this reason he did not get back
to Minneapolis until August of that year and the same fall came out to Rockford
and took up a claim, where he remained thirty days. The town of Rockford had
been laid out only that spring; game was abundant and the prospect generally
fine. After returning to Minneapolis, where he remained some six weeks, he went
East for his family. His household goods were packed and shipped West, but the
goods never arrived, nor have they ever been seen or heard of since. Early in
the year 1857, he made his first trip to Meeker county, driving through with a
team, bringing a load of goods and working his way through the "Big Woods." Upon
his arrival he located at Forest City. The county had just been organized and
that country village, being the county seat, was the principal point within its
limits, although there were neither business nor business houses there at the
time. Mr. Atkinson, having brought the first goods to the county, went
immediately to work getting up a building. He then returned to Minneapolis for
the balance of his goods.

Having, like all others, taken up a claim, he placed his family upon it, and
going back to St. Paul, proved up on it, paid for it, and returning with more
goods, removed to the village, where he opened his store for business, about
March 1, 1857. He, the following fall, erected the hotel, which he ran in
connection with his other businesses until 1879. The store was kept by him until
1865, when he disposed of it to his partner, he having taken Mark W. Piper in
with him in 1862. During the winter of 1861-2 Mr. Atkinson made a trip to Pike’s
Peak, but came home, arriving at Forest City, August 1, just seventeen days
previous to the Indian outbreak. At the time of the organization of the "Home
Guards," at Forest City, he was elected first lieutenant. The night previous to
the attack upon the stockade, ammunition being short, he volunteered to go after
a supply, and starting after night, alone, traveled through the “Big Woods,”
beset with savage enemies, but, although aware of his peril, would not quail or
flinch. His undaunted courage carried him through safely, and procuring powder,
lead, and soldiers to relieve the garrison, he returned. He had previous to
this, in company with Geo. C. Whitcomb, been raising a company for the Sixth
Minnesota Infantry, but the outbreak stopped proceedings. He then enlisted and
served as private and scout, although favored by his superior officers to a
degree unknown elsewhere, on account of his social position and certain promises
made to him but not fulfilled, in Company D, Second Cavalry. He remained with
them until the close of hostilities with the red-skins, when he was given a
commission to recruit men at St. Paul. After following this for a time he raised
a company which was mustered into the service as Company H, First Minnesota
Heavy Artillery, with which he served as captain, being stationed chiefly at
Chattanooga, until the close of the war.

Captain Atkinson has filled many offices of trust and honor in this community;
he was the representative in the Legislature in 1857 and 1858, has filled the
office of member of the board of county commissioners, served as town supervisor
for years, was sheriff for three years, town assessor for seventeen years, and
occupied the position of justice of the peace for nearly a quarter of a century.
He is the parent of eight children: Hannah Elizabeth, Mrs. J. W. McKean, of
Indianapolis, Ind.; Charlotte M., Mrs. Henry Clinton, of Las Vegas, Cal.;
Abigail A., now Mrs. E. H. Hull, living at Minneapolis; Frank, now Mrs. T.
Richardson, of Forest City; Charles H., of the same place; Kate, Mrs. C. E.
Barkam, of Dallas, Tex.; Jessie B., Mrs. Charles Boynton, of Forest City; and
James B., Jr., at home. 

Additional Comments:
Extracted from 
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


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