Biographical Sketch of R. T. Atkins, Johnson County, Missouri,
Chilhowee Township.

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.
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R. T. Atkins, a well to do and highly respected farmer and stockman of
Chilhowee township, is a member of a prominent pioneer family of Miss-
ouri.  He was born in Johnson county in 1866, son of James and Eliza-
beth (Elliott) Atkins, who came to Missouri in 1850 from Kentucky and
located in Moniteau county, where they resided two years, coming thence
to Johnson county, where they settled in Chilhowee township on a large
farm, part of which was purchased and a part entered from the govern-
ment by Mr. Atkins.  He was at one time owner of nearly 600 acres of 
land in this county.  July 28, 1850, James Atkins and Elizabeth Elliott
daughter of George Elliott, of Kentucky, were united in marriage and to
them were born eleven children, seven of whom are now living: Mrs. 
Patsy Raker, Magnolia, Missouri; George, Salesville, Montana; Cary, 
Salesville, Montana; Judge Robert O., Blairstown, Missouri; R. T.,
Magnolia, Missouri; Mrs. Sallie Gill, Warrensburg, Missouri; and John,
Holden, Missouri.  The father died in 1903.  Mr. Atkins was a highly
esteemed citizen, a man of strict integrity and high ideals.  For 45
years he was a valued and worthy elder of the Presbyterian church.  In
1912, he was joined in death by his wife, who was one of Johnson coun-
ty's most respected and honored pioneer women.  R. T. Atkins attended
school at New Liberty in Chilhowee township, where Miss Bettie Baker,
Reverend VanAusdal, Miss Julia Holland and Miss Antha Holland were at
different times employed as teacher.  When Mr. Atkins was a youth, 
there was much open prairie and virgin sod land.  There were no roads,
but the early settlers traveled along trails and by directions.  Yokes
of oxen were used when the sod was broken.  Among the pioneer preach-
ers, whom he knew and now recalls, were: Reverends J. H. Houx, Givens
and Morrow.  Mr. Atkins has attended revival meetings, when the 
settlers from a circuit of many miles came enmasse, many of them in
wagons and many on horseback.  R. T. Atkins was born and reared on the
farm and he is now engaged in the vocations of farming, stock raising,
and dairying.  His place in Chilhowee township comprises eighty acres
of fine farm land and on this farm, Mr. Atkins is raising cattle and
hogs, having seventy-five head of Duroc Jersey hogs at the present 
time, in 1917, and milking five cows.  The cream from the Atkins dairy
is marketed in Magnolia.  The farm is abundantly supplied with water
from a spring which has never been known to dry.  In 1888, R. T. 
Atkins and Stella Box, daughter of R. M. and Anna E. (Warren) Box,
were united in marriage.  Mrs. Atkins is a member of a well known and
excellent pioneer family.  Her father was a captain in the Union army
and her mother was a daughter of T. C. and Elizabeth Warren, in whose
honor the city of Warrensburg was named.  To Mr. and Mrs. Atkins have
been born two children: Mrs. Lyle Raker, Holden, Missouri; and Harold,
at home with his parents.  Harold Atkins is one of the county's most
promising, young citizens.  He is an exceptionally bright, industrious
youth and a naturally gifted mechanic and architect.  He takes care of
his car and recently repaired and remodeled the residence, adding a 
splendid veranda, which he himself designed.  He has made the home an
attractive, handsome place and all his work has been done in a skill-
ful, neat, workmanlike manner.  The Atkins family is widely known and
highly regarded in this county and in their community Mr. and Mrs.
Atkins number their friends by the score.

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