Sketch of John Atkinson, St. Charles County, Missouri

>From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous
sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in 
Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan,
Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876.
**********************************************************************

John Atkinson moved from Louisville, Kentucky, and settled in St.
Charles about the year 1843.  Prior to that time he was extensively
engaged with his brother in the milling business at Louisville, KY.,
and Richmond, VA.  He bought the large stone mill on the river bank
in St. Charles, from George Collier, and operated it successfully for
many years.  The flour manufactured by him attained a high reputation
in the South and in New York and Liverpool; and it might be said with
propriety that he was one of the first millers in the West who helped
establish the reputation of St. Louis and St. Charles flour, and gave
it that high standing it has since enjoyed, both at home and abroad.
Cotemporary with him, were Edward Walsh, A. W. Fagin and Dennis Marks,
prominent millers of St. Louis, who, with him, may be said to have 
been the founders of the present immense milling business in St. Louis
and St. Charles; an interest that has grown to such gigantic propor-
tions and which has contributed so largely to the wealth and commercial
prosperity of the two localities.  About 1850 Mr. Atkinson purchased a
large mill in Pekin, Illinois, intending to carry on both establish-
ments, and had just completed thorough and extensive repairs on the 
property, when it was destroyed by fire, inflicting on him a severe
loss from which he never fully recovered.  He returned to St. Charles,
and operated the mill there till about the breaking out of the war,
after which he did not again engage in active business.  During his
business life in St. Charles his operations were on a large scale, and
gave employment to a great number of men in his mill and in connection
with it.  He was one of the most prominent and highly esteemed citizens
of the place, and his memory is held in kind rememberance by the older
people here, who knew him, and esteemed him in the highest degree for
his genial and social traits.  He married his first wife, Virginia 
Davidson, of Petersburg, VA., in Louisville, KY.  She bore him eight
children, of whom only three are living: Robert and John, well known
and prominent merchants of St. Charles; and Virginia, wife of E. E.
Chase, Esq., an extensive hardware merchant of Edina, Missouri.  His
second wife, formerly Miss Lockwood, of Binghampton, N. Y., survives
him.  Mr. Atkinson was a gentleman of the old school, with the strict-
est sense of honor, a man of warm and generous impulses, charitable 
and kind hearted.  He was a public spirited citizen, contributing
liberally to all deserving enterprises, and taking a warm interest in
all undertakings tending to advance the interests of his section of the
country.  He was one of the original projectors and a strong friend of
the North Missouri Railroad, and lent his aid and influence toward se-
curing its success.	

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================