My Genealogy Hound

Edward Atkinson, stock dealer, farmer and notary public, Fordyce, Ark. There was born in Christian County, Ky., in 1843, to Col. Thomas and Elizabeth (Lamuels) Atkinson, a son, whom we now take as the subject of this sketch. He was the ninth of ten children—seven sons and three daughters—and received but very little schooling. In 1801, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Fifth Arkansas Infantry, Company C. and served one year in Missouri and Kentucky. He then received a furlough, returned home, and soon after joined Company B, First Arkansas Cavalry, operating in Arkansas, Missouri, Indian Territory, Louisiana and Texas. He was in the fights at Back Bone Mountain, Fayetteville, Pine Bluff, Poison Springs, Mark’s Mill, and all through Price’s raid through Missouri. His brother, James Polk Atkinson, was with him and was killed at Pilot Knob, Mo. Our subject was wounded at Poison Springs. He surrendered at Trinity River, Tex., in June, 1865. The last year he was sergeant. After the war he returned to farm life, and was married in 1875 to Miss Belle Harrison, a native of Dallas County, and the daughter of Judge Edmund and Eliza Harrison, who were born in North Carolina. From that State Mr. and Mrs. Harrison emigrated to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee, and about 1850 to Dallas County, Ark., settling in the woods near Princeton. They afterward moved to what is now Cleveland County, and there the Judge died in August, 1865. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his widow, who is now living. He was county judge of Dallas County for some time, and was a member of the A. F. & A. M. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson resulted in the birth of five children—four sons and a daughter. Since his marriage Mr. Atkinson has lived adjoining Fordyce, where he has about 500 acres of land. For some years he has been dealing in horses and mules, buying in Texas and selling at home. He is a surveyor, was justice of the peace a number of years, and is now notary public. In politics he is a Democrat, his first presidential vote being for Horace Greeley, and socially he is a member of the K. of H. at Fordyce. Mrs. Atkinson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Atkinson’s parents were born in Person County, N. C, in 1791 and 1804, respectively, and were married in that county. From there they removed to Tennessee, and a few years afterward to Christian County, Ky., and thence, on January 1, 1849, to what is now Cleveland County, Ark. There they resided until 1860, when they moved to Dallas County, and there passed the remainder of their days, the mother dying on January 1, 1874, and the father on June 16, of the same year. Both were members of the Baptist Church for many years. They were among the pioneer settlers of this region, and improved a number of good farms. Mr. Atkinson was a great hunter and took a prominent part in subduing the dangers of pioneer life. He was a colonel of militia at an early day, and was in the War of 1812, at the battle of Horseshoe Bend. He was a prominent Royal Arch Mason. He had a brother, Henry Atkinson, who was a great Indian fighter, and died a great many years ago in Jefferson Barracks, Mo. His father, John Atkinson, came from England to America before the Revolutionary War, and was married in North Carolina, where he spent the rest of his life. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Parsons, was born in North Carolina, and died in Christian County, Ky., on the farm where the subject of this sketch was born. The maternal grandfather, Josiah Lamuels, was born in North Carolina, and was of Scotch descent. He died in North Carolina. His wife died at the home of her grandson, Edward Atkinson, on September 3, 1875, at a good old age.