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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. E. Atkinson, attorney general of Arkansas, was born in Shelby County, Ala., on July 24, 1852, and is a son of W. W. and Barbara (Drake) Atkinson, natives of the same State. The father was a prosperous farmer in Alabama before the war, and during that event a strong sympathizer with the Confederacy. Both parents are now residing at Falcon, in Nevada County, Ark., where the father is engaged in planting and commercial life. Five children were born to their marriage, all of whom are living and are residents of Arkansas. William E., the principal of this sketch, was reared in Arkansas, having come to this State when only five years old, received his education at the public and high schools of Arkansas, and also at the Falcon Academy. When nineteen years of age, he entered the law department of the Washington & Lee University at Lexington, Va., under Judge Brockenbrough and J. Randolph Tucker. Mr. Atkinson graduated from this institution in the class of 1872, and located at Rosston, in Nevada County (then the county seat), remaining there until 1877. Then removing to Prescott, he first formed a partnership with Col. Ed A. Warren, now editor of the Texarkana Democrat. He was subsequently a partner of Mr. T. E. Webber, the present prosecuting attorney of the Seventh judicial district, and later with Mr. W. V. Tompkins. At the present time he is in partnership with Messrs. W. V. Tompkins and M. W. Greeson, the firm name being Atkinson, Tompkins & Greeson. In politics Mr. Atkinson has always voted the Democratic ticket, and has served as justice of the peace of Caney Township, in Nevada County, and also as mayor of Prescott for one term. In the summer of 1888, he was a candidate before the Democratic primaries for attorney general, and during the canvass had but one opponent, who, however, withdrew before the primaries, and at the convention Mr. Atkinson was nominated by acclamation, and was elected on September 3 by a handsome majority. His first marriage occurred on May 14, 1874, to Miss Hattie Williams, of Falcon, Ark., by whom he had four children, two of them yet living: Sherman H. and Halycone. Mrs. Atkinson died January 24, 1883, and Mr. Atkinson’s second marriage occurred on December 24, 1884, to Miss Lillie Williams, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had two children, one of whom, Willie W., still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are both members of the First Baptist Church, and in secret societies the former belongs to Capitol Lodge No. 49, Knights of Pythias, at Little Rock.

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This family biography is one of 156 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Pulaski County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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