A. E. ATKINSON was born in Marshall County, Tenn., January 23, 1817. His father, John ATKINSON, was born in Virginia about 1774, and first married a Miss DUNN, who bore him seven children. His second wife was Nancy McCLAREN, and our subject is the fourth of their eight children. John ATKINSON came to Tennessee about 1800, and was one of the first pioneers of the country, and was elected magistrate soon after his arrival. There being no other magistrate in the county, he was obliged to swear himself into office and held the position until his death in 1829, with the exception of one year, when he was a member of the State Legislature. He also served as chairman of the county court several terms.
Our subject has been a school-teacher for thirty-five or thirty-six years, teaching twelve months in the year a portion of the time. He also farmed, and June 5, 1838, he wedded Elizabeth C. STEM, and the following children are the result of their union: F. M., Mary A., (Mrs. A. S. TURRENTINE), Christina C. (Mrs. W. H. CLARK), W. E. and J. R. Mrs. ATKINSON died November 2, 1867, a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Atkinson married his second wife, Jane EDWARDS, April 6, 1870. Mr. ATKINSON has a fair education, which he has obtained manly through his own exertions. Up to the date of the late war he was an old-line Whig. Since that time he has been a Democrat.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Source: Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.