From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 214-215.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


HON. GEORGE W. ATKINSON

Among the prominent self-made men of West Virginia, is the Hon. 
George W. Atkinson, the subject of this sketch.  His parents - both 
Virginians - were of German-English origin, their ancestors having 
come to this country and settled in Pennsylvania before the beginning 
of the current century.  From there they drifted over into the Old 
Dominion, and became residents of the Great Kanawha valley.  In that 
historic fertile valley, the subject of this sketch was born June 29, 
1846.  The first sixteen years of his life were spent upon a farm, 
and in attending the public and private schools of the neighborhood 
near Charleston, Kanawha county, where he resided.  After the 
breaking out of the late civil war, his father abandoned farming, 
removed to Charleston, and became a merchant, and for a year or two 
the son was a salesman in his father's dry goods establishment.  
During this period he studied book-keeping and became an expert in 
that line of work.  Being naturally ambitious, and always an earnest 
student, he was sent to the Ohio Wesleyan university, at Delaware, 
Ohio, from which institution he was graduated B.A. with the class of 
1870.  Subsequently he received the degree of M.A. "in cursu" from 
his "alma mater."  Indiana Asbury university, in 1876, also conferred 
upon him the same degree "pro merito."  He took the prescribed course 
of study for post graduates at Mt. Union college, Ohio, and received 
the degree of Ph.D., "pro merito", and in May, 1890, he received the 
degree of LL D., from the university of Nashville, also from U. S. 
Grant university, Chattanooga, Tenn.  After his return from college, 
he taught school for some time; studied law for two years; attended 
law lectures at Columbian university, and was admitted to the bar in 
1875.  He was six years postmaster at Charleston; was several years 
editor of the WEST VIRGINIA JOURNAL, a large and influential weekly 
newspaper; was four years a special agent of the United States 
treasury, which necessitated his traveling all over the United 
States; was one full term United States marshal for the district of 
West Virginia. In 1877 he moved to Wheeling, and after his term as 
marshal expired in 1885, he resumed the practice of his profession, 
and was not long in building up a large and profitable clientage.  
Mr. Atkinson has always been a republican, and for many years has 
been quite active in the party's councils.  He was eight years 
chairman of the state executive committee; is a superior platform 
speaker, and possesses many elements of solid popularity.  He was 
elected to the Fifty-first congress, where he is now serving.  He is 
also an author of considerable celebrity, having written several 
miscellaneous books, which have received merited praise, and have had 
a large sale.
      

(Linda Fluharty)