George W. Atkinson
Encyclopedia
George Wesley Atkinson (June 29, 1845 – April 4, 1925) of Ohio County
was the tenth Governor of West Virginia
. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives
and was a judge on the Court of Claims
.
with an A.B.
. He received an M.A.
there in 1873, and an LL.B. from Howard University
in 1874. He served as toll collector on the Kanawha River
Board from 1869 to 1871 and was appointed postmaster
of Charleston in 1871. He was defeated for election to the West Virginia Legislature
in 1876. He was an Internal Revenue agent from 1879 to 1881; his success at interfering with moonshine
rs lead to his appointment as a United States Marshall, serving until 1885. In 1888, he ran for Congress as a Republican against John O. Pendleton
. The election was contested, and although Pendleton had presented his credentials and served in the seat for nearly a year, Atkinson was eventually declared the winner and seated.
Atkinson defeated Democratic party candidate Cornelius Clarkson Watts
in the 1896 election for Governor of West Virginia and served until 1901. He was later appointed United States District Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt
appointed him associate judge of the Court of Claims. He served from April 15, 1905, until his retirement on April 16, 1916.
Atkinson was married twice and had four children. His first marriage was in 1868 to Ellen Eagan; following her death, he married Mrs. Myra (Horner) Camden
, in 1897.
Atkinson died in Charleston, West Virginia
on April 4, 1925 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery
.
Ohio County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 447 people per square mile . There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile...
was the tenth Governor of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and was a judge on the Court of Claims
United States Court of Claims
The Court of Claims was a federal court that heard claims against the United States government. It was established in 1855 as the Court of Claims, renamed in 1948 to the United States Court of Claims , and abolished in 1982....
.
Biography
In 1870, Atkinson graduated from Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOhio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He received an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
there in 1873, and an LL.B. from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1874. He served as toll collector on the Kanawha River
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
Board from 1869 to 1871 and was appointed postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Charleston in 1871. He was defeated for election to the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
in 1876. He was an Internal Revenue agent from 1879 to 1881; his success at interfering with moonshine
Moonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
rs lead to his appointment as a United States Marshall, serving until 1885. In 1888, he ran for Congress as a Republican against John O. Pendleton
John O. Pendleton
John Overton Pendleton was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born in Wellsburg, West Virginia , Pendleton moved with his parents to Wheeling, West Virginia , in 1851....
. The election was contested, and although Pendleton had presented his credentials and served in the seat for nearly a year, Atkinson was eventually declared the winner and seated.
Atkinson defeated Democratic party candidate Cornelius Clarkson Watts
Cornelius Clarkson Watts
Cornelius Clarkson Watts , or C. C. Watts, was United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia and Attorney General of West Virginia. In 1896, he was the Democratic party candidate for Governor of West Virginia....
in the 1896 election for Governor of West Virginia and served until 1901. He was later appointed United States District Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is a trial-level federal court. Decisions from the Court may be appealed to the Fourth Circuit Fourth Circuit, except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to...
. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed him associate judge of the Court of Claims. He served from April 15, 1905, until his retirement on April 16, 1916.
Atkinson was married twice and had four children. His first marriage was in 1868 to Ellen Eagan; following her death, he married Mrs. Myra (Horner) Camden
Myra Horner Camden Atkinson
Myra Horner Camden Atkinson was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia George W. Atkinson and served as that state's First Lady, 1897-1901. She was born July 21, 1844, at Lumberport, West Virginia. In June 1897, shortly after he became governor, she married George W. Atkinson, after being...
, in 1897.
Atkinson died in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
on April 4, 1925 and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery
Spring Hill Cemetery Historic District
Spring Hill Cemetery Historic District is a national historic district located at Charleston, West Virginia. The district is a site located on a series of tree shaded and landscaped hills overlooking central Charleston and includes the following cemeteries: Spring Hill Cemetery , Mountain View...
.